In the 1930s, 40s, 50, and 60s young Catholic girls often became pregnant in the New York Metropolitan area. In those days come their 5th month or so, they were sent to live in a Catholic boarding school run by nuns near Bennington, Vermont. They were almost always required to give up their babies to childless Catholic couples. Many sad, touching, often tragic but sometimes remarkable stories. Yet there are thousands alive today and their descendants because the Catholic social structure however imperfect preserved life. As a sidebar the fathers of those babies were often strongly encouraged to join the military and leave the community for a long time. Just the way it was. It was unthinkable in those days to kill innocent pre born human life.
Guess Billy Joel was wrong about Catholic Girls.