Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, impoverished populations within urban areas were struggling to keep up with the rising number of abandoned children. And with little support or infrastructure in the way of social and government services, the responsibility to house these children fell largely on local parishes.

The image of these grand manors, large estates surrounded by manicured lawns, of a safe space for innocent children could not have been further from the truth of what was occurring behind closed doors.

It would take several decades before the atrocities that unfolded within these church-led homes would begin to come to light, thanks to the bravery of those willing to share their accounts of abuse, and remarkable survival.

Journalist Christine Kenneally, our guest today, extensively investigated the secret horrors hidden deep within Catholic orphanages, in the US and here in Australia, until as recently as the 60s and 70s.

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CREDITS

Guest: Christine Kenneally

You can find out more about her book Ghosts Of The Orphanage here.

Host: Emma Gillespie

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Junior Producer: Cassie Merritt

Audio Producer: Madeline Joannou

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The Secret History Of Catholic Orphanages