Britain and the Church of England apologize for decades of forced adoptions

On Thursday, the Church of England and the British government issued formal apologies for the forced adoption of approximately 185,000 babies between 1949 and 1976. For decades, unmarried women were often coerced by religious institutions and state authorities into giving up their children to avoid the social stigma of pregnancy outside of marriage.

Church leaders acknowledged that mothers were frequently treated with neglect and cruelty in mother-and-baby homes while being pressured to sign away their parental rights. Survivors have spent years campaigning for this recognition, describing the practice as a shameful chapter that caused lifelong trauma for both parents and their children.

The government is now developing a financial redress scheme for victims that is expected to launch by the end of 2026.