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THE LEADER OF the Catholic Church in Ireland has “unreservedly” apologised to the survivors of mother and baby homes following the publication of the long-awaited final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said he accepts that the Church was clearly part of that culture in which people were “frequently stigmatised, judged and rejected”.
“For that, and for the long-lasting hurt and emotional distress that has resulted, I unreservedly apologise to the survivors and to all those who are personally impacted by the realities it uncovers,” Martin said in a statement issued this evening.
Martin called on all those who are in positions of leadership in the Church to study the report carefully and “identify, accept and respond to the broader issues which the Report raises about our past, present and future”.
The report details the experiences of women and children who lived in 14 mother and baby homes and four county homes – a sample of the overall number of homes – between 1922 and 1998. It confirms that about 9,000 children died in the 18 homes under investigation – about 15% of all the children who were in the institutions.
The key recommendations from the report include a State apology, redress and that access to their birth information should be given to survivors of mother and baby homes.
Archbishop Martin urged the State to ensure that any remaining obstacles to information and tracing should be overcome as ” the rights of all survivors to access personal information about themselves should be fully respected”.
He also asked that anyone with further information about burial places come forward.
“All burial grounds should be identified and appropriately marked so that the deceased and their families will be recognized and never be forgotten,” he said.
This report will stir many emotions as it further uncovers disturbing and painful truths about our past. I commend those who have fought to have this story told and I thank those who have already been supporting survivors through various organisations and providing a platform for their voices to be heard.
Martin’s apology on behalf of the Church follows comments made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin earlier today, who said that religious organisations should make an apology to survivors and also “make a contribution” towards a redress scheme.
A number of religious orders responded to the report this evening, welcoming its publication.
When it comes to redress, the Commission’s report says that redress “can be financial or can be in the form of enhanced services” and states that any decision on financial redress is “a matter for government”.
The report also notes that the State has previously paid out compensation to the survivors of industrial institutions and Magdalene Laundries.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said this afternoon that the government is to set up an inter-departmental group which will “consider the recommendations from the commission and the wider issue of what is the correct categorisation of those who should who should receive redress.”
Asked whether religious organisations should contribute to a redress fund, O’Gorman said it would be “appropriate that there is a significant contribution from religious organisations towards the State’s Restorative Recognition Scheme.”
The minister said he would wish to speak to the organisations first to “discuss their willingness initially” before speculating on how much religious organisations could contribute.
The Taoiseach also said that church organisations should contribute to the redress scheme.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme this evening, retired Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said that “people who performed acts of harshness are the ones who have to take the responsibility”.
Asked about redress, Martin said: “I think that’s going to be an interdepartmental commission and I think that these are better done in setting out the program than coming back to it.”
Turn over all your records, hands over all our schools, remove yourself from the boards of our schools and hospitals and begin your retirement of priests and nuns. Give the young seminaries a chance for a better life, and just take a back seat and let our society heal.
@James Ward: James said so well You have summed it up
@James Ward: Reporter, should have asked Ark Bishop; ‘Will there be any Redress.’
@ÓDuibhír Abú: They have, and are busy selling off their redress.
@James Ward: absolutely agree but not in their remit, untouchable just like politicians
@Hup Abù: absolutely. Promises being sold and monies being repatriated. Their assets should be frozen to stop this.
@James Ward: Will the ETB model be any better for Education. This is run by political parties by politician’s who failed in the past with state homes. Jobs for the boys and all that.
@James Ward: The alternative for education is the ETB model. Run by in large by political parties by politicians who have failed us in the past particularly with regards to the current atrocities. Will only do the popular thing not the right thing.
@Brian Shea: so you’re happy to have religious groups ruling over school boards ?
When will they be announcing details of their contribution to the redress fund?
@Kevin Collins: NEVER
@Kevin Collins: never.
Same as they will never hand records to the united nations for their investigation.
The catholic church is above the law
Too little too late
@LFCMAD_94: Good thing the church is not a private sector organisation or after the discovery of 9000 murders/ manslaughters you would imagine the company would be prosecuted, disbanded not to mention members behind bars. #TooBigToFail
@LFCMAD_94: thay could have done something before now
@LFCMAD_94: too little… Not too late yet.
We need action… Criminal investigations
Private prosecutions etc.
@Glenn O h’Ailpín: could you imagine if say sicentolgy or some other group committed the crimes the Catholic Church has in this country. They’d be ran from trh country and burned at the stake.
The Catholic Church in Ireland were selling human beings (adoption) for profit, they turned a blind eye to clergy buggering young boys, they set the suspects up in new places, they stigmatised innocent young girls and intimidated their families to abandon them. They sold influence in an afterlife for cash.
