When the Wind Blows | 1

The "baby scoop era" persists in modern America, where religious institutions pressure young, unwed evangelical women to relinquish their children for adoption. Investigative journalist T.J. Raphael examines this systemic issue through the story of Abbi, who was sent to the Liberty Godparent Home—a facility founded by Jerry Falwell—after becoming pregnant at 16. The program, which offers financial incentives and college scholarships in exchange for adoption, functions as a mechanism to enforce patriarchal control and religious dogma. By analyzing the intersection of evangelical upbringing, shame, and institutionalized reproductive coercion, the investigation reveals how maternity homes continue to operate under the guise of "pro-life" support. This practice effectively strips young women of their parental rights, forcing them to conform to a specific vision of the "godly" Christian home at the expense of their own autonomy and emotional well-being.