There’s been a bit of press over this Senate inquiry. It’s horrific material. It made me angry reading some of the stories. It concerns the forced adoption of children born to unwed mothers between the 50′s and 70′s.
One former nurse admitted:
(It was) very cruel, unjust and very dehumanising to both mother and child.
Professor Shurlee Swain from the Australian Institute of Family Studies says:
There was a broader societal malicious intent to punish women for having sex outside marriage, and the hospitals were an agent of that.
Now where would they have got that crazy idea? Oh yeah, the church. One woman recounts that a nun told her, just to make it clear:
You have sinned against God and the church and you have sinned against your mother.
So what happened exactly? Mothers were forced or tricked into giving up their babies for adoption. Some were drugged. Some were manipulated. Some were threatened and bullied. Some were simply lied to. One mother, who had a sick child, was told that:
If you don’t sign, the government will not spend the money on the surgery to fix him and he will be left in the cot in the corner to die.
This was utterly cruel. It was also profoundly immoral. Tragically some of these children found their way into children’s homes, and as the Forgotten Australians report indicated, they often faced cruel treatment.
This was all at a time when the moral authority of the church was never questioned. The report will recommend that the government apologise for the distress that this has caused a great many mothers and their children. Sadly, I doubt the various Christian denominations will apologise for the moral teaching behind this cruelty.
Fortunately things have changed.
(And as a note to those currently concerned about the sexualisation of children – I’m sure the church was condemning the decline in public morals at that time too).
Related posts:
A work in progress – and something completely different. A crime novel about cultural and generational clashes. A series of murders in the Melbourne art world. 
Greenfields Site.
I have every understanding of Shirlee Swains honest and open sentence herewith.
I also see how some within religious realms are there for power, power over rather than with their fellow man. This appalls me from the past as in ‘Forced Adoptions’ and still today. It’s writhe in some areas where one would find it hard to gain anything but negativity and a brick wall if one questioned this matter.
As I understand it, I for one have to always forgive the church authorities (and others) when they have or do act in unchristianly ways toward my self or from observation toward others. It’s a hrad ask with this one.
I do note some good amongst their ranks, yes.
In the case of forced adoptions those words of Shirlee Swain;s are potent, and terribly sad.
It’s very, very difficult to address or look at most aspects of ‘forced adoptions’ and yes they are tragic however thank goodness it has some (though I reiterate too limited) news exposure and some decent people who may ‘care’ enough to create positive new encouragements to/for the targets.
The article herewith states ‘there has been a bit of press’ about this social issue.
It’s small bytes or bits indeed, and too small for such a large and important individual, family and society social issue. Too little media news about an important matter, and I ask why is this so?
Because I know within religious realms there are very decent, human people I cannot state all were bent on using their ‘power’ over young girls and women, however, yes, too many did and have; and these have power issues rigid and punitive style power issues, terribly sad for them as well as their targets.
The church’s involved are immense in their ways and means of ‘secretising’, so this may be addressed and change or it may be further time before they see what the writer of ‘Wikileaks and the age of tranparency’ has potently said: ‘Top down no longer works’ (I paraphrase here) ‘The people have a voice now’.
My words: ‘We are equal, worth of people is not solely or ever about what one does or does not do, it’s about being, existing as human, and all are part of the human family.’
The world is in the midst of many changes, and people I know are saying to governments and church’s: ‘Instead of always listening to you, I/we want you to listen to us and our diverse views, the time has come.’
Dignity is for all.
Those who have suffered so tragically are re-gaining dignity.
One tragedy of ‘forced adoptions’ is the parents of the young one’s who lost to these thought they were doing the right thing sending their pregnant children, adolescents away – often far away, isolated and alone with an infant kicking inside, and then to some yes mainly church run (government funded) maternity home or hospital, and this created such a terrible rift in families; a tragic one, roots and origins were broken.
Of course there are other tragic aspects, not least the drugs used (one carcinogenic to de-lactate many of the mums) others simply to dumb them down to comply and ‘sign consent under duress’. See: Dr. Geoff Rickarby’s hard yards regarding his many, many years of looking at this topic with emoathic obseravation and noting.
In context, yes, the church’s are not working, and may need to look at why there are not so many bums on seats at their temples.
Core christian principles are so clear and good, yet too many have hidden behind them whilst doing the outrageous, and that’s deceit.
I wish and extend hopeful desire each and every target of forced adoptions much re-solve, self-awareness, as well as human justice.
