Church of England apologizes for role in forced adoptions from 1949 to 1976

The Church of England apologized Thursday for its role in the decades-long practice of forced adoptions in England and Wales. The archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said the church had listened to firsthand accounts from people affected. She stated that survivors described the pain, shame, and indignity they experienced both then and now.

"Today, we say to each of you: The shame you were made to feel was wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of," the archbishop said.

Survivor and government responses Diana Defries from the Movement for an Adoption Apology said the apology was a long time coming. She stated that her daughter had been taken from her shortly after she gave birth in 1974. A 2022 report from a British parliamentary panel found that the state bore ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering caused by public institutions.

The British government has said it plans to issue its own apology. The education secretary told a parliamentary committee Wednesday that the government apology would come very soon.