800 babies buried in septic tank at Irish home for unmarried mothers

[Janelle2002 3,865]

800 babies buried in septic tank at Irish home for unmarried mothers

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Irish police stand guard outside a Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, on May 15, 2011 (AFP Photo/)

Dublin (AFP) - Almost 800 babies and children were buried in a mass grave in Ireland near a home for unmarried mothers run by nuns, according to new research Wednesday which throws more light on the Irish Catholic Church's troubled past.

Death records suggest 796 children, from newborns to eight-year-olds, were deposited in a grave near a Catholic-run home for unmarried mothers during the 35 years it operated from 1925 to 1961.

Historian Catherine Corless, who made the discovery, says her study of death records for the St Mary's home in Tuam in County Galway suggests that a former septic tank near the home was a mass grave.

The septic tank, full to the brim with bones, was discovered in 1975 by locals when concrete slabs covering the tank broke up.

Until now, locals believed the bones mainly stemmed from the Great Irish famine of the 1840s when hundreds of thousands perished.

St Mary's, run by the Bons Secours Sisters, was one of several such 'mother and baby' homes in early 20th century Ireland.

Thousands of unmarried pregnant women -- labelled at the time as 'fallen women' -- were sent to the homes to have their babies.

The women were ostracised by the conservative-Catholic society and were often forced to hand over their children for adoption.

Health issues and problems associated with the homes have long been documented. As far back as 1944, a government inspection report of the Tuam home described some of the children as "fragile, pot-bellied and emaciated."

The recently discovered death records for St Mary's show the 796 children died from malnutrition and infectious diseases, such as measles and TB.

Conservative Catholic teaching at the time denied children of unmarried parents baptism and therefore burial in consecrated lands.

The home was knocked down many years ago to make way for new houses, but the area around the unmarked mass grave has been maintained by locals.

A fundraising committee has now been formed and it is hoped that a memorial will be built with all the names and ages of the children displayed.

The Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary said he would meet leaders of the Bons Secours Sisters to assist with the memorial.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said that if a public inquiry into the 'mother and baby' homes in Ireland was not established then a social history project was necessary.

Martin also said he supports "excavating what may be unmarked graves" at these sites.

A junior government minister has called for an inquiry to be established and the issue is expected to be discussed at cabinet.

The development is a yet another damning disclosure of a Church-run institution in Ireland following almost countless revelations of abuse and neglect at Catholic-run schools or institutions in recent decades.

[Novembro 1,763]

Well.

I've certainly had enough internet for today.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Conservative Catholic teaching at the time denied children of unmarried parents baptism and therefore burial in consecrated lands.

The home was knocked down many years ago to make way for new houses, but the area around the unmarked mass grave has been maintained by locals.

No comment needed

[Janelle2002 3,865]

No comment needed

I know. Anything with the name Conservative is becoming quite spooky unfortunately.

Well.

I've certainly had enough internet for today.

Puking came to mind when I first read this title.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I know. Anything with the name Conservative is becoming quite spooky unfortunately.

Puking came to mind when I first read this title.

???????????????

[Janelle2002 3,865]

???????????????

OnMyWayID

Posted Today, 01:25 PM

Janelle2002, on 04 Jun 2014 - 12:46 PM, said:

Conservative Catholic teaching at the time denied children of unmarried parents baptism and therefore burial in consecrated lands.

The home was knocked down many years ago to make way for new houses, but the area around the unmarked mass grave has been maintained by locals.

No comment needed

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I know. Anything with the name Conservative is becoming quite spooky unfortunately.

Why am I being brought into this?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Why am I being brought into this?

Hehehehehehe I thought you would get a kick out of that, although I did not use your name intentionally.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Conservative Catholic teaching at the time denied children of unmarried parents baptism and therefore burial in consecrated lands.

And yet at the same time period (and before that), Catholics in Canada were forcibly removing First Nations children from their homes and forcibly converting them to catholicism. But innocent white babies couldn't be baptised.

I have nothing against individual Catholics, but I really really HATE the Catholic church.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

And yet at the same time period (and before that), Catholics in Canada were forcibly removing First Nations children from their homes and forcibly converting them to catholicism. But innocent white babies couldn't be baptised.

I have nothing against individual Catholics, but I really really HATE the Catholic church.

Yes that's family friendly. Catholics are ok to Bash.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Yes that's family friendly. Catholics are ok to Bash.

I specifically said that my issue wasn't with Catholics. It's with the institution that leads them.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I specifically said that my issue wasn't with Catholics. It's with the institution that leads them.

Yes I heard you. You hate the institution of Catholicism.

BTW the phrase I Hate is a violation of TOS, but seeing as how you did not use the M word it's probally ok

[Janelle2002 3,865]

And yet at the same time period (and before that), Catholics in Canada were forcibly removing First Nations children from their homes and forcibly converting them to catholicism. But innocent white babies couldn't be baptised.

I have nothing against individual Catholics, but I really really HATE the Catholic church.

The Catholic Church made bank during the Great Depression

[mota bhai 2,675]

So yesterday we bashed Mormonism, today we are bashing Catholicism.

I wonder which faith shall be bashed tomorrow.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

So yesterday we bashed Mormonism, today we are bashing Catholicism.

I wonder which faith shall be bashed tomorrow.

Mota Bhaism.