For years, select women in Ireland have been banished by their government to workhouses — or laundries — operated by Catholic nuns. While living in the Magdalene Laundries, female residents endured grueling physical labor, inhumane working conditions and verbal abuse on a daily basis.
Over 10,000 women passed through these laundries between 1992 and 1996. Some women stayed months or years, while others never left. Laundries were opened for unmarried women, women from broken homes, women with mental or physical disabilities and orphans. Additional resident workers included women convicted of crimes such as theft, prostitution, or even not paying for a train ticket.
In 1993, more than 150 cremated and buried bodies were discovered when a group of nuns sold a Magdalene convent to a real estate developer in Dublin, Ireland. These findings triggered an investigation of the state’s involvement with the laundries.
An inquiry into the state’s involvement was headed by Senator Martin McAleese.
“We hope the report will bring healing and peace of mind to all concerned, most especially the women whose experience of the Magdalene Laundries had a profound and enduring negative effect on their lives,” McAleese told the Guardian.
Although the Irish government originally denied all involvement with the laundries, the 1,000 page report showed that of the 10,000 women, 2,124 were referred to these institutions by the state.
Prime Minister Enda Kenny repeatedly apologized for any “stigma” that was attached to these women and for the amount of time it took the government to carry out the inquiry. Several advocacy groups were dissatisfied with this apology, citing a desire for a more meaningful and emotional apology for all that they endured.
The enslaved women participated in vigorous manual labor without compensation, were incarcerated against their will, and abused verbally and physically. Additionally, they were forced into a harsh regime of prayer and received little respect from family members, those facilitating the program, and the state.
“Long term effects would likely include a profound sense of worthlessness, difficulty forming stable relationships, trust issues, anxiety, vulnerability to depression and a tendency toward aggression aimed at one’s self and/or at others,” said Guilford’s Director of Counseling Gaither Terrell.
“Justice for Magdalenes” is one of the many advocacy groups created to help survivors of these traumatic experiences.
“I have always described them as ‘Ireland’s disappeared,’” James Smith, a spokesman for Justice for Magdalenes, told The New York Times. “They were edited out in the past and unfortunately the government seems to want to forget them in the present. But we won’t let that happen.”
What role does the Catholic Church play in this scandal?
Merely a decade ago, the Irish crossed their chests when passing a priest on the streets. But, with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the shocking revelations of priests’ sexual abuse of boys, the once prominent reputation of the Catholic Church has diminished.
The Catholic Church is now declining in tradition.
Support of the Church has faded, and opportunities to speak with the survivors of the laundries were rejected by Church leaders.
“It seems as though the Catholic Church has really fallen far off the track,” said Catholic sophomore Duncan FitzGerald.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science Robert Duncan made predictions for Ireland’s relationship with the Catholic Church.
“Maybe there will be the separation of church and state,” said Duncan. “With all these incidents going on, maybe it’s time that the church and state will finally separate from one another.”
As advocacy groups fight for justice, the Catholic Church remains silent.
