"Bringing Them Home" Report

Movers Hollingworth, P.J.

(i) (a) The General Synod acknowledges the deep hurt and trauma suffered by our indigenous brothers and
sisters by the unjustified removal of children from their families described in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Report, “Bringing Them Home”.

(b) On behalf of The Anglican Church of Australia the General Synod apologise unreservedly and seeks
forgiveness for any part played, knowingly or unwittingly, by the Anglican Church that has ever contributed in any way to that hurt or trauma by the unjustified removal of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children from their families, and four our past silence on the issue.

(ii) The General Synod calls upon all Anglican Agencies and Anglicans to cooperate in the implementation, as
far as practicable, of those recommendations in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Report which relate to this Church.

(iii) The General Synod calls upon the Commonwealth Government to offer an apology to the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people for the unjustified removal of their children.

(iv) The General Synod urges the Commonwealth Government and its agencies seriously to consider the
implementation of the other recommendations contained in the Report “Bringing Them Home” and to consult the Churches concerned and their agencies in the process of doing this. The motion was Carried unanimously and with acclamation.

(Archbishop P.J. Hollingworth – 15-2-98)


Resolution year: 1998
Resolution number: 27/98