There will be some (even as they suffered extremely at the hands of what was called ‘religious right’ ) who will find it in the church; yet possibly philosophy will attract many more?
There is, however, a supreme force, some divine force which I find hard to word, at work, which serves to nurture everyone’s growth and well-being.
Synchronous serendipity which Doctor Scott Peck in The Road Less Travelled book outlined. Science and religion can meet together and there can be meaning, creative communications and actions, and non-power-over-others-to-their-suffering (not humane) movement forward.
May all who have suffered loss of their beloved infants, and all infants who suffered loss of their natural mums, and dads be lifted spiritually.
By spiritual I mean emotionally.
Certain media and hardened people would have it that to be emotional is unhealthy.
To correct this nonsense I know from professionals and life: being emotional and direct is very, very healthy.
Anger at injustice as ‘forced adoptions’ is also very healthy, anger at injustice is healthy fullstop. It’s how one uses that anger and it needs ‘channelling” as in redirecting into passion with knowing one is valuable as one is and is loveable and loved.
People need encouragement (there’s a dearth of this in this crazy world) and I extend this to women and their infants who suffered and lost what is inconceivable unless one has experienced it.
En-courage-ment. We all need this to re-solve this social issue.
This social issue will not go away until the mothers ask the authorities (church or otherwise) ” I ask you to ask me for forgiveness’ (not the ‘power’ apology which is empty when the field is top down or uneven).
Respectfully
Pamela
Please accept my apology meant for Dr. Scott Peck, now passed.
How I admire his work and self.
He wrote of Synchronicity as one phenomenom and Serendipity as another.
I put them together, as I have noted along my journey in life synchronous serendipity, and there’s no logical explanation for these things.
I also add, I understand there are those who have the inner ability to encourage self, however, this does not negate what I believe and have written, encouragement is key to enhancing people’s growth and thereby society’s, and there’s a dearth of it indeed. Build this up in people and positive wellsprings arise.
I also understand these are my views and I respect diversity of all views, that is when the views are not negative and shaming or cause suffering to people.
Natural disasters have shown us all there is far more than enough to deal with the anguish of these, let alone man inflicting wrongs on man (or nature); the latter insanity.
I am also advised some in the church/religious realms (in places we do not hear of through regular channels such as media) are indeed looking at their roles seriously; and I also commend some religious people’s for their compassionate outspoken emotional, direct and sincere voices about specific social issues in Australia and elsewhere.
God has been made an uneasy name for many, however, isn’t it more important to look to man for what man creates or is destructive to or with?
(I found the latter and it resonated deeply, in the tragic book ‘Sophie’s Choice’ where the story near the end spoke to me. “At Auschwitz where was god” the author writes, then, whilst he’s contemplating what he just thought, he adds “No, where was man?”
I now keep hearing Phillip Glass and his collaborative music and songs: “Songs of liquid days” and I sincerely desire a leap of faith (faith in people) and humanity, as if I perceive correctly this was inspiration of what that album was trying to portray.
Don’t we all, in varying ways know loss? This is a common human denominator; an equaliser, is it not?
In context ‘Forced Adoptions in the Baby Scoop Era’ is a deeply disturbing time of many tragic losses – healing and light is my affirmation or what some people call prayer, and the experience of ‘forced/coerced adoption’ needs a whole lot of encouragement and lifting/raising spirits who have been tragically saddened to despair.
Finally and realistically, the loss as I know it from forced adoption is very deep and no one “gets over” or “heals the scars” of such a terrible loss completely.
Acceptance is a long journey to climb too.
On a positive creative note: we are all, as I wrote, in this world together and why not make it easier (rather than tougher and meaner) amidst life’s tragic occurrances/losses.
I’m personally gladdened (as well as saddened by the stories, and don’t know how one can feel both yet I do) by ‘the Age’ writing up an article about this topic and the journalist Carol Nader inlcuding so much substance.
Thank you to the site author also, naturally.
Light and Love
Pamela Bridgefoot
Finally I add this with all respect:
In certain religious circles there is the fearmongering and terrible notion of: ‘the day of reckoning’ or ‘judgement day’.
I believe, with a depth of insight, this is one of the most destructive devices any one or any church can use to “control” or “coerce” or ‘faze a christian into their churchs” motive.
For a young sole mother of yesterday (or today) it is intolerable.
There is no such thing at all where love lives and thrives, and may every sole mother or other mother or father and their infants born out of wedlock, or any one, understand self and society enough to know there is no such thing.
