Statement of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference ...

Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
June 10, 2014

http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2014/06/10/statement-of-the-irish-catholic-bishops-conference-welcoming-the-commission-of-investigation-into-mother-and-baby-homes/

Statement of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference welcoming the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes

On the second day of its Summer General Meeting, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has published the following statement welcoming the announcement by Government of a Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes:

We welcome the announcement today of a statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland.

The harrowing story which is continuing to emerge of life and death in Mother and Baby homes has shocked the people of Ireland. It is disturbing that the residents of these Homes suffered disproportionately high levels of mortality and malnutrition, disease and destitution.

Sadly we are being reminded of a time when unmarried mothers were often judged, stigmatised and rejected by society, including the Church. This culture of isolation and social ostracising was harsh and unforgiving. The Gospel calls us to treat everyone, particularly children and the most vulnerable, with dignity, love, compassion and mercy. We must ensure that all children and their mothers always feel wanted, welcomed and loved. Mindful of the words of Jesus, ‘Let the little children come to me, because it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs’, we apologise for hurt caused by the Church as part of this system.

It is important that the Commission, and all of us, approach these matters with compassion, determination and objectivity. We need to find out more about what this period in our social history was really like and to consider the legacy it has left us as a people. Above all we need to enable those who were directly affected to receive recognition and appropriate support. We therefore welcome the Government’s intention that the Commission of Investigation will have the necessary legal authority to examine all aspects of life in the Homes. The Investigation should inquire into how these Homes were funded and, crucially, how adoptions were organised, processed and followed up.