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| Speaking
Freely
Former
Scientologists are coming forward to tell their stories
of life inside Scientology. We present here an archive
of some of those stories in video and affidavits.
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The
Woodcraft Family
The
Woodcrafts came to the LMT in January of 2001 and sat down to share
with us their experiences not only in Scientology but in the "elite"
paramilitary branch of the organization called the Sea Org.
Lawrence
was a successful architect in London when he met and fell in love
with a Scientologist. They married and raised Astra and Zoe in Scientology.
The
family was lured to Clearwater, Florida by Scientology's offer for
Lawrence to be Scientology's official architect; just one of the
promises never kept. Lawrence talks about his family life and the
asbestos he uncovered on Scientology's cruise ship, The Freewinds.
As
a member of the Sea Org, one of Astra's duties was to stop disaffected
members from fleeing Scientology. In time, Astra wanted to leave
herself and purposely became pregnant so that the Sea Org would
kick her out.
Zoe
never knew life outside of Scientology. She grew up in some of the
worst conditions imaginable and was indoctrinated to believe that
the world outside of Scientology was evil and dangerous. She fled
from Scientology at the age of 16 to rejoin her father and sister,
leaving behind a mother, grandmother and step brother who since
have disconnected from her.
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High
Level OTs
Scientology
stresses communication as one of its main virtues but
members quickly discover that there are many things that can
not be talked about, even with their closest friends and family.
These long time Scientologists delight in finally being able
to speak freely about what life was like for them as OTVIIs.
Tory
Bezazian was a beloved member of Scientology for 30 years
and worked as a volunteer for the Office of Special Affairs
never knowing the depths of the dirty tricks OSA would use
against critics of Scientology.
Maria
Pia Gardini joined the Sea Org from her home in Italy and
traveled to Clearwater, Florida to move up the Bridge to Total
Freedom. Nothing was free for Maria, however, as Scientology
extracted $2 million from Maria at her most vulnerable moments.
Greg
and Debra were longtime Scientologists who found themselves
declared Suppressive Persons after questioning Scientology's
altering of L. Ron Hubbard's material.
The
same happened to David Cook and Vickki Ford. Their story is
even more horrific as they have also lost a son to Scientology.
Their son, George, remains in Scientology's Sea Org and has
disconnected from his parents, leading Vickki to launch an
aggressive campaign to try to regain contact with the boy.
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WISE
Fraud
WISE
stands for the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises. It is
Scientology's way of recruiting members of the business community
through business management courses. WISE preys upon professionals
who they know can bring money into Scientology.
The
Hattaways and the Lazarnicks are chiropractors; Bill and Barbara
are successful dentists.
More
Stories
The
OT Panel
The
OT Panel brings together Tory Bezazian with Greg and Debra
Barnes and Peter Alexander as they swap stories and share
opinions on Scientology's secret upper levels.
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Jim
Beebe
After
spending time if Scientology and leaving the group, Jim
Beebe worked as a volunteer for the original Cult Awareness
Network in Chicago. CAN later would be taken over by Scientology.
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Taped
in Leipzig, Germany
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Tanya
Taped
on the streets of Leipzig during the summer of 2000, Tanya
talks about her childhood in Scientology and the duties
she performed as a Sea Org member.
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Vivien
Vivien
spent her childhood in Scientology and found herself in
the Sea Org as a young teen being forced to do the most
horrendous work and getting little education.
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Natascha
Kobitsch
Natascha
was involved in a relationship with a Scientologist. When
she started to read books critical of the organization,
he disconnected from her.
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