(I bought the horrifying notion as a young sensitive girl clinging to hope re. a tragic loss, and wrote a prayer about just this, when I was so alone I needed to believe in God, highly impressionable, guileless, and that ‘fear’ lasted too long to explain the depth of anguish it created in me.) May it no longer create any anguish for anyone, my wish.
Gratitude
Pamela Bridgefoot
(4)
Lest anyone who reads my views and misinterprets (this can happen) I am fully aware the unconscionable face consequences.
This is vastly different from indoctrinating youth and adolescents (anyone) with the nightmare making ‘don’t dare question authority (‘or you’ll be struck down’) or ‘there is a power that or which serves to do you ill-will’ as in a Judge in the sky awaiting horrific wrongs on young, frightened, or older vulnerable anyone who have done nought save be intimidated and coerced into first sexual experience, intimidated and coerced into signing away their own beloved infants or any other out-of-their-control (and under punitive cruel paternalistic domineering control) happenings.
No decent conscionable humane person wants to nor does inflict hurt, harm, discrimination, segregation and dismissive disregard of their/people’s human rights.
Those who choose to feel superior and use God as a backdrop or prop whilst raging wars on poor and or vulnerable knowing they will never know what it’s like to be in one or be amidst one – I have too many questions about this abominable matter.
A professional/man I spoke to today does believe in ‘God as an almighty force that/who does hand out Judgements’ (he is a man of a specific faith) and I have no difficulty accepting his views as I do him having every right to them.
He is someone I respect for other reasons yet we agree to disagree.
Another, also a professional male stated he disagreed with this man and agreed with my view, and so it goes.
Diversity of views very valid.
I also am a victim of forced adoption
I was made to give up my baby in 1970 in horrific circumstances and have kept this secret ever since .
I have been totally destroyed all these years and feel like I carry a dead weight with me each and every day . The secret has been hard to bare and the guilt never lifts .
I could go on but those who have been through this will also know how hard it is to deal with each and every day.
Was wondering if there is a register to put my name on and to tell my story to.
Regards
christine
Hi Christine,
I don’t know of a register. I sympathise. A close friend of mine was pressured to give up her child. Every year around the date of the birth she would suffer depression.
Hi Christine
Yes there are many of us all silenced by the experience, there is a senate inquiry being held – http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/comm_contrib_former_forced_adoption/index.htm you may be able to lodge a submission even though it is later, I could. This has not hit mainstream media and only the NT government had the decency to let relinquishing mothers know about it.
Hugs and healing thoughts your way
I am an adoptee taken from my mother in 1962, she was a widow with four boys under 12. My mothers crime was to be poor, and obviously less able to fight against the threat of having her other children taken if she did not comply with my relenquishment. My mother does not refer to any religous involvment but that of social workers who would appear at ther door, scathing of her ability to already provide for her children born to her deceased husband. My mother was 35, not a young naive girl, yet she still fell to the intimidations of those with all the power to win over her will, she and I certainly had no rights.
The strongest argument to relenquish me was that I would be promised a better life, the one she could not provide. So, with an intense fear, overwhelming grief, and a broken heart she did what she thought was best. But I did not get that better life. I was abused from a very young age and set to work in charcoal pits from the age of five. Beaten, kicked, set light, suffocted, tortured, lied to, brainwashed, threatened with being sent away, threatened with even worse abuse, sexually abused, put down, demeaned, made to sleep alone in the bush with out food or blanket or cover from the rain, forced to endure the life of a child unwanted, unloved and made to feel grateful for every meal i ate, every piece of clothing worn, never hugged, held or told I was loved but made to feel scorn for being born out of wedlock, not tall enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not good enough. This is my life as the adopted child. Whilst my mother moved on and lived in the false but believed knowledge that I was happy and very well cared for and loved I was living in my hell hole of a reality. What was my mothers response when I told her a snipet of of what I endured, “nothing” but to say it could not happen she was told, etc etc, it was a private adoption? No words of comfort or a need to recover a lost relationship but told she will never be a mother to me ever! The cold harsh reality of being told my mother did not love me enough to want to keep me and even tried to abort me was ringing in my ears, the cruel heartless voice of my adoptive mother haunting me as a grown women. In the face of all of this I begin to struggling with my reasons to keep living, making a choice to live almost to much to bear. Death seemed a much easier means of coping, finally i would experience a peace i’ve never known. The only thing I thought I had control over was to live or die. How do you survive such horror on ones soul, being told and then reinforced from