AssetID: 55784101
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Church of England Apologises for Role in Postwar Forced Adoptions
Caption: Church of England Apologises for Role in Postwar Forced Adoptions. The Church of England has issued a formal apology for its role in forced adoption practices that affected thousands of unmarried mothers and their children in the decades after World War II. Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally said the Church was "profoundly sorry" for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced by those who were pressured or compelled to give up their babies. Church research found that it was involved in more than 200 mother-and-baby homes between 1949 and 1976, a period when around 185,000 children were adopted in England and Wales. The report concluded that strong social stigma surrounding unmarried motherhood left many women with few meaningful alternatives and contributed to coercive adoption practices. Although Church policy often stated that mothers should be supported in keeping their children, investigators found that this guidance was not always followed in practice. Survivors and advocacy groups welcomed the apology as an important acknowledgment of past wrongdoing but argued that further action, support and accountability are still needed. The apology comes amid growing political pressure for a broader reckoning, with the British government expected to issue its own formal apology for the state's role in the system. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Church of England,Archbishop of Canterbury,Sarah Mullally,forced adoptions,investigation,rules,formal apology,government,research,victims,activists,accountability,transparency,practices,postwar,unmarried mothers,children
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