Head of Ireland’s Catholic Church apologises to survivors of mother and baby homes - BBC News

The head of the Irish Catholic Church has unreservedly apologised to the survivors of church-run homes for unmarried women and their children.

It follows the publication of an inquiry into the homes, which also acted as orphanages and adoption centres. It reveals deprivation, appalling abuse and shocking levels of infant mortality. Around 9,000 infants died in the homes between the 1920s and 1990s.

Archbishop Eamon Martin said “the Church was clearly part of that culture in which people were frequently stigmatised, judged and rejected.”

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Ireland correspondent Chris Page.

[bewarethesavagejaw]

The Catholic Church seem to be forever apologising.

[Thedairy]

It’s hard to imagine such cruelty inflicted on innocent souls in the name of religion. What a hypocritical sick society!

[domskinner]

I will never understand the Irish government's stance beside this church.

How many times must they harm your people before you demand wholesale reform?

[janmarsh]

I know of a young child's experience in a children's home in England. He often wet the bed. The Nuns would slap and humiliate the poor little soul each time it happened. Early seventies, I often wonder where he is today, or even if he reached adulthood.

[lfeb]

So disgusting and horrific to treat a child that way! 😭

[edwardnestor]

What most people do not realise is that once the "CATHOLIC CHURCH" has you name on its books, by their law.. You can not leave. I DENOUNCE THE "CATHOLIC CHURCH" ITS TEACHINGS AND ITS POPE.
An Irish man who has suffered at the hands of the catholics.

[squantum]

The people who committed these crimes are dead. The church people who are apologizing would have done the the same thing. They would cover the crimes to protect the Roman Catholic Church from embarrassment.

[Toxicwastgg]

A horrific cover up brought to you by the people who covered for Saville and his ilk for decades.

[ricardomorais]

Ah religion. Come my children... Thank god I'm
atheist...

[nancylee]

Justice will never be felt by those victims!..will their souls ever rest in peace?

[sailamou]

Without the Catholic Church the world would be just perfect. No wars, no thousand children starving, no homeless people, NHS would be perfect and cures accessible to anyone, no Death penalty in some States ( USA among them), no global warming, no pollution.... Everything is perfect without the Catholic Church. A perfect world!!!!

[robertschofield]

The BBC had to report this

They could not repress it any longer

I suspect the numbers are much, much larger

Remember what the BBC do to children

Hypocrisy of the first order

[carrotthought]

It's so sad. Please Pray for all children in the world that have to suffered from society.

[SamratTheEmperor]

An apology isn't enough..not by a long shot

[thereeds]

These are the men who they say "we are the servants of God" but their heart is far away from God. !!

[garywhittaker]

The Queen Mother's cousin was locked up in a lunatic asylum and forgotten about!!!
There's a film called 'The Magdalene Laundries' that illustrates this.

[lilmonkey]

The Catholic Church has a lot to answer for!!!

[jaelansibilly]

I praise to them and family of all those who passed away

[joemcnerney]

Hopefully now thousands of Irish people will have the courage to leave the Catholic church

[siphsdemeyer]

If it wasn't for my mom I would have not been here we need to remember who got us here. We need to love our mother's sisters wives grandma Aunty's and any woman. And has for children it's really sad to see this stats I'm overwhelmed with tears and emotion. But we can help in the smallest ways of just telling our loved ones I love you. I'll keep praying for the woman and children who are treated badly because nobody deserves to be in those circumstances.