Customer Reviews

Banished Babies: The Secret History of Ireland's Baby Export Business

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I am one of the 'Banished Babies'. I was born at Bessboro Abbey in 1955 and met my birth mother for the first time in December of 1998. My heart went out to her and reading Mike Milotte's book made me very angry that she had been put through such pain. There is no way to retrieve the forty years she lost nor is there any way to assuage the guilt and pain she felt.

My only complaint with the book is that it contains no happy endings. My twin brother and I (we were kept together) came to the US in January of 1958. We have had at least a normal life. I would call it a great life. We both have good marriages (I have two beautiful children) and rewarding careers. Both of us are college educated and I have a graduate degree.

Had I not known I was adopted, it would have made no difference. I never felt different or that I was not part of my family. I knew I was adopted and thought I was special. I didn't know all the details until later.

I now know that my mother suffered very much and I am sad and angry--but I did not suffer. 'Banished Babies' doesn't include any success stories. While the Church and the Irish government were guilty of lying and then compounding the lies by refusing to cooperate with the children searching for their mothers, neither institution has a patent on such behavior. Recent scandals in Washington demonstrate that for all to see.

I do not excuse the Church or the Irish government, but chronicling only the negative of the story doesn't make it more compelling; only less balanced. The atmosphere of intolerance towards sex and unwed mothers in Ireland in the fifties (the US wasn't that much different) also contributed to the scandal.

In spite of the shortcomings, Banished Babies helped expose the scandal and may have inspired people to find each other. My brother and I have sent copies to our birth mother and friends and family. The book will help in the healing process.

I read about this book in Irish America Magazine. Despite the fact that I paid way too much for this book!! the original cost was 7 pounds, I paid over 40 american dollars I am not sorry I ordered and read the book, I am sorry that I paid so much!!

I started the book and finished it within 48hrs of starting. At times while reading I felt as if I was reading a text book, but still could not put it down. If you are interested in the workings of the Catholic Church and or in the treatment of unwed mothers in Ireland during the 50's and 60's this is the book for you.

A pattern is emerging within the sacred walls of the Catholic Church. It seems that if you have sinned, no one ever need know about your sin. These poor women had their infants snatched from their arms in order that they could "get on with their lives" just as so many priests were shuffled from place to place so that they could "get on with their lives." In both cases, no one ever need know.

For the priests, someone certainly should have known. For the women, they were being punished for the perfectly natural human acts that never should have been categorized as sin.

This book has served as a a first look for many Irish-US adopted adults, and is one of the best-researched pieces available. Author Mike Milotte has recently updated the 1997 original, and I was privileged to read the updated chapters before publishing. It never ceases to astonish me. I do hope the second edition is printed in enough numbers to satisfy demand -- copies of the original were becoming scarcer than unicorns and trading at pretty brisk prices! But well done, Mike.

fgor anyone looking for advice, support or trace assistance, please visit [...] or feel free to join the Adoption Rights Alliance or Banished Babies groups on Facebook. There are also groups for Sean Ross Abbey and Castlepollard 'alumni'.

The Irish government says this is not true. The Adopted parents claim its not true. Those of use that know it is true beg to differ. This is proof positive of two things. One governments do lie. Two that if religion goes unchecked they are no better then the people they oppose. Thomas Jefferson saw this coming. That is why he created the separation of church and state. After reading this story you will see why women need the right to chose. Adoptions is a present day form of slavery. One wonders what would have happened to these babies if they were not white. Now the USA has adopted an immigration policy that could force these slaves out of their country if they commit a crime.If a native American commits the same crime they would not be deported. In 1994 the UN passed a law outlawing international adoption every civilized country but two signed the bill. President Bill Clinton signed for the US but not one member of congress will sponsor the bill.(the two countries are-the US and Ireland) The day the Starr Report was issued the UN released a report stating that the USA leads the world with the number of children living below the poverty line.Over 36% and the government of Ireland thinks that this is a good place to send child. To say nothing of the USA's problem with drugs,guns,poor school etc. Finally this is for everyone that says that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone,Aliens,Roswell,Forrestall jumped,Vince Foster,etc. Governments do lie-Religion is EVIL-Bad ideas should not be continued I am a member the Irish 2000?