Ireland’s stolen children fight for justice | DW Documentary

[@edwong4178]

So having a baby out of wedlock is a sin… But mistreating, traumatising and killing defenseless children is not? Got it.

[@nightstar11801]

Another reason I am agnostic & going to hell because of being agnostic.

[@MrRhix]

No they are not. But you have to add "in the name of god" at the end, you silly

[@OliviaLaferriere]

There's nothing acceptable about being forced to give up your child being born out of wedlock and hurting illegitimate children in custody, it's unacceptable criminal behavior 😮😭

[@audhdcreativity5899]

That's the church for you... as an Irish descendant I feel the same about the stolen and murdered Native children here in Canada... colonization, conversion, kidnapping, forced adoption and genocide are evil, not a human being being pregnant.

[@mktay2067]

Even Satan uses scripture for his own purposes 🤷 the reality is predators hide where there is pr st for them....some hi s behind the churches now many hide in schools.

[@clinkedylinkedy1]

"Fill in your pieces and you can fill in the pieces for me." THIS is what we all need to heal

[@GKCanton]

Thank you, DW, from Ireland. This scandal is truly global and it will take us another decade at least to uncover all the crimes. I pray that our mothers and orphaned children as well as those from other countries where this went on get to at least have the chance to know who they really were.

[@jbielic4067]

Yup, anywhere the church was it pretty much happened sadly.

[@mktay2067]

It's happening in modern foster care without the church.

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Research american orphan trains and cabbage patch kids.

[@ifechi3698]

The African context is for the most part left untouched. There, the Catholic Church still has a tight grip on its followers, the government & the rich. I pray the pandora box opens in my lifetime. What we’re unmasking now might just be only the tip of the iceberg!

[@tamaravicere9458]

This did not just happen in Ireland. My mother was born in USA Wilmington, Delaware, and was pregnant at 17 and forced by her Irish parents to give her baby up for adoption. She was sent to Pennsylvania to a Catholic Home, ran by nuns, to give birth. She was forced to work in this 13:16 home while pregnant. This was in 1954. I'm still searching for my half sibling.

[@CTdarkmatter]

Australia too!

[@thelight1385]

Maybe try doing the 23andme DNA test. I heard a lot of people are finding relatives/family this way. Maybe worth a try??

[@lookingupwithwonder]

❤❤❤ have you done a DNA test?

[@irenemak1302]

This church is responsible for so many crimes in history and still gets away with it.

[@MrRhix]

Yup. I just discovered the Spanish scandal about the 300.000 babies... it's insane

[@ritamariekelley4077]

And they haven't really fixed anything, much less make reparations.

[@icequeen9417]

All over the world .

[@57113]

For now but it's end is soon. 10:59

[@bbert-fauxlopher]

I was adopted thru the Catholic church and they didn't do a background check on my adopted parents who are still abusive to this day. I have to believe that they did it only for money and not kindness. Religion is evil. It's just painful. However, I did my DNA test and found that I'm the baby out of 10 siblings 9 of us are still alive. I tried to get this information 30 years ago when my birth mother was still alive but the church wanted money with no promise to tell me anything. Confession is scrap if it's still a secret from the one that needs to hear it. Horrible people masquerading as leaders of faith!

[@leahvance1840]

I’m sorry to hear that happened to you.

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Fake religion is evil but real religion is a gift from God. These people were not acting in a Christian manner.

[@irenemak1302]

God does not exist.

[@irenemak1302]

What happened to you is so gross and evil. Until governments worldwide stop subsidising this church and recognise their evil existence, it will never end.

[@kayllenstarships9009]

I'm also stolen.Adoptive parents are also abusive,did dnk test turned out im not even theirs.They wanted to put me in mental asylum and shave my head to be bald because i was speaking the truth.I wasn't given any love nor care growing up.Theyre trying to manipulate me still.My actual parents found me i hope they soon came for me,i cannot barrel this horror anymore,my adoptive mom's boyfriend is an alcoholic and he's abusive towards me and her.

[@melindaunknown6411]

So the girls were punished and shamed for being pregnant, but the guys who got them pregnant got away scot free. Typical. Some things never change.

[@faraboverubieskerry]

Exactly what I was thinking. The humiliation and pressure from the nuns who shamed them while they were pregnant...then the bullying and torment for the illegitimate child. It takes 2 to tango but that man just went on with his life and didn't suffer any consequences.