There’s no mealy mouthed apology that will go near being enough.
@Gerry Ryan: a good read, although I havent been able to fact check it https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/celibacy-misogyny-and-sodomy
Why don’t people stop supporting this organisation? Really, that is the ONLY thing that will ever have any impact.
@Jim Lingk: They are, their reach is almost non-existent among those under 40.
Some older people however aren’t willing to take that step as it’s all they’ve ever known. We must remember that they’re victims too of the culture of shame that indoctrinated them from birth.
@Rochelle: very well said exactly my thoughts
@Jim Lingk: Stockholm Syndrom.
I think you insult the over 40′s. Haven’t been near a mass or confessional box since the 1970/80′s. Raise my kids with no religion and my grandchildren will be the same. Not all of us over 40, were deaf and blind to the horrors being perpetrated by the Catholic Church. Their demise may be sooner than later…and rightly so.
Between this and the rampant pedophilia, the church is beyond redemption in Ireland.
sorry it is just unforgivable and it was not caused by the ordinary people but the church and politicians at the time. but I am surprised by the amount of people on the Journal who blame the Irish people: without doubt they were not around at the time
@Carol Cunningham: Irish people from other ‘Pillars of Society’ were involved in the infliction of these crimes.
@Carol Cunningham: Must agree it was the church and the government, the garda the judges, the lay teachers etc who all ignored the abuse that have to share the blame. Everyone knew what was going on and nobody in authority would challenge the church.
@Ashling Fenton: after decades of the church the avg Joe that unmarried mothers were the worst thing in the world
@Joe Johnson: and the Irish people in general approved of what was going on, not to mention the media, who always take the high moral ground, as they are doing in this case, but knew quite well the working of the system but chose to remain silent.
@Carol Cunningham: What did Bishop Martin just say when asked about ‘Redress’, is his; Answer printed back to front, did he in fact say in; Mystical tones; we will get back to that.
@john gavin: As I said everyone with any authority did nothing. General complaints from the ordinary folk were ignored by all professionals.
@Carol Cunningham: it was ignored by normal people as well. As was child rape outside of altar boys and schoolchildren.
@Carol Cunningham: I was around at the time,and yes the Irish people were complicit,no doubt it.
It’s time to disband the Catholic Church and ban them from practicing in Ireland. How many more examples do we need before people recognise that the church is toxic?
@TonyB: And all other religions too. Ban the lot. Only ever brought division and misery.
And this shower continue to preach “morals” from their “pulpits”. Shame on those that subsidise them!
An apology is pointless. They should be stripped of all power, influence and possessions and award their wealth to the victims, destitute and homeless in society.
CAB would most probably have a field day if they where allowed loose on them.
Crimes against humanity.
Close the churches for good!!! kids lives destroyed over a messed up story book
@Chris Blake: that’s the same storybook with child rape so central to the belief system it supports, that RTE buckled when the Romans objected to Waterford Whispers pointing that out.
Three of the 15 institutions Investigated by the Commission were Protestant, some others were state run.
Who is apologising for that?
In fact the state regulated and inspected the mother & baby homes, but did nothing about death and neglect. The government is quite happy to generate excitement about the Roman Catholic Church and about ‘society’. It draws attention away from state responsibility.
See my Church & State and the Bethany Home, that revealed 219 burials of Bethany Home children in 2010.
Stigmatised, judged, rejected…. What about beaten, abused, worked to death, starved? What about murdered, thrown in holes, discarded?
Would be great to hear how things will be improved … I’m not in any way religious but abolishing religion and closing churches is not the answer.
@JG: why not?
@Graham O’Brien: try suggesting something practical. Are you seriously suggesting that it is possible to get r
@Graham O’Brien: try suggesting something practical. Are you seriously suggesting that it is possible to get rid of religion. This situation needs and deserves practical solutions. There are millions of people still practicing religion. You want to stop them. Try and see sense. Kneejerk reactions never work long term.
@JG: I agree that closing churches won’t happen……they still provide a service to those that are faithful. But I think now is a time to remove their hold / influence on society…..starting with removing the angelus before the 6pm news, government making religious organisations register as a charity and holding them to the same standards, audits, taxes, etc. as all charities (though well aware there is some way to go there), removing the church from state boards (schools, hospitals, etc). They are practical things that will have impact and also remove their toxic voice from society
Oh well if its unreservedly then…….
And as such they will address financial liability. That would cost incredible sums of money. Better to just apologize and hope this all goes away. Our church is a disgrace. Constantly apologizing and still with their hands out for money
@Fintan O’Halloran: 3 billion dollars and counting in the US.
