Sir, - Cherish was established in 1972 by a group of single mothers. It is a self help organisation that offers support for single women during and after pregnancy. Cherish believes in giving children, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth, an opportunity to develop to their full potential, emotionally, physically and intellectually.
Over the past few weeks we have heard and read horrific personal stories from adults who were placed in care by the State and send to Goldenbridge, St Kyran's, Letterfrack, etc. The social policy in the 1940s, 1950s - and 1960s was to hand responsibility for the women and children over to the church organisations. So unmarried mothers and their children were sent away to institutions. Some mothers stayed on in these institutions for life as they would not be allowed home to their own community. They worked in the "Magdalene" laundries or in the kitchens. Their children were placed in care. Now we learn also in recent weeks that some of these children were sent off to England and America. The State colluded with the church to place "Catholic illegitimate children" in Catholic homes. False birth certificates were used - false names, etc. Natural mothers had to sign a document which read that they ". . . must never attempt to see, interfere with or make any claim to the child". One can only imagine the desperate trauma for these children and mothers. Cherish calls for the immediate establishment of a national contact register for birth mothers and adult adoptees.
We may say that these kind of terrible deeds - abuse of children physically, emotionally and sexually, the falsification of birth certificates would not happen in present day Ireland. We realise that women can contact agencies for non directive pregnancy counselling if they have an unplanned pregnancy. The Status of Children Act 1987 ensures that all children will be treated equally irrespective of the circumstances of their birth. We have a social welfare system that enables families to provide food/heat/accommodation at a basic level.
However, having read a recent article (March 6th) that quotes Eoin Ryan TD Dublin South East Constituency and a local GAP working in the south inner city, one realises how easily the unmarried and her child are made scapegoats and are blamed for a lot of society's ills. Eoin Ryan makes reference to developing an "underclass" by supporting single mothers and children. The GP states: "If you're a girl from the inner city why not get pregnant?
you get a flat of your own and status in the community! It seems to me we've gone from one extreme to the other in the space of 20 years."
What are these two men saying or implying? In our view this kind of thinking is not too far removed from the mind set that allowed innocent children to be brutalised in church institutions because of the circumstances of their birth. When one reflects on the long awaited Child Care Act - recent inquiries where reports were not published - Madonna House scandal, Kelly Fitzgerald inquiry, one realises that children and families are not high on the agenda of any politician until a crisis occurs.
In the early 1990s the Irish government signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The State now has to commit serious money to supporting families who are experiencing difficulties. Research has proved that families who are in crisis may be helped through intervention at local level, whereby parents and children are facilitated to help themselves. All families need to be given the opportunity to develop and learn. In local communities we need more day care centres, family centres and community playgroups etc.
At present there are 3,000 children in State/foster care. The State owes a serious legal and moral duty to children in its care. No doubt there will always be a need for residential care but the State should also facilitate the development of networks and support groups at local level for all families experiencing difficulties.
Let us therefore commit ourselves in 1996 to love and cherish all children and enable all children to develop to their full potential. Let us respect all families and recognise the diversity of families as something positive in an open, pluralist society. - Yours, etc.,
Development Officer,
Cherish.
An Association of
Single Parent Families,
Lower Pembroke Street.
Dublin 2.