[@alexandrawhitelock6195]

Bet many were caused by priests…

[@jamiegrant5955]

Actually no, the men were usually ran out of the country by both their families.

[@kalamityerstwhile7845]

Give me some proof that anyone knew (or cared) that they got a girl pregnant. Most went on with a faint curiosity about what happened, but no contribution to finding their children.

[@mindareyes7565]

This is one of the reasons many Catholics detached themselves from the church. I included.

[@lenoraberendt750]

All children are legitimate. Adults need to remember that!

[@marybeek7353]

Yes, of course ALL CHILDREN ARE LEGITIMATE!!! That is a wonderful, clean, sanitized spin, but you are NOT looking at BASTARDY LAWS that criminalize children born without a legal father in a paternalistic society. The child is marked for life! And the mothers are scorned for life! This is why we have had Mother and Baby Homes, and babies given up for adoption, or stolen for adoption. This is the reality of a paternalistic society.

[@BinaBecker]

Ah yes, the "pro-life" church...which calls babies innocent, as long as they're unborn, and then once they're out in the world, treats them as sinners, just the same as their poor unwed mothers. And I do mean POOR mothers...because rich ladies could afford to get these things taken care of in a whole different way, and the church never bothered THEM!

[@LilMent-kt2mp]

I so agree with you, the problem I have is woman waiting so long for an abortion, as we have seen it's gone too far, babies are left on the table to die.

[@ThePapawhisky]

Oh man. I feel their pain. No human is illegitimate.

[@janejones5362]

And stillborn babies are still souls. And G-d claims them 🙏🏼.

[@bbert-fauxlopher]

Paul is going to court against the church and I would love to hear how this worked out. Anna is a welcomed trooper. I find that the silver lining here is that this horrible human abuse can make for an extremely powerful empathetic humans. Thanks Paul and Anna! You're exhibiting so much love and compassion for all of us that have been extremely affected by the Catholic church. You are beautiful people. I hope this has brought some peace and understanding to those who have seen this. Love your sister in spirit💕

[@roseredm6663]

The records need to be released to these adults.

[@DotBell-m6t]

Their birth results need to be available to the innocent 'children' of this great mis justice that they have served and are still serving It was NOT THEIR Fault. I had a baby out of wedlock in 1971 and the good doers known as social service.s wanted me to hand her over for adoption in those days you could not get a council flat but I paid for her to be fostered for 4 months so that I could sort out my affairs which I did. She is now 52 married with 3 family and a beautiful granddaughter making me a great grandmother I would not have had this if I had done what the do gooders recommended. Please let your records help these poor 'children' put their problems to bed

[@LilMent-kt2mp]

​what a beautiful woman you are. God Bless

[@SkepticalTeacher]

I feel so terrible for the older survivors whose mothers and fathers are most probably dead now, and they'll never meet them. 😢

[@antoniajane5442]

Maybe they will find siblings.

[@Danielle-L]

Too true and very sad. Some of the mothers were very young though so it's possible even for survivors in their early 70s to find a living parent in their early to mid 80s.

[@mariatounsi5990]

They did it in Spain too. No doubt wherever they went this practice followed.

[@minicapralinica]

In Serbia too. We in Serbia still have this problem..

[@amyturpen4726]

Everywhere there were catholic churches this happened. Then there were the catholic run schools for indigenous children. This isn't limited to the catholic religion though. Conservative protestant churches had their own versions of these homes/practices. Just not as well documented yet.

[@dianethomas2279]

In Quebec too

[@CuriosityXthecat]

Just happened in the US 75,000 children missing

[@mm7846]

So much sin to cover “sin” 😢

[@janejones5362]

Be sure your sin will find you out.

[@mucows]

Why is it always the woman who is accused to be the sinner? What about the men, the fathers?

[@etobillions]

overwhelming evidence. back in the day there was no way to prove paternity.

[@faraboverubieskerry]

Exactly. It takes 2 to tango but women were always blamed and shamed.

[@Sarah-yj6lf]

The men wrote the good book and took creative license.

[@katherinedemott298]

Men make the rules

[@katherinedemott298]

7 days rest with the baby. Better than USA

[@itshyperstar]

I feel for these survivors, I really hope they find the answers they are looking for and get justice

[@centralcoastgirl1984]

I'm a catholic & I'm ashamed & embarrassed to know that this happened.

