Former residents of the Catholic Nazareth order's homes say they suffered appalling, systematic cruelty. Special investigation by Barry Wood

FOR MORE than 100 years, the Poor Sisters of Nazareth cared for children in the order's dozens of homes across Britain. Orphans, abandoned babies and children deemed uncontrollable or accused of petty crimes were all put in the hands of the nuns who, to the outside world, epitomised kindness and compassion.
But today, many of those who were in the sisters' care have come forward to claim that, behind the locked doors of Nazareth House (all the homes had this name), the nuns maintained a ruthless regime. Beatings and acts of extreme cruelty were commonplace, they say, and together with the spartan existence in the home, gave them lives of utter misery.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/nuns-abused-hundreds-of-children-1171988.html 

Toxic beliefs hijack the minds of children From Chronic Childhood Trauma to TraumaTheory Chapter 9

John was born to Albert and Kathleen Brown of The Parade Yea 3717 on 27th December, 1948. The 5th child in a family of 11 children.
John was born the same year his mother's father was killed in a road accident. Kath had had a very strong relationship with her father and had often travelled with him to various venues where he had spoken with enthusiasm on a wide range of topics that included The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Which was signed only a few weeks prior to John's birth), discussion on evolution and her father's championing of many of Wallace's views. John recalls his mother laughing at some aspect that often prompted her father to make a statement along the lines of 'Charlie D may well be right but Wallace is correct when he says ...'. His discussions with his mother on these topics remain today some of his most treasured memories of the uniqueness of his experience of his mother and those of her family who came before her.
John tells his own story from here onwards

http://www.traumainreligion.com/about0.php 

New study aims to provide answers for 500,000 ‘forgotten Australians’

A landmark study has found almost every child raised in out of home care has suffered some kind of maltreatment. 500,000 children were raised by governments and churches - many stolen from their families. The report recommends sweeping changes to help children in care today. Bryan Seymour reports.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/new-study-aims-to-provide-answers-for-500000-forgotten-australians/news-story/522be1849ce24fd31b3da20c6ad8dd5a 

Gregory Smith's survival instinct

Gregory is an academic in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Southern Cross University, and has just completed a PhD.

For much of his adulthood he was homeless; and by his own admission, a 'do not approach' figure. For ten years he lived as a hermit in a forest in northern NSW, catching his own food.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2016/07/21/4504645.htm 

Abuse victims worry about 'being locked in cupboards', 'not being loved' if returned to care

and it is the same for all of us... the fear of being treated... and locked in the broom cupboard... is always on my mind... and things like that do happen... my friend Frances was sent into a home... she full out of bed... and was left there until morning... all that they did for her... was put a blanket over her... she was unconscious and they did nothing about that as well... there was no nurses in the home... and if that is the way they treat older folk... I will never go into one...  Ann

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The thought of swapping a modest life in a caravan park for a nursing home fills Ellen Bucello with dread. "I couldn't cope with it," she said.
The 65-year-old who lives on the New South Wales Central Coast feels supported by her neighbours, many of them ageing too, and she enjoys her independence. But spinal problems and worsening arthritis mean she could soon have to leave her mobile home.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-12/ageing-care-leavers-fear-return-to-institutionalisation/8106608 

£300m... what it could cost to compensate ex-residents of Northern Ireland residential homes

Compensating everybody who spent time in a residential home in Northern Ireland run by or on behalf of the state could cost £300m, a lawyer who specialises in abuse cases has suggested.
Sir Anthony Hart is drawing up his report for ministers following two-and-a-half years of Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry hearings involving abuse victims and institutions.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/300m-what-it-could-cost-to-compensate-exresidents-of-northern-ireland-residential-homes-35177494.html 

Monaghan for women who have experienced a forced adoption, or spent time in a mother and baby home

New network being set up in Monaghan for women who have experienced a forced adoption, or spent time in a mother and baby home

It's the first group of its kind in this region. Sharon McGuigan from Monaghan gave birth to a little girl in Dunboyne Mother and Baby home. She says a network to support women who have had the same experiences as her - is vitally important.

http://media.northernsound.ie/mediamanager/embed/player/podcasts/30/item/65924

Real life Philomena and Martin Sixsmith on film portrayal

The woman who inspired the film Philomena has spoken of her hope that it will help other women facing similar issues. As a young unmarried woman in Ireland, Philomena Lee was forced by nuns to sign away her rights to her son. The film follows her struggle to find him, decades later.
Judy Dench stars as Philomena with Steve Coogan as Martin Sixsmith, the journalist who helped her in her search. Lee and Sixsmith spoke to arts editor Will Gompertz about their story.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24551732 

Demanding justice for women and children abused by Irish nuns

People who were forced to work at Ireland's Magdalene laundries are calling for the religious orders who ran the convents to be held…

https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/301319031303533179/