On Mother's Day, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology's cruel 'disconnection' policy - 2020-05-10

On Mother's Day, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology's cruel 'disconnection' policy May 10, 2020, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker

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There may be no other holiday which is more anathema to Scientology than Mother's Day.

According to L. Ron Hubbard's cruel philosophy, the family unit is a fiction, a temporary assembly of meat bodies that have no real tie between their souls, known as "thetans." Making it worse, Scientology under both Hubbard and his successor, David Miscavige, has enforced control of its members and punishment of its perceived enemies by ripping those families apart through the policy of "disconnection." Once a member has been declared a "suppressive person" — Scientology's version of excommunication — all other members must cut off all contact with that person, even if it means a mother turning her back on her own children, or a son or daughter shutting out their own parents. We checked in with some of the mothers we've gotten to know who have been affected by this policy to ask them how they are coping with today's reminder that they have been separated from their loved ones for daring to leave this totalitarian organization that calls itself a church.

Claire Headley: Mother's Day is always bittersweet for me. Sweet in that I always wanted children, in my heart, despite all odds against such ever being a possibility for me. And now I have three boys who I love with all my heart. They are my world. I would move mountains for them, I love and treasure every moment I get to spend with them. And yet the bitterness is that I'm always also reminded, on this day, that the cruel reality of Scientology in this world means I don't get to celebrate or love on my mother on this day. I've sometimes pondered the subject of disconnection and death. In death, there is a finality that can feel cruel, and yet the person remains in your heart always. And it is inevitable for all of us. As you know, we lost Bernie in December, he was the closest I ever knew to having a father. I will always love him and he will always be with us in our hearts. I'm thankful he is at peace, despite how deeply we miss him. Disconnection is Scientology's harsh punishment of its enemies, and actually even contradictory to a Scientologist's core beliefs. For the sake of argument, if one actually believes that "Communication is the universal solvent" then how does one then concoct disconnection? The only logical answer is that it is a cruel and evil tool of leverage and control, intended to inflict hurt and despair on one's enemies. In some ways, it is a fate more cruel than even death. It is a torment with no closure for all parties involved, the only resolution to which is complete submission to Scientology's dictates. An impossibility. I think my mother's words will communicate better (Excerpt from an email she sent me on January 30th 2005, 6 days after I had made my escape from the Sea Organization): "There is very, very little privacy in my life. This is all very clandestine for me. I am not letting the kids know. It would be a very bad example for them. I am not letting Hugh know. That would not work. I love you very much darling." And then an excerpt from a letter she sent me on 11 April 2009, return address Scientology's headquarters, and while our lawsuit was pending: "I have a right as a parent to demand that you stop attacking us and our church. We will apply Scientology in our lives, move forward, do the best we can. Ultimately, we are all individuals and we each have to make our own choices." This, for me personally, confirms what I've known since I was four years old. Scientology does not believe nor practice unconditional love. Scientology destroys one of the basic foundation of society and community: Family. Scientology controls its members and uses leverage and disconnection as the means by which to exact said control. That's the harsh reality. And while I will celebrate Mother's Day with my children, and my foster mother, Cindy Plahuta, that will not change the fact that I will always love and miss my mom. To anyone suffering from the evil of disconnection: Please know you are loved. Cult programming is deep, but underneath it all, the love of family will always live on.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | author = Tony Ortega | title = On Mother's Day, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology's cruel 'disconnection' policy | url = https://tonyortega.org/2020/05/10/on-mothers-day-the-moms-who-suffer-and-defy-scientologys-cruel-disconnection-policy/ | work = Underground Bunker | date = May 10, 2020 | accessdate = May 10, 2020 }}