[@mirrage42]

This isn’t the only horror the catholic church has perpetrated on innocent people. You do not need to remain a member of the church. In fact, you should join all those who have escaped.

[@japspeedgirl6216]

@@mirrage42This really is not a solution. People of faith should have the right to worship where they want and to having an institution that represents their faith. They also have the right to demand the church to mend their ways, repent and assist authorities in investigation.

[@smariegalski3641]

I left decades ago.

[@margaretr5701]

It's not your shame or embarrassment, it's the Catholic Churches. The current Pope has been the most open, perhaps there'll be change for the better.

[@patcavasin5947]

@@smariegalski3641 me too

[@LunaShimmyDiva]

So much heartbreak for all concerned - babies, parents, families that never were! Godspeed to those hunting for family members and uncovering injustices.

[@dianaspears571]

The real shame here is that these people were more worried about what other people thought than they were about their own flesh and blood. My sister got pregnant out of wedlock in 1969. She did not want to marry the father. My Dad told her that it was fine, we take care of our own. We all did our part to help her in the following years to take of her daughter. There's no excuse for this.

[@lillywho]

Good on yer folks for that one! That's nothing to be taken for granted back then.

[@karolinabaker7637]

God bless your family. Had all these girls had such support, this would have been a completely different history

[@patriciatwomey9850]

Similar situation to mine.

[@noelfleming3567]

D nuns and priests didn't help 😢

[@patriciatwomey9850]

@@dianaspears571 me too

[@MusicalPassion007]

My step dad was one of these children, born out of wedlock to a woman in Ireland and adopted just days after his birth by someone in America. It was only through genealogy testing that he was finally able to discover who his mother was, but unfortunately, she has since passed so he is not able to meet her. He has, however, been in contact with members of her immediate family (nieces/nephews/etc) and plans to meet them in the near future.

[@Lala-up3ib]

They weren't unwanted, they were stolen.

[@carolwilliams8511]

Exactly.

[@smariegalski3641]

Yes.

[@elizabethbrauer1118]

and "sold" to the adopting parents, I suspect

[@WhirlyPearly]

Spot on 😢

[@catherine87]

They were "slaved"

[@alonzomosley7]

The catholic church in Ireland have a lot to answer for banning contraception ,abortions ,condoms .The poor women having to travel to England for an abortion

[@gearoid3398]

Paedophilia didn't make your list?

[@alonzomosley7]

@@gearoid3398 I left that topic when Irish priest were sent and arrived in Australia by ship a priest would meet them off the ship .He would ask what are you here for touching up young boys or alcoholism ?LOL

[@IrishLadASMR]

​@@alonzomosley7lol? You Australians did enough barbaric abuse to Aboriginal people.... that is YOUR shame.

[@Belevaqua]

And the church wonders why we all leave it!!!

[@kat8295]

I went to school with a girl who was half Irish. She didnt know her mother was born in Ireland till high school. Her mother hated her honeland, religion, and refused to teach her daughter anything about her heritage because she always resented being rejected from her family and home. It wasnt until recently, she found out her mother may not have even wanted to give her up. Now she is coming back to terms with who she is, but her own mother is most likely long since dead. She refuses to go back to Ireland as a result. Its sad, but you meet a lot of people in the States who think their parents didnt love them and willingly gave them up not realizing that wasnt the case for most.

[@shannonluck5066]

The babies were relinquished, forcibly taken. Not given at all but stolen forcibly...

[@rjorg22]

I am Irish and was adopted by an English Canadian family . I was born at Grace Hospital .Unwed mothers had their kids at this Catholic Hospital in Vamcouver in 1965 .

[@sharonbradley9492]

You can get an Irish passport if you know your mother put in a SARS request and take them to EU. We were just sold off for the British/ American state. I got one

[@cathyb2204]

That the state still holds the records in secret is appalling. And that the Order remains in the country.

[@antoinettemcloughlin170]

My grandmother was born in 1926 and her mother was supported by her family so she could keep her but she was mistreated by the society growing up because her mother was unmarried. Listening to these stories i can only imagine what my gran was put through because of the churches grip on Ireland society.

[@nightowl6260]

Hold these sadistic catholic institutions accountable.

[@ushapadminiV]

It is so disheartening to see all of them struggling to locate their mothers.such a shame on the Catholic church

[@helenamcginty4920]

most of these children were probably very much wanted by their poor mothers.

[@PHlophe]

Helene, and probably the dads too . when grand parents don't want their image tarnished.

