First, let me state that Josh is correct in saying that sexual abuse does not currently occur within the group and is no longer promoted. Sadly, this has not always been the case.

During my time in The Family, I too, defended the group in the same naive way that Josh does now. I was convinced that it was not sexual abuse when I at the age of 8 I had sexual contact with an adult woman. I was convinced that the weekly “sharing nights” during which our adult supervisor had children aged 5 through 10 pair up for sex were not abusive. I was convinced that the fact that I only had a 6th grade education at the age of 18 was not educational neglect. I was convinced that the harsh beatings I received during the “Victor Camp” (http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Swiss_Victor_Camp) were not physical abuse.

I, like Josh, was adamant that no abuse had occurred despite the fact that I had experienced it. I have come to learn that I was not alone in my experiences, and that many of my friends and peers–particularly the girls–experienced much worse abuse than I.

Furthermore, the fact that the abuse was widespread is clearly documented in the group’s own (now expunged) publications. For one example, see http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Story_of_Davidito#Page_scans. I challenge anyone to say that what is being done to Davidito (Rick Rodriguez) in these images is not sexual abuse and is not a crime. These images were taken by his caregivers and their publication to Family members sanctioned by his own mother who remains a leader of the group to this day. The Family’s leadership has never publicly denounced those images as sexual abuse.

Another point on which I must agree with Josh is about “escaping” the cult. In most cases, it is not a matter of escaping physically. It is, however, indisputably, nearly always a matter of escaping psychologically.

I find it disheartening that those of us who were victims of such abuse are now being called liars and are accused of twisting the truth by our own peers. One would hope that an organization that is truly interested in “making a difference” would show more compassion and attempt to make amends with those they have hurt.

Maybe there’s still hope for that.

There are so many insinuations, half-truths, misrepresentations, and lies written about the Family International, some of the same are regurgitated and written in this post, that to go into detail necessary to clarify, refute and set the record straight, I’d have to spend time you & I just don’t have. –hey did I mention I have 5 kids?

But I’ll refute a few of them; there is NO SEXUAL ABUSE (or other abuse) in the Family International communities I have lived in! -and if you want to see how other hundreds of SGA (Second Generation Adults) refute these (and other) allegations, go to this site http://www.myconclusion.com

Noah Thompson, one of those who created the documentary referred to here, and who I knew for a couple years, did not ‘escape’ he simply did want many other thousands did when they decided to leave our church —they left freely, of their own volition, and without constraint, in fact most were encouraged to move on if/when it became clear they no longer wished to remain part of our church, to say he ‘escaped’ is absurd.

To see what we actually believe and practice, regarding Children you can click here and read part of our statement of faith http://www.thefamily.org/about/beliefs.php#26, and as the post preceding mine states, we’ve won every court case, and have even counter sued and won. Remember the words ‘If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you’ John.15:20, and ‘all that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution’ 2.Timothy 3:12, much (if not most sad to say) of what you’ll hear and read today about the Family International is just plain and old fashioned religious persecution, it’s been around for millenniums and will be around for millennia to come.

Fortunately enough evidence is still available to demonstrate that The Family is a sex cult. Its values then and now have nothing to do with Biblical Christianity:
The Family / Children of God examined.

All you need to know about the Jehovah’s Witnesses is that they say “Jesus had his return to power” aka his second coming in the year 1914.

What do you think?

Debunking the Jehovah’s Witnesses propaganda:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that “we are just here to share a message from the Bible” this is deception right off.

B) The ‘message’ is their false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming already in 1914.The problem with this,is it’s not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim “..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple”

C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands

D) once they recruit you they will “love bomb” you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah’s Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.
—-
Danny Haszard Jehovah’s Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation
http://www.freeminds.org