Church of England Apologizes for Forced Adoption of 185,000 Children, Faces Criticism Over Wording
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 18
Church of England Apologizes for Forced Adoption of 185,000 Children, Faces Criticism Over Wording
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 18
Summary
185,000 children were forcibly separated from unmarried mothers after World War Two, prompting Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally to apologize for the Church of England’s role.
A Church report released with the apology said there may have been as many as 200 mother-and-baby homes from 1949 to 1976, where women were often sent against their will and subjected to work, prayer and penitence.
The Adult Adoptee Movement said the statement used “minimising, passive and distancing language” and failed to acknowledge specific harms suffered by adoptees and mothers.
A March government report called the treatment of many pregnant girls and women—some under 18—“inhumane,” and the British government is also expected to issue an apology, following similar moves in Ireland and Australia.
Apologies have been made, but will the Church and state now pay reparations for 185,000 'stolen' babies?
With unmarked graves and drugging revealed, what other dark secrets do the UK's mother and baby homes still hold?
The Church called mothers 'raw material.' Will opening secret archives reveal the full truth behind forced adoptions?
200,000 Forced Adoptions in Britain: Church of England’s 2026 Apology, Survivor Responses, and the Road to Justice
Overview
On June 18, 2026, the Church of England, led by Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally, issued a formal apology for its historical role in forced adoptions, acknowledging the deep pain, trauma, and stigma experienced by survivors and their families. The Archbishop emphasized that the shame belonged to the Church, not those affected. While the apology aimed to recognize decades of harm, immediate reactions were mixed: the Adult Adoptee Movement criticized it as performative and lacking real engagement with adoptees, while others saw it as a first step toward healing. This moment marks a significant move toward addressing past injustices.