One of Scientology’s most prominent buildings is located in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of L.A. Times.
Summary: A woman claims that the Church of Scientology forced her to get an abortion when she was 17 years-old.
Controversial celebrity-centric religion, Scientology, was hit with another terrible allegation. This time, a woman has accused the church of forcing her to get an abortion, LAist reports.
This week, a Los Angeles County judge ruled that the trial of a former Scientologist who claims the church forced her to abort will move forward. Laura Cresenczo said the Church had her sign a “Billion Year Contract” when she was twelve-years-old, and when she was seventeen, they forced her to abort her fetus. She originally filed this suit in 2009, but the church fought back and stalled the case until now.
Additionally, Cresenzo said the Church of Scientology is guilty of false imprisonment, wage and hour theft, intention of emotional distress, and other charges. She said that forcing abortions was common in the church because they wanted women to work more and they wanted to keep childcare costs low.
The church’s most prominent celebrity members include Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, and John Travolta. King of Queens actress Leah Remini left the church and published a scathing tell-all in 2005. Crash director Paul Haggis appeared in the Scientology documentary Going Clear, which portrayed the church negatively.
According to the lawsuit, the Church coerced Cresenzo into having an abortion, telling her that if she didn’t give up her future baby they would kick her out, never let her see her husband, and saddle her with debt. She said her husband worked with the church, and that he was angry she became pregnant.
At the time of the alleged forced abortion, Cresenzo had been with the church for five years, and she was a member of its elite class, the Sea Org. After the abortion, she stayed with the church for another twelve years. She left Scientology for good in 2008 after she stumbled across an online board for ex-Scientologists who shared their experiences.
Bart Deixler, a spokesperson for the Church, said that the court should not be involved in church matters.
“We do not have the civil courts investigate religious practices,” Deixler said.
Source: LAist