Coercion and Trauma: Women Reveal Dark Secrets of a US Christian Sect's Adoption Practices

Women from a clandestine U.S. religious sect have disclosed how they were pressured into giving up their children for adoption. Between the 1950s and 1990s, many faced dire consequences from the church for refusing, with some adopted children later suffering abuse. The church, known as The Truth, is now under FBI investigation following previous claims of child sexual abuse.

Women who once belonged to a little-known Christian sect in the United States have come forward to detail harrowing experiences of being coerced into giving up their babies for adoption. The adoption practices, which reportedly occurred from the 1950s to the 1990s, involved many mothers feeling they had no choice but to comply with the church's demands, and former members claim that hundreds of adoptions may have taken place during this time.

Former members of the sect, simply referred to as "The Truth" or "Two by Twos," allege that adopted children within the community, often dubbed "Baldwin Babies," suffered from neglect and abuse within their adoptive homes. This revelation follows a BBC investigation that unearthed allegations of child sexual abuse within the church for decades. The FBI has initiated its investigation in light of these findings.

Among the reported cases, four women disclosed that they were threatened with excommunication from the church if they refused to give up their babies. One woman recalled being pressured after being raped at age 17, stating that her deep fear of eternal damnation drove her to make the heart-wrenching decision. Another woman recounted being denied the opportunity to see her newborn daughter before she was permanently taken away.

Dr. Wally Baldwin managed the adoption process for the church, a figure some have depicted as kind, yet others argue he should be held accountable for the flawed system that left children vulnerable. Estimates of the total number of Baldwin Babies vary, with suggestions of fewer than 200 adoptions facilitated.

Communication with church leaders has been minimal, with some responses indicating all adoptions were legal, yet many affected believe that the church’s leadership shares the burden of the trauma caused by these experiences.

Melanie Williams, a mother coerced into giving up her baby in 1981, described a painful process colored by feelings of isolation and fear. She and other mothers reflected on their experiences, emphasizing that both the workers in their church and the institution itself should acknowledge their roles in the trauma. They share communal grief in Facebook groups that connect Baldwin mothers and their children, discovering solidarity in their shared struggles.

The testimonies reveal a deep emotional pain that resonates even decades after the adoption. Several children later connected with their mothers, leading to ongoing relationships; however, the scars from their early separations linger, coupled with reports from adopted children who endured physical and sexual abuse in their new homes.

These harrowing narratives amplify the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and support for all those impacted by such practices, as the community starts to confront its painful past and seek healing.