Apology regarding past forced Adoptions – Uniting Church and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide November 2011
The Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide have issued an unreserved apology to mothers who may have been forced to give up their children for adoption and to children who may have been forcibly removed from their mothers, through involvement with the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home. The apology is included in a recent submission made to the “Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices 2011 Inquiry” which is being conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs.
Chief Executive of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, Mr Simon Schrapel, and the Moderator of the Uniting Church in South Australia Rev Rob Williams, have made a joint public statement to say that:
“If mothers involved in the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home were coerced or forced to give their children up for adoption we unreservedly apologise to those affected. Furthermore, if children involved in the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home were forcibly removed from their parents we unreservedly apologise to those affected.”
Anyone who was a resident at Kate Cocks Memorial Children’s Home and involved in the adoptions service run by the Home at the time is invited in the first instance to make contact with Uniting Communities Chief Executive, Simon Schrapel, by: Writing to: Mr Simon Schrapel Chief Executive Uniting Communities Level 4, 43 Franklin St, Adelaide 5001 Telephone: 08 8202 5886
Email: [email protected]
Public Apology on Forced Adoptions 29 Nov2011
In November 2011, the Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia and UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide issued an unreserved apology to mothers who may have been forced to give up their children for adoption and to children who may have been forcibly removed from their mothers, through involvement with the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home. The apology was included in a submission made to theCommonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices 2011 Inquiry, conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs.
Joint Submission to the Senate Inquiry on Former Forced Adoption Policies 2011.
Rev Peter McDonald attended the National Apology for Forced Adoptions (Parliament House Canberra) on Thursday 21st March 2013 on behalf of Uniting Communities and the Uniting Church Synod in South Australia.