Forced Abortions in the Church of Scientology?

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-03-11 14:22:00 UTC
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The Church of Scientology has gotten the evil eye from women before when Tom Cruise brought attention to the religion's teaching that postpartum depression doesn't require medical treatment. But now the anti-woman allegations against the Church have amped up, and while many believe that Scientology is a joke, forced abortion is no laughing matter.

Amanda Kloer reports on the Human Trafficking blog that there have been numerous accusations against the Church of Scientology for human trafficking and other abuses, including beatings and slave and child labor, and now we can add forced abortion to the list. A New York Times expose looks at multiplying charges of abuse by former members against the "Sea Organization," or Sea Org, a group of elite Scientologists who run the Church. And as more charges ranging from coerced abortion to sexual assault to imprisonment to physical abuse come out, more defectors are embolden to share their own stories.

Australian Senator Nick Xenophan has been leading the charge against the Church of Scientology his country. Last year, Xenophan received a letter from former Church members recounting instances of forced or coerced abortion or sexual assault. He quotes a former Scientology, Aaron Saxton, who confessed to intimidating and bullying pregnant women into obtaining abortions, and threatening them with demotion and hard labor if they refused. One woman is reported to have taken the dangerous step of self-inducing an abortion by using a coat hanger, she was so afraid of the Church's retribution.

This is not only a violation of reproductive rights; it also puts women's lives and health in danger, if they are forced to resort to desperate measures at the Church's bidding.

Photo credit: CradleApex

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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