@Fintan O’Halloran: “Our church is a disgrace.” You mean your church. Not in my name!
I hate the way they say “about 9000 children”, name them.
@Mohanid Ragel: they should probably say “at least 9000 children”. They didn’t examine every mother and baby home in the country.
@Mohanid Ragel: Seeminly, to the Romans they were all just “it”.
@Mohanid Ragel: most of them do not have names. And the true count will never be known.
Obviously the State knew the report was coming out before the formation of the current government.
So the Greens got Ministery for Children.
However, Roderic O Gormans failure to confirm that those without a birth cert are fully entitled to get to see who they are, is pure chicken.
Yellow belly.
We need a nurenberg trials scenario for the ss of the church
It was not just the church, the governments during this period were to an extent complicit. How many lives were destroyed by the these institutions and don’t forget the industrial schools and Magdalene Laundries. What kind of country does this to be most vulnerable in society.
@Jules: Families were also complicit. And what about the men who got those girls pregnant? We never hear any mention of them.
@Chris Martin: you’re correct there alright. I can also imagine that in cases of rape the women had no where to turn to, indicative of a completely rotten system at every stage.
@Jules: I understand that there were 47 mother and baby homes in Ireland, why were only 18 investigated by the commission?
How many babies did they sell off?
Church assets need to be seized to pay compensation.
It never ceases to amaze me how Irish people can still go to mass every week and hand over their hard earned cash to this corrupt, sick institution.
From the rampant child abuse for decades, corruption, treatment of women and homosexuals and now this. I’m so glad I chose to not baptise my children just to get them into school like so many do.
They should be removed from having anything to do with education or children immediately.
@John Sheahan: they’re nearly gone from education- mind you, in other countries people are willing to pay a fortune for a Catholic education so be careful what you wish for
@Virgil: No, they still have their death grip on our schools. It’s a hard battle for the very few kids whose parents try to resist. My youngest is in Leaving Cert and even this year, before the lockdown, we had to write our objection to compulsory prayers in the classroom, as we have had to do all the way along for three kids.
Part of that culture. Is that some sort of sick joke!!!!???
Shove your apology where your stolen wealth doesn’t shine
Let’s wait until the last minute to apologise, shameful from the church, they’re a black stain on this country.
@James Dollard: well said.
Meaningless words from a meaningless group. They should hang their heads in shame and turn everything over to the Gardai, but we all know that will never happen.
Soo little, sooo late
I used to feel guilty about automatically thinking they’re a paedophile just for wearing a white collar. Now I don’t, not one bit. Priests, nuns, clergy etc simply make my skin crawl.
The sooner the Catholic Church disappears the better, absolutely disgusting organisation, there aren’t the words. As for the nuns still covering up what happened by side-stepping the truth – if hell exists, that’s where those vile pieces of doodoo will go. Perhaps they could visit prison first?
@Clare McAfee: hard to disagree with any of that.
@Clare McAfee: I have personal experience of Catholic priests doing great development work in Africa and of nuns providing medical services to patients without any regards to their beliefs. I could introduce you to a nun helping sex workers and trafficked women and children in a Nairobi slum. Yes, terrible things happened but be fair-minded and recognise that the Church and the clergy have also learned and changed.
The State Martin and the Church Martin have spoken. Let’s see what happens when it comes to redress. What will the House Martins do??
Robert Emmet was hung drawn and quartered for much less.
They have to answer for what they did. Mandatory prison sentences are a must. Apologies and cash settlements are nowhere near enough.
What kind of family would do this to their children?
@Michael Creagh: Plenty of them who were brought up in a society where God and the church was to be feared, never to be questioned, where sex was evil, where homosexuality was illegal, where newspapers would not report any of this and where they could be shunned by their community.
It was interesting how this was reported by the Irish TV news.
Almost as if it had been controlled by the state.
Sky news was much more truthful.
Open the wallet Eamon like a good man.
“Frequently stigmatised, judged and rejected”
Seems a tad reductive and tame!!!!
He seems to have forgotten, detained against their will, imprisoned, tortured, shamed, humiliated, raped, children ripped from their bodies and arms, forced to be slaves, have their children sold or allow to die. Children displaced across the world, and refused access to their documents and identity. Medically experimented on and bodies vast into pits
The church is off to a bad start already. Surprise surprise
They should be trialed for crimes against humanity
That man’s face scares me … reminds me of the “bad” brothers that taught me in school and would delight in psychical violence towards you if you even looked crooked !
Cult leader apologises for culting. I have no problem with Catholics. The faith itself is very positive. The leaders are rotten.
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