Thread by @RobertBohan

Thread: Here’s a neutral overview of todays Mother & Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (2020). It’s an exam of the exec summary only. I have sought to highlight historical inaccuracies relating to social history & shocking infant mortality levels. #motherandbabyhomes

The exec summary notes that the harsh environment of Ireland was ‘supported by, contributed to & condoned by’ the State & RCC. This is to elide that the State was a de facto theocracy & the Church the arbiter of social behaviour & the creator of the ‘harsh environment’

Some 81,000 women were immured in ‘homes’ with at least 57,000 children. This is reported as the highest per capita intake of unmarried mothers in the world. Individuals from as young as 12 were detained & some 11%+ were underage.

The exec summary places the onus of responsibility on the women & girls’ families, the fathers & neighbours. At a time when priests were demonising mothers from pulpits & creating the harsh environment this is questionable & dubious.

The State paid for the majority of women & children to be kept in the homes. Despite this funding, child fatalities were extremely high. Some 15% of children died. Nowadays we call that neglect & would see it as corporate manslaughter by religious.

In 1943, 75% of children born in the Bessborough Home died before their first birthday. Shockingly, no evidence of child mortality in homes being discussed at Govt level was found by the Commission. Nor in county councils.

Despite government funding some homes had atrocious conditions (Typhoid!). The summary notes a culture of cruelty (lack of kindness). The summary notes that County Homes had worse conditions. Mother & Baby Homes put pressure on Mothers to give up their babies for adoption.

The summary notes that most religious involved in manning the institutions were paid by the State or County. Inmates were generally not paid for their work. State & Co Co had powers of inspection but no penalties were ever applied despite the astronomical child death toll

An indication of the power of the RCC is cited in the summary, in that county councils deferred to RCC Bishops on the running of homes (see pic of text). Indeed the Dept of Health deferred to a Bishop for 4y in changing a manager - whilst many children died.

The summary mentions the capitation rates for inmates as not being ‘overly generous’ & that occasionally religious were not paid. In the context of the widespread & extreme poverty of the time, any payments & any salaries were generous.

Under ‘Fathers’ the report notes the low marriage rate. This is symptomatic of extreme poverty & Irish land inheritance tradition. Under ‘Woman’s Parents’ theres mention of ‘standing in the community’ without clearly calling out the RCC led demonising of unmarried mothers

‘Illegitimate’ children. Even where women fled to Britain to escape the de facto theocracy they were often rounded up & returned by RCC groups. (One can hardly imagine the horror of experiencing such captivity)

Under ‘Church & State Attitudes’ is an appalling misinterpretation of history (pic). The RCC created the culture in which single mothers were ostracised. This was a state where the Church had a veto on laws & even the constitution.

Infant mortality, at up to 40%+, failed to be addressed by the religious, the county councils or the state. Without religious permission politicians would never have intervened. Homes were set up to keep women separate from ‘respectable’ married mothers & to ‘reform’ them.

The summary also conflates public interest with journalistic reporting. The Irish media were (& are), in general, advocates for the RCC & the de facto theocracy so information was controlled. It was only in the 70s that this silence began to be broken.

Once admitted to an institution control could be exerted on the woman through financial responsibility for her child. She would have had no access to money & so felt obliged to give up her child.

Much concern has been raised about forced adoptions, cruel & inhumane fostering & transfer to other institutions. The summary does not give a clear picture of the overall situation given the complexity of histories so the relevant chapters need to be analysed further.

Here is an overview of the adoptions section, again the detailed chapter needs to be analysed. Of particular concern is the section on vaccines.

Already lobbyists for the RCC have sought to excuse their responsibilities. The death rate of infants in their care is not something that can be glossed over or excused. The media must not collude with the RCC by platforming their pseudo-institute.

The complete report is available here: assets.gov.ie/118565/107bab7…