This American History Tellers episode explores the practice of coerced adoptions within evangelical Christian communities, focusing on the story of Abby and Nathan, who were pressured to give up their newborn son during a ceremonial process. Through their experience, the episode examines how religious beliefs about premarital relationships and family structure can influence reproductive choices within these communities.
The episode also provides historical context for these adoption practices, tracing their roots to the 1950s and 1960s when unwed mothers commonly faced pressure to give up their children. It examines how institutions like the Liberty Godparent Home continue these practices today, facilitating adoptions that align with specific religious values and beliefs about family structure.
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In a heartbreaking account, Abby and Nathan face the forced adoption of their 11-day-old son through a ceremonial process designed by their evangelical Christian community to place children with what they consider the "right kind" of families. During the ceremony, Nathan experiences intense anger and grief while being forced to hand over his son, while Abby struggles with feelings of unworthiness imposed by her community.
At the center of this story is 16-year-old Abby, whose pregnancy conflicts with her devout Christian upbringing. In their evangelical community, premarital sex is considered a sin, leading to their baby being deemed "unfit." The community's beliefs strongly emphasize controlling female sexuality and reproduction, with the goal of fostering what they consider "Godly" relationships and families.
This practice of forced adoption has deep historical roots, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when unwed mothers were commonly pressured to give up their babies. Today, institutions like the Liberty Godparent Home continue this practice within conservative Christian communities, facilitating the placement of children from unwed mothers with couples deemed "deserving" within the Christian faith. Abby and Nathan's story reveals how these practices persist as part of broader efforts to shape society according to evangelical Christian ideals.
1-Page Summary
Abby and Nathan face an agonizing ordeal as their newborn son is taken from them in a coercive adoption ceremony designed to place children with "right kind" of families within their evangelical community.
In a heart-wrenching ceremony, Abby and Nathan are forced to relinquish custody of their son, born just 11 days prior. The dread and terror they feel are palpable, with Nathan holding his baby, gripped by the horror of what is about to happen. As he hands over his son to the chosen couple, he is overwhelmed by a burning desire to destroy the venue that is witnessing this act against his will.
Abby is engulfed by feelings of punishment and unworthiness during the ceremony, an emotional toll that accentuates the cruelty of the situation. She struggles with the notion that she is being deemed unfit to be the mother of her own child simply because of someone else's judgment and values.
Nathan views the ceremony as a twisted form of cruelty, a cruel joke being played at their expense. The pain of the forced gesture of giving away his son is so intense that it evokes in Nathan a primal urge to lash out and incinerate the venue hosting such an egregious event.
Coerced Adoption of Abby and Nathan's Newborn by Christian Couple
Abby, a 16-year-old girl, faces the challenges of becoming pregnant, which conflicts with the teachings of her devout Christian parents and community.
In evangelical homes, premarital sex is often considered a sin. This belief has profound implications for young people like Abby, who find themselves in situations that go against these teachings.
Abby is 16 years old and has grown up in a devout evangelical Christian home where premarital sex is strictly prohibited. Despite her upbringing, Abby finds herself pregnant, in direct contradiction to her parents' religious doctrine and teachings.
Furthermore, the evangelical community surrounding Abby deems her unborn child unfit, challenging her standing within the community. This puts pressure not only on Abby but also on Nathan, the father of the baby, as they grapple with the community's perception of their situation.
Evangelical beliefs often focus on controlling female sexuality and reproduction with the goal of fostering what they consider "Godly" relationships and families.
These religious doctrines advocate for the creation of "Godly husbands" who will lead Christian homes and raise children with the correct religious values. Abby's predicament highlights the tension between these ideals and the complexity of real-li ...
Evangelical Christian Beliefs on Premarital Sex Affecting Abby
In the 1950s and 1960s, it was common for unwed pregnant young women to be forced to secretly place their babies for adoption. This practice was part of a larger effort to "correct" what was seen as the "mistake" of unwed pregnancy.
The experiences of Abby and Nathan reveal that forced adoptions still occur within some conservative Christian communities. The ceremony they were part of aimed to address the "mistake" of their baby being born outside of marriage, resonating with past adoption practices.
Abby and Nathan's story highlights ongoing efforts by certain segments of evangelical Christian communities to reshape the country according to ...
Forced Adoptions in Conservative Christian Communities: History and Practice
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