Women once affiliated with a covert Christian denomination in the United States have come forward with alarming revelations, alleging that the church coerced them into giving up their babies for adoption. These claims, which suggest that hundreds of adoptions occurred between the 1950s and the 1990s, surfaced alongside previous allegations of child sexual abuse linked to the church, known as The Truth or the Two by Twos. With an estimated 100,000 members worldwide, the church is under FBI investigation as gruesome details begin to emerge.
In interviews, four women, all unmarried at the time, recounted the extreme pressure they faced. One woman, who was just 17 when she was raped in 1988, described her agonizing decision to place her child with a married couple from the church, fueled by a fear of eternal damnation. Another woman was denied the chance to see her newborn daughter before she was taken away forever.
Additionally, six individuals, adopted as infants within the church, disclosed experiences of abuse and neglect at the hands of their adoptive families. The adopted children, called "Baldwin Babies," after the doctor overseeing the adoptions, Wally Baldwin, have painted a troubling picture of their experiences. Although the full extent of the number of such adoptions is yet to be confirmed, estimates suggest fewer than 200 cases were documented, as stated by Baldwin's adopted son, Gary Baldwin.
The church operates without official leadership, prompting the BBC to reach out to its senior officials, or overseers, who refuted claims of wrongdoing, asserting that all adoptions were conducted legally and accompanied by uplifting stories. However, the narratives from former mothers underscore a systemic problem. Women like Melanie Williams, who surrendered her baby in exchange for the possibility of remaining in the church, recounted a fear-driven environment where retaining their children equated to eternal damnation.
The chronicling of trauma shared by mothers highlights a broader issue within the church's adoption practices and the potential for abuse in a system that lacked proper vetting. Survivors revealed that Dr. Baldwin relied on church members' referrals to decide on adoptive families. Disturbingly, several adopted children reported severe abuse in their homes, including physical and sexual violence.
The emergence of Facebook groups connecting mothers and adopted children has led to a communal sense of belonging among those with shared experiences. Former members are finding solace in one another's stories, realizing that they are not alone in their pain. While the legacy of coercion and abuse lingers, many survivors express hope for healing and redemption.
