- Astra Woodcraft
Astra Woodcraft is one of the founders of [http://www.exscientologykids.com Ex-ScientologistsKids.com] . Astra is the daughter of Lawrence and Leslie. She was born in
1978 , followed five years later by her sister, Zoe. They were third-generation Scientologists.In 1986, Leslie joined the
Church of Scientology 'sSea Organization inFlorida , an intense cadre of true believers. The whole family of five moved to Florida, living in one little cockroach-ridden motel room. Astra's formal education stopped at age 9. Over the next few years, she was sent to a series of makeshift schools run by Scientologists.When she was 14, young Astra too joined the Sea Org, and signed the standard billion-year contract promising loyalty. From age 14 to 19, she was working from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., laboring for months without a day off.
At age 15, she married a 22-year-old Scientologist in the Sea Org. That same year, Astra became an "ethics officer" authorized to mete out punishment to anyone breaking Scientology rules. It's not uncommon in the Sea Org to have young teenagers supervising and disciplining other members two or three times their age.
Astra wanted to leave Scientology. She figured that the only way to get out is to get pregnant. If Sea Org members get pregnant, they will be sent to one of the smaller, lower-level organizations. In reality, pregnant members are very heavily pressured to get an abortion. Two months later, she got a day off from work, and never went back. Her brother and a Scientology security guard intercepted her at Los Angeles International Airport, even trying to grab her ticket.
In July 1998, Astra received a detailed bill from the Church of Scientology International office in Los Angeles demanding payment for all the "free" training courses and auditing sessions she had received while in the Sea Org. The total amount was $89,526. Her mother and stepbrother remained in the Sea Org, along with her maternal grandmother. Lawrence Woodcraft was officially declared a "
suppressive person " for helping his daughters to leave Scientology.References
*cite web | first = Don | last = Lattin | title = Leaving the Fold / Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/02/12/MN171898.DTL | work = | publisher = San Francisco Chronicle | date =
2001-02-12 | accessdate = 2008-03-08
*cite web | first = Sarah | last = Chalmers | title = My Scientology nightmare | url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=24183&in_page_id=1770 | work = | publisher = Daily Mail | date =2001-02-17 | accessdate = 2008-03-08
*cite web | first = Sarah | last = Chalmers | title = Nicole's Scientology nightmare | url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=24182&in_page_id=1770 | work = | publisher = Daily Mail | date =2001-02-17 | accessdate = 2008-03-08
*cite web | first = David | last = Sarno | title = Kids against Scientology | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/02/kids-against--1.html | work = | publisher =Los Angeles Times | date = 2008-02-29 | accessdate = 2008-02-29
*cite web | first = Chase | last = Mitchell | title = Scientology: Born Again Former Scientologist speaks out | url = http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=34&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=12140 | work = | publisher =Gwinnet Daily Post | date = 2008-03-08 | accessdate = 2008-03-08External links
*cite web | first = Stacy | last = Brooks | title = Video Interview: Growing Up in Scientology | url = http://www.xenutv.com/interviews/astra-1.htm| work = | publisher = Xenu TV | date = 2001-01-20 | accessdate = 2008-03-08
*cite web | first = | last = | title = Astra Woodcraft Speaks Of The Dangers Of Scientology
url = http://glosslip.com/2008/03/09/astra-woodcraft-speaks-of-the-dangers-of-scientology/ | work = | publisher =GlossLip | date = 2008-03-09 | accessdate = 2008-03-09
*cite web | first = | last = | title = Another Worldwide Protest Against Scientology
url = http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00099.htm | work = | publisher =Scoop Independent News | date = 2008-03-10 | accessdate = 2008-03-10
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