The Church of England and the UK government are formally apologizing for their roles in historical forced adoptions that affected an estimated 185,000 unmarried mothers in England and Wales from the 1950s to the 1970s. The apologies follow years of survivor advocacy. While the gestures are welcomed, survivor groups are demanding meaningful redress, including mental health support and access to records, with some calling the Church's apology insufficient.
UK government forced adoption apology
- ▪The previous Conservative government expressed sorrow "on behalf of society" but did not believe a formal state apology was appropriate
- ▪The UK government will make a full apology on behalf of the state for historical forced adoption practices in England
- ▪Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the practice as a "shameful period" in UK history while confirming the government's apology
- ▪A 2022 report by the UK's joint committee on human rights had recommended a government apology to unmarried women affected by forced adoptions
Historical adoption practices 1949-1976
- ▪The Church of England was involved with potentially more than 200 mother and baby homes in England and Wales from 1949 to 1976
- ▪An estimated 185,000 babies were put up for adoption from unmarried mothers in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976
- ▪Staff at church-affiliated homes often ignored official guidance that unmarried women had the right to keep their children
- ▪A Church of England report found women were forced to do menial labor as "correction," and babies were sometimes described as "commodities."
- ▪Unmarried pregnant women were sent to "mother and baby homes" due to a culture of "shame, stigma and secrecy."
Survivor advocacy redress demands
- ▪Diana Defries, a survivor and chair of the Movement for an Adoption Apology, said an apology must acknowledge harm and include a willingness to act
- ▪Campaigners have asked for adult adoptees to be involved in future adoption policymaking
- ▪Survivor groups called for the apologies to be followed by meaningful redress, including dedicated mental health support and improved access to adoption records
- ▪The Adult Adoptee Movement described the Church of England's statement as "not a meaningful apology," stating it lacked an admission of wrongdoing
Church of England apology
- ▪The Church of England apologized on June 18, 2026, for its role in forced adoptions at its affiliated "mother and baby homes."
- ▪The Church's report found staff held "dehumanizing and dismissive attitudes" and that some homes "did not always meet acceptable standards."
- ▪The Church of England's apology followed a two-year research project that included reviewing archives and speaking with survivors
- ▪Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally said the Church was "profoundly sorry for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced" by those affected
International forced adoption compensation
- ▪Ireland and Australia have introduced financial compensation schemes for survivors of coerced adoptions after issuing apologies
- ▪The Welsh and Scottish governments formally apologized for forced adoption practices in their nations in 2023
- ▪The head of the Catholic church in England and Wales issued an apology for similar practices in 2016
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