Lawyers believe that up to 300,000 babies were taken.
The practice of removing children from parents deemed “undesirable” and placing them with “approved” families, began in the 1930s under the dictator General Francisco Franco.
At that time, the motivation may have been ideological. But years later, it seemed to change – babies began to be taken from parents considered morally – or economically – deficient. It became a money-spinner, too.
The scandal is closely linked to the Catholic Church, which under Franco assumed a prominent role in Spain’s social services including hospitals, schools and children’s homes.
Nuns and priests compiled waiting lists of would-be adoptive parents, while doctors were said to have lied to mothers about the fate of their children.
Words fail. This reminds me of the boarding school debacle wherein healthy First Nations children in Canada were regularly taken from their parents and sent to religious boarding schools with sick kids and then buried on-site without their parents’ permission or even knowledge after they inevitably succumbed . All to make more Catholics out of the local heathenry. Disgusting.
Without minimizing the problems of the residential schools, your knowledge of the situation is sadly deficient.
“…healthy First Nations children in Canada were regularly taken from their parents …”
Overstatement. First Nations children had noticeable health problems, and to call them all “healthy” is false.
“…and sent to religious boarding schools with sick white kids…”
This is not true. The residential schools were for First Nations children.
“All to make more Catholics out of the local heathenry.”
I’m not aware of any evidence that this was the case.
It’s also worth noting that a number of prominent First Nations leaders were in favour of the residential school system. Also, some former students have come forth to compliment the system and their teachers.
Problems? That’s putting it mildly. But to paint it all in one colour as you do is simply ignorant.
While this disgusts me, I can’t say that it surprises me. The BBC article didn’t state what the RCC’s position on this new scandal is, but to see that the Spanish government refuses to set up an inquiry is mind-boggling. For what reason? The Church already has plenty of black eyes, this latest scandal shouldn’t come as a shock to those paying attention. Are politicians afraid of getting caught up in the scandal? Or is it an Obama-esque “We need to look forward, and not backward”? In other words,”Nothing to see here, move along.”
I will fix the one single error you pointed out in my original post. The sick kids they were being packed off with were actually First Nations as well, you’re correct. The problem was in not segregating them, but rather packing those healthy kids in with the sick ones.
Well, that, and the fact that these residential schools were to convert these children and thus the First Nations itself to Christianity. That you’re denying this is simply ignorant.
See also: Rabbit-Proof Fence