Coercion and Secrecy: The Troubling Legacy of a US Christian Sect's Adoption Practices

Invoices of coercion, abuse, and a flawed adoption system emerge from accounts of former members of a secretive Christian sect in the US, who have detailed their traumatic experiences of being forced to give up their children for adoption under fear of expulsion and damnation.

Women who were part of a secretive Christian sect in the United States have come forward to reveal serious allegations of coercion into giving up their children for adoption. The sect, which has garnered around 100,000 members globally and is commonly known as The Truth or the Two by Twos, has reportedly facilitated hundreds of adoptions between the 1950s and 1990s, often under alarming circumstances.

Former members disclosed to the BBC that they faced immense pressure from the church, fearing expulsion from their community and eternal punishment if they chose to keep their babies. One woman described being coerced after being raped, stating, “My fear of going to hell was so great that it forced me to make up my mind to give up the baby.” The toll of such decisions continues to echo through their lives, with many expressing guilt, loss, and trauma stemming from the separation from their children.

These adoptions, overseen by the church's doctor, Wally Baldwin, became known as "Baldwin Babies." The exact number of these children remains uncertain, but reports suggest fewer than 200 were placed. The ramifications of this adoption practice have been dire, with accounts from individuals adopted during this era revealing instances of abuse and neglect in their new homes.

The church operates without a formal leader, making accountability complex. However, officials who were contacted by the BBC expressed that any adoptions conducted were through "legal channels," dismissing the severity of the allegations while sharing anecdotes of positive adoption stories.

Former members voiced their belief that the institution bears significant responsibility for the trauma experienced. Melanie Williams, one of the mothers, recounted the pressure she faced as a teenager: “If I keep this baby, I'm going to hell... I was forced to make a choice.”

The narratives articulated by these women reveal not only personal anguish but also systemic issues within the sect’s handling of adoptions, which lacked thorough vetting processes and created environments ripe for abuse. Two of the six Baldwin Babies interviewed revealed they faced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, with one removed from a home for extreme abuse.

In the wake of a broader investigation initiated by the FBI into child sexual abuse claims associated with the church, former and current members are increasingly connecting through social media platforms, sharing their stories and experiences. As one participant from the group stated, “It has been like finding my tribe... I’m not alone anymore.”

For many, the journey of healing continues as they confront the painful legacies of their past within a community that operated on fear and secrecy.