Archbishop Martin Accepts Church Involvement In Mother And Baby Home Scandal

THE LEADER of the Catholic Church in Ireland has apologized “unreservedly” to the survivors of maternity and child homes following the publication of the long-awaited final report of the Maternity and Child Homes Commission.

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

“For that, and for the lasting pain and emotional anguish that has resulted, I unreservedly apologize to the survivors and to all those who are personally affected by the realities he uncovers,” Martin said in a statement released tonight.

Martin asked all who hold leadership positions in the Church to study the report carefully and “identify, accept, and respond to the broader questions the Report raises about our past, present, and future.”

The report details the experiences of women and children who lived in 14 homes for mothers and babies and four homes in the county, a sample of the total 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 children who were in institutions.

The report’s key recommendations include an apology from the State, reparation, and that the survivors of maternal and child homes should be given access to their birth information.

Archbishop Martin urged the State to ensure that the remaining obstacles to information and tracing are overcome, as “the rights of all survivors to access personal information about themselves must be fully respected.”

He also asked that anyone who has more information about the burial sites come forward.

“All cemeteries must be identified and properly marked so that the deceased and their families are recognized and never be forgotten,” he said.

This report will stir many emotions as you discover more disturbing and painful truths about our past. I congratulate those who have fought to have this story told and I thank those who have already been supporting survivors through various organizations and providing a platform for their voices to be heard.

Martin’s apology on behalf of the Church follows comments made today by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said religious organizations must apologize to the survivors and also “make a contribution” to a reparation plan.

Several religious orders responded to the report tonight and welcomed its publication.

Regarding reparation, the Commission’s report says that reparation “may be financial or it may be in the form of improved services” and states that any decision on financial reparation is “a matter for the government.”

The report also notes that the state has previously paid compensation to the survivors of industrial institutions and Magdalene Laundries.

The Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, said this afternoon that the government will establish an interdepartmental group that “will consider the recommendations of the commission and the broader issue of what is the correct classification of who should receive redress. “

When asked if religious organizations should contribute to a compensation fund, O’Gorman said it would be “appropriate if there is a significant contribution from religious organizations to the State Restorative Recognition Scheme.”

The minister said he would like to speak with the organizations first to “discuss their will initially” before speculating on how much religious organizations could contribute.

The Taoiseach also said church organizations should contribute to the reparation plan.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime program tonight, retired Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that “it is the people who did acts of toughness who have to take responsibility.”

When asked about the repair, Martin said: “I think it is going to be an interdepartmental commission and I think it is better to establish the program than to go back to it.”