The Church of England apologizes for its historical role in forced adoptions, including cases affecting unmarried women and girls between the late 1940s and the 1970s. Reporting across outlets says tens of thousands of babies were taken from unmarried mothers in England and Wales during a period that includes the 1950s through the 1980s, with particular emphasis on institutional involvement from about 1949 to 1976.
Multiple sources attribute the apology to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, who says the Church is “profoundly sorry” for the pain, trauma, stigma, and “indignity” experienced by those affected. Survivors’ accounts are described as lifelong in their impact, and the apology is framed as taking responsibility for shame and harm connected to homes and services linked to the Church.
The reports also highlight that the Church is acknowledging that its involvement continued as recently as the mid-1970s, and that it is seeking to recognize and respond to the lasting consequences for mothers, babies, and families.
