Amid allegations of coercion and abuse, former members of a secretive Christian sect reveal that the church pressured unmarried women into giving up their babies for adoption. Claims suggest a pattern of abuse faced by adopted children, leading to an FBI investigation into the church’s practices.
**US Church Under Scrutiny for Coercing Unmarried Women into Adoptions**
**US Church Under Scrutiny for Coercing Unmarried Women into Adoptions**
Former members allege widespread pressure to give up children, with explorations of abuse in adoptive families.
In a shocking revelation, women formerly associated with a clandestine Christian denomination in the United States have shared accounts of being coerced by church authorities into relinquishing their children for adoption. These accounts suggest that hundreds of adoptions could have occurred between the 1950s and 1990s, shedding light on a potentially systematic misconduct. Many adopted children reportedly faced neglect and abuse in their new homes, raising alarm over the church’s practices.
The allegations emerged after a previous BBC investigation uncovered decades-long claims of child sexual abuse within the church, known widely as 'The Truth' or the 'Two by Twos', which claims approximately 100,000 followers globally. In response to the mounting accusations, the FBI has launched an investigation to examine the church’s adoption practices thoroughly.
Warning: This article contains distressing content regarding abuse.
Four women, all of whom were unmarried at the time, reported feeling forced to give up their babies due to the church's stringent beliefs. One woman recounted the trauma of being made to surrender her child to a couple in the church after being raped, fearing eternal damnation if she chose to keep her baby. Another woman tragically shared the painful process of not being given the chance to see her newborn before they were permanently separated.
The investigations revealed that the adoptions often involved minimal oversight or vetting. Dr. Wally Baldwin, a prominent figure in the church who oversaw many of the adoptions, had kept records which now appear to be lost. His adopted son, Gary Baldwin, acknowledged the possibility of errors occurring in the adoption processes but maintained that his father’s intent was always good.
While the church lacks an official leadership structure, the BBC reached out to several senior members, known as overseers, but only received vague comments claiming that any adoptions were conducted legally, with references to “beautiful stories.”
Melanie Williams, recalling her experience, described how the church’s fear-based ideology pushed her to relinquish her child after a brief romance resulted in pregnancy. She illustrated the emotional turmoil she endured during the birth process, recounting how her child was whisked away before even making a sound.
These narratives were shared by several other women, such as Deb Adadjo, whose poignant farewell to her infant left deep emotional scars. Likewise, Sherlene Eicher shared her ongoing connection to the daughter she placed for adoption and the annual rituals she kept to honor her memory.
The adopted individuals themselves recounted harrowing experiences of neglect and abuse. Many talked about the lack of suitable vetting for adoptive families, often leading to grim realities that left them vulnerable in a supposedly supportive environment. Some survivors have started to connect through social media to share their stories and support one another in the aftermath of their trauma.
As the investigation unfolds, the community hopes to find healing from the burdens of the past, with former mothers and adopted children finding solace in shared experiences and a newfound understanding of their emotional battles.
The allegations emerged after a previous BBC investigation uncovered decades-long claims of child sexual abuse within the church, known widely as 'The Truth' or the 'Two by Twos', which claims approximately 100,000 followers globally. In response to the mounting accusations, the FBI has launched an investigation to examine the church’s adoption practices thoroughly.
Warning: This article contains distressing content regarding abuse.
Four women, all of whom were unmarried at the time, reported feeling forced to give up their babies due to the church's stringent beliefs. One woman recounted the trauma of being made to surrender her child to a couple in the church after being raped, fearing eternal damnation if she chose to keep her baby. Another woman tragically shared the painful process of not being given the chance to see her newborn before they were permanently separated.
The investigations revealed that the adoptions often involved minimal oversight or vetting. Dr. Wally Baldwin, a prominent figure in the church who oversaw many of the adoptions, had kept records which now appear to be lost. His adopted son, Gary Baldwin, acknowledged the possibility of errors occurring in the adoption processes but maintained that his father’s intent was always good.
While the church lacks an official leadership structure, the BBC reached out to several senior members, known as overseers, but only received vague comments claiming that any adoptions were conducted legally, with references to “beautiful stories.”
Melanie Williams, recalling her experience, described how the church’s fear-based ideology pushed her to relinquish her child after a brief romance resulted in pregnancy. She illustrated the emotional turmoil she endured during the birth process, recounting how her child was whisked away before even making a sound.
These narratives were shared by several other women, such as Deb Adadjo, whose poignant farewell to her infant left deep emotional scars. Likewise, Sherlene Eicher shared her ongoing connection to the daughter she placed for adoption and the annual rituals she kept to honor her memory.
The adopted individuals themselves recounted harrowing experiences of neglect and abuse. Many talked about the lack of suitable vetting for adoptive families, often leading to grim realities that left them vulnerable in a supposedly supportive environment. Some survivors have started to connect through social media to share their stories and support one another in the aftermath of their trauma.
As the investigation unfolds, the community hopes to find healing from the burdens of the past, with former mothers and adopted children finding solace in shared experiences and a newfound understanding of their emotional battles.
