Former Scientologist tells of arduous ordeal as child in forced-labor camp

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
3/19/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Author reveals all in new book 'Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape'

Author Jenna Miscavige Hill is blasting the religious cult Scientology in her new book, "Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape." Miscavige Hill claims that the cult forces children to do back-breaking labor in forced labor camps.

'The conditions we worked under would have been tough for a grown man, and yet any complaints, backflashing (Scientology term for talking back), any kind of questioning was instantly met with disciplinary action,' Jenna Miscavige Hill writes.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A former member and outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology, Miscavige Hill reveals heretofore unknown secrets and details of the tough conditions for child members of the religious order. A Scientological spokesperson has since denounced the book, calling the claims false.

The estranged niece of powerful church leader David Miscavige, Miscavige Hill claims the church-run "Ranch" in the desert near San Jacinto, California was little more than a child labor camp with deplorable conditions.

"The conditions we worked under would have been tough for a grown man, and yet any complaints, backflashing (Scientology term for talking back), any kind of questioning was instantly met with disciplinary action," she said.

The 29-year-old Miscavige Hill left the group in 2005 but not before spending six years doing hard labor for the shadowy, secretive religious order. She claims she and other offspring of the elite Sea Org members of the Church were sent to the Ranch and worked in the hot summer sun. The children saw their parents only once a week, if that. Sea Org members were the most dedicated, working 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Ranch was "like a military boot camp, with grueling drills, endless musters, exhaustive inspections, and arduous physical labor that no child should have to do," the book says.

Church spokeswoman, Karin Pouw, denied the claims and said, "The Church does not engage in any activities that mistreat, neglect or force children to engage in manual labor."

Hill also writes that the many celebrity members of the Church, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, were shielded from the inhumane treatment of children. She posted a statement on her Web site last year warning Katie Holmes, Cruise's ex-wife, of her hard time with the Church. Holmes and Cruise have a young daughter, Suri.

"My experience in growing up in Scientology is that it is both mentally and at times physically abusive," Miscavige Hill wrote. "As a mother myself, I offer my support to Katie and wish for her all of the strength she will need to do what is best for her and her daughter."

The statement was posted on the Web site "Ex-Scientology Kids," which has the tagline "I was born. I grew up. I escaped."

Pouw, the Scientology spokeswoman, discredited the outspoken Miscavige Hill in a statement.

"Those who decide a religious order isn't for them are free to move on with their lives, as Ms. Miscavige Hill did," she said. "Every religion has its detractors; there is no faith that can satisfy everyone's spiritual needs. Revisionist histories are typical of apostate behavior and tabloid tales should always be taken with an enormous grain of salt."

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Scientology, children, forced labor, expose, religion, cult

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Gerry Hunter
1 month ago
This is not a lone voice, but a growing chorus. The culture of human degradation, according to account after account, pervades the organization. And the writings of its founder make it very clear that those outside the organization are lesser humans, and those who question it are not human at all, having no rights and subject to any treatment deemed expedient. And that's not a new idea with this outfit, and it's no better, and no less dangerous, than it has ever proven to be Netherlands past.
jeff "louanne" smado
2 months ago
@Paul Rodden

How long have you been in Scientology, what OT Level are you?
Susan
2 months ago
I am so grateful that Catholic Online is featuring Jenna Miscavige Hill's story and details of her book. She has been under attack from the cult of Scientology for escaping with her husband from Scientology's abusive Sea Org.and this "church" not only criticizes her horrifically in the press and on the internet, they also employ private detectives to follow her, go through her trash, and propagate lies about her to members of her community and online.

It was upsetting to read Mr. Rodden's comment about not taking this woman's experience seriously. This is exactly what Satan and the Church of Scientology count on: their evil thrives because people of faith willfully ignore the pleas of the oppressed. Jesus taught us to help all who are suffering and to extend compassion and empathy to those who are in need of our help. It doesn't matter if they live next door or are strangers. Our faith is based on love and it is our duty to help those who need our attention most.

The Church of Scientology mocks the Catholic Church and our beliefs, but the children, teens and young adults who are abused and forced to serve as slave labor under the guise of religion deserve our attention and deserve our help. Doesn't God expect us to listen to their pleas for help and to do all we can to help them? May God guide us all to do what is right and may we be strong enough in our faith to do His will.
Paul Rodden
2 months ago
I'm tended not to take this seriously.
I treat these sort of books the same way I would about the books written by those that claim to have been trapped in the 'Cult of Opus Dei' or the evils and abuse of the 'Magdalene Laundries' in Ireland...
abey
2 months ago
The best that Scientology to Science reveals is a god particle, not God, for if it was so Jesus would have told us. Which is but to the simple understanding that God sans time & that which sans time is The Faith, to know The God.
Smershy
2 months ago
My heart is aching for Jenna and for all youngsters who are suffering each and every day through the abuse of this scary cult. Jenna's uncle, who is the current Chairman of the Board and leader of this cult is following the beliefs and practices created and enforced by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who was a known pathological liar and con artist with a criminal history who participated in the occult and denounced and blasphemised Jesus Christ.

L. Ron Hubbard's cult is based on the premise of each person being a God with super powers. It is also a pyramid scheme business which uses fear, intimidation, and disconnection of families to control its members. Narconon, one of its front groups, is a rehab facility (which uses other names as well) hides the fact that it uses Scientology based instruction to recruit new cult members. That's right - it recruits people at their most vulnerable moments and it is a required part of their program. Brainwashing techniques are used and unsafe five to six hour long saunas are their idea of detoxing. In reality, it's unsafe both medically and psychologically.

As Catholics, it's our duty to see through the lies of the Scientology spokesperson's odd statements (they follow L.Ron Hubbard's tactic to "never deny, always attack" and to lie to benefit their agenda) and to use our collective voices as Christians to speak out on behalf of those who are forced to grow up in this cult. Foreigners are also being targeted, especially those suffering from natural disasters and poverty, who are without means to seek help or to escape.

No child should have to suffer the abuses of this cult. Please read this book as well as read Ms. Miscavige Hill's blog "Ex-Scientology Kids", which will give you a better idea of this sinister "religion". Now you'll understand why Katie Holmes had to literally escape with her daughter to get away from this cult. Scientology: It's worse than you think.
Karen de la Carriere
2 months ago
I collaborate Jenna's story.
My son Alexander Jentzsch, 2nd generation Scientologist grew up in the "Sea Organization".l; At the ages of 12 and 13 he was cleaning toilets, mopping windows and vacuuming carpets with no schooling. He was also having sexual intercourse with a 40 year old and this was never reported to Clearwater PD.
When he finally told me that this slave labor was occurring, I made a huge noise about it.
It is always incredulous when they lie about using kids for slave labor. They did so for years and because of social media and the exposure of it all, it stopped. Jenna tells a true story. I would testify under oath in any court of law on Child slave labor

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