Even today, there's a lingering stigma about women who choose to place their children for adoption. Unnatural, people say, and jump to conclusions about the woman's lifestyle, character and state of mind.

If times have changed, it's only in that the stigma used to attach unilaterally to unwed mothers. And that stigma was strong enough to keep Philomena Lee silent for 50 years.

The world now knows about Philomena Lee. In 2009, journalist Martin Sixsmith published a book about the son whom she bore in an Irish convent, and whom the nuns tore from her when he was 3 years old and sent off to America with a new set of adoptive parents.

In 2013, the book became the basis for a film starring Judi Dench, who has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for playing the role of Philomena — more or less. Continue reading.

Source: Washington Post

Image: Vatican Insider

"Philomena" is the movie of Lee's search for her adopted son.

Lee, now 80, was an unmarried mother in Ireland in the 1950's, and put into a convent as a 'fallen woman' was forced by the nuns to give up her son when he was just 3 years old.

"I am honoured and delighted to have been in the presence of Pope Francis today," Lee said.

Ms Lee and her daughter Jane recently launched The Philomena Project to help reunite families separated by adoption.

They travelled with actor and Philomena writer Steve Coogan to the Vatican with a group representing the Philomena Project, which is calling for the Irish Government to initiate legislation that will result in the opening of adoption records with the goal of reuniting mothers with the children that they had to give up due to forced adoptions.

"As the film portrays, I have always put great faith in the church and the good will to put the wrongs of the past right," said Lee.

"I hope and believe that his Holiness Pope Francis joins me in the fight to help the thousands of mothers and children who need closure on their own stories."

Over the weekend reports emerged that Philomena's producers had invited Pope Francis to watch a specially co-ordinated screening of the film, however Vatican spokesman, Fr Lombardi said that the Pope will not be watching it and criticised the producers for using Francis as a "marketing strategy".

"The Holy Father does not see films, and will not be seeing this one. It is also important to avoid using the Pope as part of a marketing strategy," said Fr Lombardi.

"The film has four Oscar nominations, including best picture, best actress for Dame Judi and best adapted screenplay."

Sources

• Vatican Insider
• Scottish Catholic Observer
• Catholic Herald
• Image: Vatican Insider

Responding to a review in the New York Post that called the film "hateful and boring," the letter published by Deadline replied directly to the Post's critic, Kyle Smith.

The Guardian quoted the letter: "Your review of the movie paints its story as being a condemnation of Catholicism and conservative views. It states that the relationship depicted between Mr Martin Sixsmith and myself comes across as contrived and trite, and funny for all the wrong reasons. Forgive me for saying so, Kyle, but you are incorrect."

"Philomena," based on Martin Sixsmith's book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee," tells the story of Lee and Sixsmith's attempt to contact Lee's son, removed from her by the nuns with whom she has taken refuge in 1950s Ireland. Judi Dench plays Lee, and Steve Coogan the journalist and former spin doctor Sixsmith.

Lee's letter then goes on to paint her as a staunch Catholic, despite her experiences.
"The story it tells has resonated with people not because it's some mockery of ideas or institutions that they're in disagreement with. This is not a rally cry against the church or politics. In fact, despite some of the troubles that befell me as a young girl, I have always maintained a very strong hold on my faith."

Sources

NewsTalk
Deadline
The Guardian
Image: NewsTalk