1 step beyond

Play along with me a little bit here.

You and your two kids and your spouse go to church one day. You go through the ceremony and you do all that you do when you go to church, and at the door before you can leave four men stop you and tell you your children are coming with them and aren't allowed to go home with you. They tell you they are doing this because they happen to know that you don't always agree with the sermon the minister gives, and that people have heard you talk about how much you disagree with what he says and what the church believes in, and that those people have told them about what you say.

So they're going to take the children now and that's exactly what they do. Then your spouse turns around and tells you he has to go with the children too because he got a letter telling him that you are being thrown out of the church and if he doesn't leave he'll lose his job and, besides, someone has to watch the kids. And he walks away with the children and the men tell you you better get out of the building or they'll call the police.

Silly... isn't it?

Or is it?

My name is Kendra Wiseman... I have been quiet about my Scientology experience for a long time, and I'm damn well sick of it. Yesterday was my very last day of silence. Starting today, I'm a vocal critic of Scientology.

Recently, thanks to the actions of Anonymous, a group of internet activists, and the public testimony of Jenna Miscavige Hill, I've decided to speak up. I'd like to personally thank all the members of Anonymous for helping to make us heard, for allowing me to feel safe to speak, and for giving me the inspiration to tell my story. Also thanks to Astra Woodcraft and Jenna Miscavige Hill, who I hope to share a coffee with someday. You're both invited to my wedding.

It is a strong possibility that coming out and speaking like this effectively closes the door on any chance I may have had to speak with my parents again. I will without a doubt be officially declared a Suppressive Person, I may be stalked and harassed, I may be ridiculed, but I'm beyond fear of that now. I do hope my parents know that I still love them, that I'm proud of them, and that someday I'll have the chance to talk with them and get to know them again.

I miss you guys.

From ex-Scientologykids.com

_______________________________________________________
In 1966 UK newspaper the Daily Mail quoted a disconnection letter from Scientologist Karen Henslow to her mother:

"Dear Mother, I am hereby disconnecting from you because you are suppressive to me. You evaluate for me, invalidate me, interrupt me and remove all my gains. And you are destroying me.

"I [unreadable] from this time consider myself disconnected from you and I do not want to see you or hear from you again. From now you don't exist in my life."
_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Jenna Miscavige Hill, the niece of the current leader of Scientology, was recently interviewed by Nightline (ABC). This interview has been blocked by Scientology until they "have a chance to respond". Chances are very good they are attempting to delay it far beyond the April 12th date. But Jenna's CNN interview is also coming soon. Scientology sent several people to her town in Texas to try to convince her to not speak out.

They failed.

On April 12 there will be demonstrations held around the world against Scientology's destruction of families and disconnection policy. In the past few months the Church of Scientolgy has attempted injunctions to stop the protests. So far all of their attempts have been seen by the courts as an undue attempt to stop free speech and assembly, and have been thrown out. But their efforts continue.

Now, with recourse through the courts being blocked, Scientology's tactics have recently been directed at individual protesters across the country. Letters to parents of protesters claiming their son or daughter "may be a part of a terrorist group", harassing phone calls, threatened lawsuits, the assignment of private investigators to tail demonstrators and get their pictures and license plate numbers, and the continuous cry of "religious bigotry" and "terrorism", as well as complaints to the police have all been part of their arsenal of misdirection and black PR.

Why does a church have to hire private investigators to tail its critics?

_______________________________________________________

From the production notes of "Why We Fight III" about the woman featured in this clip - 'Ida Camburn, 85, was disconnected by her son over thirty years ago. An active critic of the organization's policy of disconnection, she is beloved by the many individuals and families she has strengthened, comforted, and inspired throughout the past three decades.'

Expect Us... to show up with hugs.