We’re happy to bring you good news in the midst of these stressful and troubling times.

Recently, “An Act to Amend Safe Haven Laws” (HP 405/LD 560) was passed by Maine lawmakers and will become effective later this fall. We expect the law to save lives! 

The current law allows parents to surrender their newborns into “safe hands,” i.e., directly to a nurse, firefighter, or law enforcement officer without facing criminal penalty.

The new provisions amend this law by adding a “baby box” as a “safe hands” option, which means that parents may anonymously surrender their babies to a Safe Haven Baby Box and not face criminal charges.

These baby boxes are provided by the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization based out of Indiana. They will be installed on the outside walls of fire stations and hospitals – only at locations that are open and staffed 24 hours a day. The boxes are automatically locked from the outside once a baby is placed inside, but an alarm is immediately triggered inside the building so medical personnel are alerted that there is a child.

These boxes are privately funded and have already saved at least 112 lives nationwide. Twelve babies have been surrendered directly to these Safe Haven Baby Boxes, while another 100 newborn lives were surrendered after a call to the Safe Haven Baby Boxes hotline.

Our LIFE partners, i.e., the Portland Diocese, Maine Right to Life, and Concerned Women of Maine, worked alongside our team at CCL Maine to collaborate on the legislation and get it passed. Please contact Representative Patrick Corey and thank him for sponsoring this legislation!

This is an amazing example of the fruits of Christian labor. Faithful individuals and organizations across the country are working together to save lives and present an alternative option to abortion. To think of the impact these baby boxes have already had is incredibly inspiring.

Plus, the passage of this law is a reminder that even when times are dark, we must still keep fighting for what is good and true. We can still shine a light and live and act as Christians – and this effort could literally save lives.

In Him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

(Ephesians 1:11-12)

Let us remember that we exist for the praise of Christ’s glory in times of both darkness and light. For God commands us to “let the light shine out of darkness” (2 Corinthians 4:6) – thus, we shall do this!

Together we hope in Christ,

Carroll Conley

Executive Director, CCL