Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of Christ, Saint Paul confidently asserts in this Sunday’s reading from the Letter to the Romans. Three Catholic agencies in Australia have apologized "with a deep sense of regret and heartfelt sorrow" for forcibly separating thousands of unmarried mothers from their newborn babies immediately after birth and handing them to adoption agencies in past decades.

The apology this past week came jointly from Catholic Health Australia, the largest nongovernment provider of healthcare services in Australia, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, about 100 miles north of Sydney.

The practice of forced adoption was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in a story on its website after an investigation into claims of abuse and trauma in Newcastle. The story said it was believed that at least 150,000 Australian women had their babies taken against their will by some churches and adoption agencies.

Initially Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth said he saw "little evidence" of forced adoptions in decades past. He issued a follow-up statement this week which said: "While it is true that I had little evidence of forced consents to adoption, I realize that many of the young women at the time were not clear that their consent was required. Many were confused, feeling powerless during their pregnancy for fear that their baby would be taken from them.”

Martin Laverty, chief executive officer of Catholic Health Australia, addressed hospital adoption practices in a letter to the Australian Senate which is investigating past adoption policies and practices. He wrote that "in some cases, the adoption practices of 30 to 60 years ago had devastating and ongoing impacts on mothers, fathers, children, and families.

"We acknowledge the pain of separation and loss felt then and felt now for the mothers, fathers, children, families, and others involved in some of the practices of the time," Laverty said. "For this pain that arises from the practices of the past, we are genuinely sorry."

"Catholic Health Australia would endorse a proposal to establish a national framework to aid those dealing with their post-adoption circumstances," Laverty said. He also said that there were several options to support the mothers, including access to medical records related to the births and adoptions.

Source: An article by Kerry Myers for Catholic News Service