your own mother that your life has no value, worth or honor. My life was taken the day social workers played God with it and my mother capitulated to save her other children and her good name rescued from wisperings of scorn. The day she knew she could not keep me she shut down any emotion towards me to save herself a life of mourning, she never thought for one minute I may one day turn up and want her in my life, as far as she was concerned I was dead. The day they took me I died as her daughter and became the daughter of someone else. Not for one minute did she consider that these new parents would not honor me as their daughter. How wrong she has been and those who acted in their part in the crimes carried out against me that saw me removed from my rightful place, now not only stolen but totally destroyed. All hope is gone of ever knowing the love of a mother and the belonging as a sister. My life could be seen as totally tragic if not for my own resolve to see the truth exposed and not to leave the same legacy to my own children and grandchildren. I chose to live, to honor my life, my abuse, my fight to survive and to help others find their worth as valuable members of society despite their connectiveness to a family or not. I am an adoptee who has survived the most unspeakable crimes against an innocent child who only ever desired to be loved and accepted, especially by my own mother. Please think about the abused adoptees who have never been able to reconnect with their family of origin and are discarded and scorned by the very family who decieved and lied to own them and control them. My life is a miracle in the context that I am able to function highly, abiding in unconditional love towards my own children, free from abuse to myself and others, forever seeking to extend the hand of understanding and hope for others like myself, I strive to see accountability, redress, and urgent response by governement, and those responsible for crimes against mother and child through the acts of former forced adoptions here in Australia. When they took me they never counted on me fighting back, infact they never counted on me fighting at all, how wrong they were then , now and will ever be until they confess, repent and redress.
On 27th July 2011 Christine wrote a heartwrenching comment herein.
I heard beyond the words Christine, and just as the author of this site has shown in his commendable way, I’m with every empathy for and with you Christine.
I understand what you’re clearly expressing.
There are several registers, hopefully the kind you are seeking?:
A) The Commonwealth Government is having a Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions, it’s ‘in process’ having received advertised anon and non-anon submissions.
One could contact them, ask if it’s too late to submit your specific and valuable ‘voice’ re forced adoptions (submissions have closed, yet they may (??) accept a late one or more.)
Don’t be disheartened if they don’t, there are others, and now an expansive pool of diverse professionals and diverse public looking at this, who all care.
(Please see Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions via Google or Yahoo.com)
B) You have every human right to contact the Commonwealth Government’s Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP and present Minister for Human Services (and social inclusion) at Department of Community Services with your concerns, this is confidential if/when you ask this to be so. The politicians are sworn in with ‘powers’ which necessitate their erthical and sincere allegiance to serving the people/country they represent, and this one will hopefully respond to you. (Ministers address, phone or email contact on internet.)
(I know this isn’t a register, it’s your ‘say’ however, a form of same, if you so chose to contact this minister about your very real loss from ‘forced adoptions’)
C) With, or without becoming a member, you may contact Origins Inc NSW whom I know to be ethical at least toward my self and vice versa, and who have ‘forced adoption’ mothers, and first family infants now grown who contact them (for appropriate advice or referal, and material which may soothe some of your anguish regarding the not justifiable yet too often recognised happens ‘guilt’ re. losing one’s infant to forced adoptions.
a guilt which is not appropriate given the curcumstances, individual as they all are yet as many know exists, not everything is simplistically logical).
Their contact:
Origins Inc. NSW or Origins NSW
Postal address: P.O. Box W18, Fairfield West NSW 2165.
Their e-mail contact is on the Internet under their name also or if you are without internet it’s available in the phone book.
D) You may register concern to your local member of parliament and as this is a topical, very vital social issue if the person you contact does not respond, again try the Commonwealth minister as mentioned above.
I sincerely wish you well finding a register Christine which suits you, and I also creatively visualise healing for you and your significant journey.
Creative and warmest regards
Pamela
Hi Christine, [comment 27/7/2011]
I’ve just read your comment.
Some news media would like to hear your story.
In 1970 you lost your infant to forced adoption and felt you had to keep this a secret, when there was factually no shame on your part.
I extend to you sincere best wishes you find your register and am deeply saddened to hear of your loss and it’s individual effects on you.
Please know you’re valuable.
Joni Mitchell felt immense guilt losing her child (not to ‘forced adoption’ but also not too far off in some respects.
Yours sincerely
George