[@karolinabaker7637]

@@PHlopheyes. Family support would have been everything in this situation.

[@elpolakohwdp]

You said nothing about pedophiles inside this organization

[@duntrolling8876]

This is such a terrible story. My own mother became pregnant and though she refuses to talk about it I think that she somehowknew the fate in store if she went to one of these places. so she ran. I was born in Northern Ireland and soon after she moved to England and made a life there. I watch these stories and the film Philomena and realise that this could so easily have been my story too. It wasn't an entirely happy story, though. My mother was cast out of the family and over the course of my life I don't think she has ever returned to Ireland. I was born in 1962

[@elizabethbrauer1118]

So glad your Mom made the right decision. ❣

[@acs2735]

Irish families are unforgiving. North and south. Still!!!

[@Islandwaterjet]

When I was a boy on the streets it was my greatest dream to be adopted by parents who actually wanted me.

[@deidradahl2802]

Why should you have been ''' a boy on the streets'''? None of us has the decision to be born or not. We should be cared for if not by our parents, then the government should have stepped in . That is what we are paying taxes in part for. Or they can be like China and you have to apply to get married, then apply to have a kid. Then only the no you can care for, then parents will appreciate how valuable life really is

[@Visionery1]

On the reverse side, there are children who have loving paternal grandparents and a father, but have been turned against them by a bitter mother. The child has an "I don't owe you anything, you don't owe me anything" attitude. That hurts!

[@deidradahl2802]

@@Visionery1 True, but it goes both ways, the father have been known to turn the kids against the maternal grandparents. The kids are the ones to lose out, as they won't have a well balanced relationship

[@timmytwodogs]

My parents dumped me just after I was born. Luckily, my grandparents took me in. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

[@lucymorgan8859]

I am so very sorry this happened to you.... I hope you have found peace, love, and a sense of belonging in your life.

[@VanessaKittredge]

These poor sweet people. I’m so sorry. I was born in the states, illegitimate, and went to catholic school. I always knew I had a scarlet letter on my chest.

[@shannonluck5066]

Poor you, what a cross to bear, my love ❤

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

dont view yourself with such narrow minded views. you are not illegitimate. just because a mother and father are not wed does not mean a baby is a sin!

[@annehinde9302]

Cold cold hearts the mothers should have had the support to keep their children if they still could not then adopt .

[@julierogers1155]

The Irish government is SORELY LACKING in action on this issue. Shame.

[@oakmaiden2133]

The pope and entire catholic cult is to blame and of course the government members were probably catholic also. It’s the church that decided this. Maybe some day humans will wake up and smell the mythological beliefs and bury them where they belong.

[@mirrage42]

Probably because so many in government were complicit and got kickbacks.

[@passionfruitprincess]

I think most governments are sorely lacking. And many religions.

[@WhirlyPearly]

And the richest business in the world~ the Catholic Church. They have enough money to right so many of their wrongs.

[@Gwaycee]

That church is cursed. It can never wash off all the blood of children and people that died in their "holy" hands.

[@lynnedanieli2537]

This is why I'm a lapsed Catholic, I will not conform to any money making religion. I believe in God and I am a spiritual person but I am an individual who will not follow any religion (money making company). I wish everyone involved in this video, love, peace and light. ❤❤❤

[@karenl8101]

Thank you for sharing your personal story.

[@veronicababy7959]

So, not Ireland and not always the Catholic Church but in the US there were homes for unwed mothers. Women, girls really, were taken in to have their babies. They were expected to give them up for adoption. If they refused, their parents were presented with enormous bills for their care creating an economic incentive to give up the child. This cruelty is worldwide.

[@faraboverubieskerry]

Those homes you describe in the US were created the Catholic Church

[@TranNguyenVungLay]

“Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence. It will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guideline” - Bertrand Russell

[@SkepticalTeacher]

One can only hope!!

[@carolwilliams8511]

Yes. If only...

[@mktay2067]

And now with secular belief we have the tidal wave of detransitioners who have gone through hell.

[@lim8581]

The resilience of those affected by the painful history of forced adoptions in Ireland is truly inspiring. Their fight for recognition, justice, and the truth is a testament to the human spirit. Thank you for shedding light on this important and often overlooked chapter in Ireland's past.

[@user-ql5yb2hs2p]

How could so many babies and their mothers die in these homes??

