Australia’s Roman Catholic Church Apologizes for Forced Adoptions

It is estimated that more than 150,000 young women across Australia had their children taken away at birth without their consent, often never to be seen again.

Women subjected to forced adoptions in Catholic-run hospitals have described being shackled and drugged during labour and prevented from seeing their children being born or holding them afterwards.

Many said their children had been earmarked for forced adoption well before birth and they were told they could not oppose the decision.

Following an investigation into the practise by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Catholic Church issued a national apology, saying its history of forced adoptions was “deeply regrettable”.

“We acknowledge the pain of separation and loss felt then and felt now by the mothers, fathers, children, families and others involved in the practices of the time,” the apology said.

“For this pain we are genuinely sorry.”

A federal parliamentary inquiry is currently investigating the issue and has already received more than 300 submissions from across the country.

(Source: telegraph.co.uk)