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IF THIS LEGISLATION had been in place years ago, Anthony and I would have been reunited with each other before he died. Instead, he died believing I had rejected him. It is too late for us, but would be a big help to other women who were separated from their sons and daughters by adoption.
Those are the words of Philomena Lee, who has called on every Senator to “do what’s right” and support the Adoption (Identity & Information) Bill that is due to be debated on Wednesday.
Lee’s story of forced adoption and her subsequent 50-year search for her son Anthony inspired the Oscar-nominated film Philomena.
The legislation was drafted by Dr Fergus Ryan, a law lecturer at Maynooth University.
Lee said she was “pleased that legislation to recognise the rights of all adopted people, mothers and families is finally before the Irish parliament”.
Power, who is herself adopted, said that she has been contacted by “many other women like Philomena”.
They were devastated to lose their children in the first place and are heartbroken that they still can’t make contact with them now. They just want to know that their son or daughter is ok and tell them they never stopped thinking about them. Older women in particular are worried that if legislation isn’t brought in soon it will be too late for them.
“The Government has an opportunity next Wednesday to do right by these women by finally putting in place a proper system through which adoptees and natural parents may reunite if they wish. I hope they will accept our bill and work with us to ensure women like Philomena finally get the support they deserve,” Power stated.
The Bill will be debated in the Seanad at 5pm on Wednesday.
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Will this new bill take into account all those children adopted and sold off before the adoption bill of 1952, I was adopted in 1945 with no rights to any information at all
And I feel for poor Pholomena, when the nuns held all that information from her they knew where her son was and never told her, so so cruel, and the big Question was why?
“the big Question was why?”
Its called sadism. Some nuns suffered sadistic schadenfreude disease, just like many social workers today. They love the power over poor, single mothers and their children.
UK has forced adoption for many years and Ireland will want to bring that in here too- as we have already imported the UK Fostering business.
Children were and are just commodities to make a profit from. Its been like this since the Roman church took over here.
They were very cruel times, and not much sympathy around in those days for unmarried mothers., from the family’s or the state, it’s hard for people to believe how it was all those years ago, there was no help like there’s is today, houses and welfare for unmarried mothers now, there was nothing back then for the poor mothers only shame,
The fact there is going to be a debate is staggering. There should be no debate on doing something that’s is morally right!! Let’s see if the Catholic apologists hijack this and stop parents and their children being reunited. I hope this bill contains criminal penalties for those that deliberately destroy records and obstruct. If I had my way I would charge those that did this retrospectively. The Nuns that deliberately destroyed records and lied to people grieving the lose of their babies stolen from them should rot in prison until they die.
The nuns withheld information from Philomena, it was cruel and it’s only a few years ago. A shocking truth! Has the church learned nothing. Convents aren’t natural places at all, no family, mortgage, bills, no insight into real life I think.
Ursula. Never expect the Roman Catholic church men or women to learn anything from the past.
The men and women of “god” are not like the rest of us. They live in the clouds with that invisible man called “god”- a god who believed in the suffering of children and women. As George Carlin points out though – this God never has enough money.
We might to well to psychiatrically access all of them before allowing them near the public
This is happening all over. It happened in Michigan with my nephew. Stated 3 times in court that we were just as good a placement as the foster family. The state stopped visitation to ensure the only ones bonding would be the foster family! The process wasn’t even over. The courts never made a decision yet. Even before we went to court, they decided our baby nephew would be adopted by strangers.
These are the foster parents: they are very aware that there is a suitable family member that’s been fighting for him.
https://www.facebook.com/events/639034819545589/
Had to do a double take, I read the title as:
My son died believing I had rejected him’: Philomena Lee calls on Senators to support Abortion Pill
“Adoption didn’t help me; it helped the adoption business.
Adoption didn’t “save” me; it served the … view of adoption. Adoption didn’t find families for me; it found me for families that wanted to look like heroes in their community and their churches.”
Great to see the truth coming to light
And what happens the parents who never want to be found or contacted? What rights will they have?
What if neither wants to be contacted. As a child that was adopted. I have little to no interest in finding my birth family or in them finding me. Not because I’m bitter or feel rejected. Because the family I have now are my true family. They have been there for me through thick and thin. They have supported me through everything in life. I just don’t see the point. I don’t question anything beyond that. I’m happy with what I’ve got regardless of the circumstances that led to me being here.
Adoption (forced or not) can be painful all round. Anyone embarking on this journey of tracing should be aware that not every story has a happy ending. I managed to trace my natural parents (who had married and had more children – all now adults and all my natural family). Never felt unwanted as an adopted child – but it was very clear when I met them that I had no place in their family. My kids now also miss out on a group of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
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