[@sarahudson108]

Cruelty and neglect, by the people who were supposed to care for and help them .

[@carolwilliams8511]

​@@sarahudson108Yes. By 'good' Christians 😠

[@sarahudson108]

@@carolwilliams8511 Some were hypocrites or just on a power trip.

[@dawn1913]

@@sarahudson108 not to care for them, people who were paid to "make it go away". Did you not hear that parents pay these mother/baby homes to cover up the embarrassing sins of their daughters? It's always the woman's fault and the children and her must pay the awful price.

[@sarahudson108]

@@dawn1913 True the poor women and babies suffered , while the father's , families and abusive nuns got away from it .

[@clinkedylinkedy1]

HORRIFYING and necessary to remember and reconcile.

[@fintamaria2429]

How many lives have been destroyed in the name of religion, this means making rules of life based on the illusions of some priests😢😢

[@SteroidKidney-xp3zy]

In South America christianity came with Bible in one, and Sword in the other hand

[@passionfruitprincess]

Millions :( Religion causes so much death & war. It's crazy :(

[@garotadagavea]

@@SteroidKidney-xp3zyeverywhere, actually.

[@elizabethbrauer1118]

this is why I do not believe in sky gods

[@shelleyshimmin7940]

There's a show called "the woman in the wall" that should be watched if you want to know the personal impact of this part in irish history. Thankfully Tuam will be excavated soon and more people can have closure, what a horrible tragedy for these people.

[@ModPhreak]

The show is good, powerfull and important. I didn't even realise it was basically envisioning what really happened.

[@thatsthejobbb8587]

Has the excavation been approved? They've been campaigning for years regarding the grounds in Bessborough, co Cork!

[@betterpoliticsquetu]

religious ppl scare me same thing happened in spain separate church from state catherine is a beautiful woman and low makeup if any one of the best docs ive ever seen

[@whaaat3632]

From what I've seen so far, Ireland was by far the most extreme in this policy. It was a cultural as well as religious practice.

[@patcavasin5947]

I really dislike the term "illegitmate" .... the babies and children are innocent of wrong doing ... the young mothers were "sinners" but were there no consequences for the young men who fathered all these babies. So very sad.

[@faraboverubieskerry]

No..the men were never shamed apparently. It was always the woman...and then the child was an outcast. Totally unfair but typical for the last few centuries

[@dootzoo]

what an insightfull topic to cover. well done !

[@MizGizma]

The part that sickens me so much ... the Catholic church BRAGS about taking care of orphans and running hospitals ... knowing full well that its all about the money.

[@DoloRoboto]

Yup. They forcibly orphaned these kids and then invented the concept of the orphanage. Its madness.

[@timmytwodogs]

Nothin on this Earth causes a child as much pain as being disgarded at birth. Every day, you wake up and wonder why ?

[@smariegalski3641]

The whole organization should have been shut down years ago.

[@hlcorick]

Catherine you are an amazing person. I'm in Texas but greatly appreciate all your hard work and enduring the struggles of your effort. Thank you!

[@margarettaha3199]

The History of mankind has its very dark moments. Man invented the sword, the bow and arrow to kill their prey which includes human beings. Today they choose such destruction, not just guns but bombs, chemical warfare to erase humankind. The story of Ireland and its people is very painful for some people. My mother came from Kildare, a beautiful part of Ireland with its land and horses. Myself at eighteen years old after working in an orphanage for three years then a hospital for two years in Lincoln. I wanted to go get a passport from London U.K. I got a shock as they told me I was adopted, my mother cried on the phone. She broke down and told me bad stories about being told to go hide in the woods and that she was my mother but the man she married was not my father. I found out he was American in the army. I tracked him down living in one of the states but could not proceed. My mother may she rest in peace had retained a solicitor in London. My mother died and my brother got a letter from this solicitor stating as she had passed away that his services were no longer needed. My mother had stated she wanted an apology from the Irish government. And as my mother knew many other Irish people had come to Britain for a new life, they were given money, but my mother wanted an APOLOGY not the money. M. Taha

[@dawnoceanside7300]

My grampa, youngest of 18 children with his 2 sisters, 1 and 2 years old were sold to a couple outside of boston during the famine. My great aunts and grandpa never knew their parents or siblngs. Catholic "church" tokd my great grandparents, they had too many children. Grampa was a Providence firefighter for 40 years!! Lost both legs in a fire, 6 months before retirement!!!

