The Archbishop of Canterbury apologises for the Church of England’s role in historical forced adoptions in England and Wales, acknowledging the “pain, trauma and stigma” caused to those affected. Multiple outlets report that tens of thousands of babies were taken from unmarried women and girls over several decades, with timeframes cited ranging from the late 1940s into the mid-1970s or through the 1980s, depending on the source. The Church of England says it is likely that many mothers and babies were housed in Church of England-linked institutions or homes, where women were pressured to surrender children. Several reports describe the apology as directed to survivors, with wording that “shame is ours.” BBC and other coverage also states that the practices involved pressure on unmarried women to give up babies, reflecting policies and social stigma that contributed to family separations. The apology comes as attention continues to focus on institutional involvement in adoption practices, including how church-affiliated arrangements affected records, consent, and the long-term impacts on mothers and children.