A woman says the Church of Scientology forced her to have an abortion, according to a lawsuit.
Laura DeCrescenzo said she became pregnant at age 17. The Church demanded she have an abortion or they would revoke her husband, her housing and her job. Furthermore, the lawsuit states she would owe them a “freeloader debt” for using their services and then violating their will.
“I was told by the commanding officer of my organization that, she immediately started telling me that at this point the baby wasn’t a baby, it was just tissue,” DeCrescenzo said in 2010.
According to the Scientology website, though, abortion is rare among members.
“As described in Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, even attempted abortions are traumatic physically and spiritually to an unborn child, as well as to the mother. Abortion is therefore rare among Scientologists, who recognize that even an unborn fetus may already be occupied by a spiritual being. In some instances, however, abortion might be a recourse owing to health concerns for the mother or other personal factors. The Church never advocates abortion to Church staff or to parishioners,” the site reads.
The lawsuit was filed in early 2010, but is still making its way through the court system.