[@feelingoffbalance]

Catholic Church has a lot to answer for

[@paillette2010]

Understatement of, what, 17 millennia?

[@sands7779]

The people that didn't support their daughters and sisters and local authorities also have a lot to answer for.

[@paillette2010]

@@sands7779 tied directly to the church. Especially the lying nuns calling reconnection with lost children a mortal sin.

[@margaretr5701]

@@sands7779 Shamed and ostracized while trying to cope with large families, must've been a nightmare existence.

[@sunway1374]

Possibly the most evil institution in the history of the human race.

[@zs3137]

When religious groups make decisions for general public, it never gets better than this chaos! I still can’t believe people are religious to this date and follow the very same groups that did all this mess. Absolutely heartbreaking 😢

[@carnifaxx]

yes, this is one of the main issues I have with people deliberately joining or remaining in churches - for me it just means they approve of all the atrocities. They could have believed to whatever they wanted without the involvement with basically an international criminal organization... the information are known for decades, there is no excuse for them wanting to belong to all this... (Fun fact is that the only church that has in their rules "do not harm little children" is the church of satan :D )

[@mktay2067]

It's not just "religious" groups looking up detransitioners today shows it can happen with " secular" belief too.

[@octohej6436]

@@mktay2067 Regret rates of gender-affirming surgery are lower than knee replacement surgery. If we decided based on marginal examples we wouldn't allow any medical surgieries. Not to mention problems with societal lack of acceptence that has impact on trans people and can influence results of such studies.

[@itswagon]

Why aren't the order of the guilty nuns mentioned in the reports? Their shame and guilt should be proclaimed throughout the world.

[@rozdoyle8872]

For what it is worth and to give another prospective on a Mother who was traced & met her daughter ( my Dear Friend), after a genial meeting in a hotel , the 2 women walked to the door and Mammy turned into a wretched witch who instructed her long lost daughter to never contact her again as Mammy didn't want her husband (my friend's father)& grown up children's lives upset , She built her lovely gentle daughter up and cut her down within the space of 2 hours. My dear friend faded away slowly over a 5 year period and now lies in a grave in the West of Ireland . Responsibility???? The Nuns who arranged it are long dead so they didn't make the Final Cruel decision in a Galway Hotel.

[@acs2735]

I am so sorry for your friend and for your loss. 😢

[@shannonluck5066]

I'm sorry for your friends cruel traumatic experience...😢 How horrible. Unfortunately some reunions don't end well. Your friend is lucky 🍀 to have you as a dear supportive friend. ❤

[@Kinging76]

I can feel their pain when being born was a sin; luckily, nowadays, most people are born out of wedlock, and it's no longer a sin.

[@dawn1913]

Perhaps,but single mother homes are still referred to as "broken homes", calling her children "broken" doesn't give these very loved and dutifully cared for children much of a positive start. The vile attitude and treatment hasn't changed.

[@eleanormenz7169]

I came from a loving devout catholic family but with all the horrible things the catholic church has done..I want absolutely nothing to do with it. Jesus is horrified.

[@acs2735]

@@dawn1913So true😢

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

exactly their is nothing sinful about a unwed mother and her child! Im a woman and im not married you think i care if i have a child wed or not! a shame on the catholic curch!

[@paillette2010]

I wish I could find the documentary about this that came out about 10 or so years ago. It also mentions Jane Russell's adoption of a child out of this perverted system. I think the only thing worse was what the church did to the First Nation children in North America. No one was adopting those kids and the priests preyed on the children. The curse of religious dogma.

[@passionfruitprincess]

Is it The Secret Scripture? We too have a Stolen Generation of out First People here in Australia too. Very sad :(

[@MB-vu3ow]

I think it is called “Children of Shame.”

[@josephhapp9]

@@passionfruitprincessalso the film “Sunshine and Oranges” about English children sent to Australian institutions.

[@passionfruitprincess]

@@josephhapp9 Interesting. I'll try find that. Thanks.

[@acs2735]

Poor wee babies😢. Sending love to the ‘crib mates’.

