'You have to be willing to give up everything you've ever known': Leah Remini slams Scientology AGAIN for 'brainwashing' people and tearing families apart
- The 46-year-old actress has repeatedly spoken out against the 'religion' since she left in 2013
- She published a book, Troublemaker, and is promoting an A&E series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
- In a new PAPER magazine essay, she says she wants to keep fighting Scientology and hopes the government will go after them
- She repeated her claims that members of the church were beaten and are separated from their families if they leave
Leah Remini isn't done battling the Church of Scientology, which she left in 2013 and has been criticizing publicly ever since.
Following a bestselling book — Troublemaker, in which she details her life growing up in the church — and her popular A&E series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the 46-year-old is still working to combat the organization she claims brainwashed and indoctrinated her and abused other members.
Speaking in a new essay in the latest issue of PAPER magazine, the King of Queens star repeats her claims that Scientology is a nefarious organization, adding that she hopes the FBI will open a new investigation into its activities.
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Speaking out: Leah Remini is lashing out again at Scientology in a new essay for PAPER
People often wonder how adults get mixed up in cults, but Leah first joined the church as an impressionable kid. Her mom joined up first, bringing Leah and her sister along.
It was easy for Leah to fall under its spell. She recalls the indoctrination, explaining that she was told that she was special, even as a kid. The church also tells its members that it is working toward noble goals, which sound attractive.
'Scientology claims it makes a better world,' she said. 'You're all working on the same goal to make the world a better place, to make the planet a better place. We're saving mankind.'
But despite being out to make the world better, she went on, Scientologist 'are taught not to be in harmony with the rest of the world'.
Brainwashed: She joined the church when she was a child (pictured in 1989, several years after joining), following in the footsteps of her mother
Scary: She said several senior members have claimed to have been beaten by Scientology's leader, David Miscavige (pictured right, with Tom Cruise)
They don't associate much with outsiders, they avoid the outside opinions about the Church and they have 'enemies' — anyone who is against Scientology. This includes the American Medical Association, psychiatry, the government, police officers, and news organizations.
The Church of Scientology has famously hit out at all news organizations who have criticized it, and Tom Cruise caused a firestorm in 2005 when he hit out at Brooke Shields for pursuing psychiatry for her postpartum depression.
It took a long time for Leah to see all of this, though. She first started having doubts when several senior executives and clergy with Scientology left, claiming they'd been beaten and had beaten under people, all under the control of Scientology's leader, David Miscavige.
After hearing these stories several times, she did something strictly verboten under the Church: She looked Scientology up on the internet, gathering more information.
Vocal opponent: Leah has also written a book about her experiences called Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
Ultimately, it took Leah six years to fully get out of the church. She and her family had been with Scientology for years, and Leah herself had donated millions to it.
'If you are questioning the teachings or the organization, they start to go to work on your family and friends, who, remember, are all Scientologists at this point,' she wrote. 'So it's one thing to walk away and to say, "I'm not into this s*** anymore, I'm gone."
'If you have kids you would have indoctrinated them into Scientology. Your family, your mother, your father, and you usually work for Scientologists. So walking away means leaving all of that behind, because they have to shun you if you leave. You have to be willing to give up everything you've ever known.'
While Leah was lucky — her family left the church with her — not everyone is so fortunate. Her new TV series tells the stories of ex-church-members like these, some of whom were beaten and several of whom had to abandon their loved ones.
In her new A&E series, ex-Scientology members open up about their own horros
Even after publishing her book and promoting her show, though, she's not shutting up — even if it's just to reiterate points she's already made.
'Listen, I'm over the church of Scientology. Period. I've written a book. I've told my story,' she explained. 'What I am taking a stand against is the church turning around and turning against every journalist, every person, every organization who has the balls to tell their story about what really happened.'
She knows the Church will go after her and A&E, as well as the individuals featured on her show. They'll try to discredit them and make them look bitter and out to get the Church — but, she says, they are out to get the Church, and for good reason.
'When you hurt people, defraud them out of money and their lives and brainwash them and victimize them, that's what happens,' she concluded.
Since Leah's series came out, the Church of Scientology has, predictably, lashed out at Leah in return, releasing this statement: 'Leah Remini’s "reality" show, like her last one, is nothing more than a scripted, rehearsed, acted and dramatized work of fiction. She and the other anti-Scientologists in her program have been expelled from the Church for unethical conduct.'
They called other participants 'liars' and accused Leah of extorting money from the Church, claims the star has already refuted.
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