[@ElinorBarker-r2h]

The practice of sending unwed mothers to "homes" to give birth - usually to return home minus the baby - was not restricted to Ireland alone. And as in the case of these Irish folk, getting any information about their birth parents was made almost impossible, both because of the adoption laws of the time and the general stonewalling by the authorities, both Church and Governmental. And although not all of these institutions were run by the Catholic Church, most of them maintained similar treatment of the unfortunate girls in their care, though I believe that the treatment of the babies was far more humane, largely because of more stringent oversight and the requirement for regular medical checks . Which is not to say that there was no abuse or neglect involved at all. And the mothers were certainly subjected to some very rigid rules, and often hard work, because of the social stigma that pregnancy out of wedlock bore. Unfortunately, both then and now, there are many people who profess to be Christian who display behaviour and attitudes that only prove them to be some of the worst of sinners rather than the "saints" they profess to be.

[@janefreeman995]

The movie Philomena starring Judy Dench was a true story about all of this and her search for her adult child. Wonderful movie set in Killyleagh, Ireland.

[@elizabethmcleod246]

Yes, I loved that film.

[@janejones5362]

GOOD movie. Dame Dench goes above and beyond. Her own mother is from Dublin.

[@serge7530]

All this on the name of God. Many of the worst crimes if man's history were made in the name of God.. Catholic church has a lot of shady past.. and present to be accountable for

[@kathleendickens5428]

My mother got pregnant from a one night stand in college, not knowing who the father was. This was the 70s and with my grandparents being strict Irish American Catholics, sent her to Arizona to give birth. She had stayed with my aunt at the time, and even she didn’t know the full extent until my grandma was on her deathbed. After falling pregnant with me, my mom was to marry my dad to avoid out of wedlock, but the marriage didn’t last long. It’s just scary to see that this has been happening for so long

[@Danielle-L]

The DNA tests need to come with some counseling as well. I used one to find who my biological father is and I was not prepared for the heartbreak of finding out he's not a nice man and having to reconcile what that means about me. I fully support the use of DNA tests, I just think we need to offer more support and acknowledge that the results might have impacts on people's mental health because at least for me I was treated like I shouldn't have any emotional impact from finding out things about a man I've never met, completely ignoring the fact that half my DNA comes from him. Who am I? How much does DNA matter? Is his cruelty in my blood?

[@duibhiruimaolmmhauid9039]

no.. his cruelty is not in your blood, having read your post, i see a kind, compassionate person.

[@louiselinton2845]

Cruelty is a personal choice moment by moment, nothing to do with DNA.

[@fattoad344]

Catherine Corless should be praised for her perseverance and courage to bring justice for all the mothers and children!!

[@lookingupwithwonder]

❤❤❤❤

[@ReasonNotFightFlight]

The film Philomena was enough for me. Sad era for so many families.

[@careylee2595]

Looks like the combination of church (religion) and government is a really bad idea. Also witness the residential schools in Canada.

[@shannonluck5066]

So true...

[@carolpendleton2878]

Although it would be a huge undertaking, can they exhume the graves, take DNA from the bones and then ask the victims for their DNA and try to match them? The government should require the Catholic Church to pay for it all.

[@alexandrawhitelock6195]

God bless these people for pulling back the curtain…

[@rosemarymonty5399]

It was being practiced everywhere in the World where the Catholic Church was a major force in the community.

[@shannonluck5066]

The other churches did it too! 😢

[@bearashby4451]

That so called place should be arrested shame on them

[@janejones5362]

I DO NOT have a grudge against the entire Church. I DO hate lies, and theft of children is especially heinous. G-d NEVER forgets. HE will bring justice. I am currently searching my background. I was born in a Catholic hospital. When I contacted the order of nuns who delivered me, I encountered stonewalling, until I reminded one nun, lieing is a grievous, mortal sin. She turned somewhat, and gave me a piece of information, that helped me continue.

[@shannonluck5066]

Good for you, calling her on her lies! Best of 🍀 with your search! ❤

[@lynndodson248]

I watched 'the woman in the wall' recently on TV. It shows you the other side of the story, the mother. Heart breaking to watch but a true story. ❤

[@gingerhiser7312]

This should be mandatory viewing for forced birthers.

[@angelikalindenau943]

Thank you for posting this again

[@bernardausterberry9795]

Is there anything good in the past of the Catholic church. So many cases of unsupervised power and corrupt use of it.

[@PHlophe]

the late Pope Benedikt , defrocked over 400 priests ( and i am not talking about the rest of ranked clergy ) in just 4 years before his own death . This should tell you something

[@MauraQuish]

The Catholic Church has been human trafficking for so long…look at Spain as well, and what they did to the indigenous peoples of North America and Australia was criminal

[@karinfleuren1044]

Reminds me of the movie, "Philomina", based on such ophanages.

[@ObservantHistorian]

No worries. The Church has forgiven itself and returned to being infallible again.

[@jasminebean5762]

This tragedy is beautifully portrayed in the movie Phillomena, based on a true story. I saw this movie at the cinema and remember coming out with an overwhelming wish to punch a nun. The Catholic church in Ireland's treatment of orphans, single mums and their babies was appalling and since this was publicised explains the drop in church attendance in Ireland from 80% in the 1990s to 28% in 2020.

[@Books-and-coffee0]

There's a movie dealing with this topic called Philomena (2013). It's very good.

[@carolwilliams8511]

Yes. Seen that. Judi Dench.

[@tartnouveau3652]

Poor Paul, his birth mother didn’t want to have contact with

[@Gerhardium]

The Irish government's cozy relationship with the catholic mythology was a disgrace, thankfully the mythologists have finally been pushed off the peak of power but they are still a danger. If you see a priest cross the street and if you have kids keep them as far away from every mythology as possible.

[@stevenhershman2660]

There are similar stories about the Lebensborn Children . Now the children are old and tell you what went on .

[@austinavison]

Few stories move me in the way one such as this does about children yearning to know their parents.

[@mirrage42]

Think about the mothers. Emotionally tortured while trying to physically recover from giving birth in a place where the nuns were both ignorant of medical knowledge and disgusted by it. They even punished women for leaking breast milk after their babies were taken.

[@WhiteBraveheart1]

My teacher always advised us....beware the sound of one hand clapping.

[@sharonanderson8680]

So only the mothers had to deal with this alone, where's the scummy fathers, the catholic church is evil

[@faraboverubieskerry]

The scummy fathers got away with it and went on with their lives in society. Patriarchy! Unlike the woman who would live with shame, trauma and the memory of handing her child over...and the child who would be considered an outcast for their whole lives.

[@mycobacteriem2540]

it's just like the cases in spain, argentina, chile. it's chilling how deep this all goes

[@diannameade495]

The families of these mothers and babies are as much to blame as the Catholic "church". I could not look at my daughter in that situation , and turn her and my grandchild away . Yes the act might have been a mistake but why should both of their lives be ruined or ended.

[@cleanqueen75]

Didn’t something like this happen in Canada at some of the orphanages?

[@kristenkaz3080]

Yes. Native Americans. Also happened in USA. Horrible. 60 Minutes has a feature on it. It’s fascinating & oh so tragic.

[@cleanqueen75]

@@kristenkaz3080 I know a guy who was adopted from a Catholic orphanage in Quebec Canada in 1955. I don’t think he ever new anything about his biological parents.

[@kristenkaz3080]

@@cleanqueen75 that’s horrible. But yet, back then, that was considered the proper way to do things. To whisper someone was adopted was a scandal, or in the very least, good gossip. To KNOW who their parents were was even beyond that. I will never understand that mindset. And I was born in 1973. Unwed mother’s homes were less popular, but were still going back then. My uncle got one of his students pregnant & that’s where she went & he was hustled out of that district rather quickly. I often wonder if my cousins know they have a half sibling.

[@shannonluck5066]

Yes, it definitely happened in Canada. All the churches colluded.

[@NikholskyNikholsky]

It happened in India, Spain too church abuses and scandals

[@williamthomson638]

7 days is more than the mom's get now. My babies were born in the 1970s. I got 2 weeks. My grandchildren born in this decade even the dads got time off.

[@sydneyfairbairn3773]

In our California high school a girl got pregnant with her steady boyfriend and she stayed in school with us. I don't remember anybody raising a fuss about it. Circa 1978.

[@grafvonreineck1966]

If he remember his mom by smelling a letter.... Is sad! 😪

[@angelaargentati3591]

God bless all your struggling souls. Love and blessings upon your lives❤. Government must indicate as worst crime to separate a mother from her baby. "Tantum potuit obtenere religio".

[@clari882]

"There has been more efforts towards keeping the zealous and sometimes criminal ideologies of religion, then there have ever been efforts to have safe and happy children in this world."

[@Svetlana-says-it-as-it-is.]

True

[@passionfruitprincess]

There is a really good movie about this called The Secret Scripture starring Mara Rooney, Vanessa Regrave, Theo James & Eric Bana. Very sad what young Irish women had to go through.