My name is Anaik Faith Alcasas. I’m 29 years old, and was born and raised in the Family International. I’m married to Michael Alcasas, and I have one son, named Justin, soon to be a year old. We currently reside in the United States.

My maiden name is Anaik Faith Adair, of “Adair and Others” court-case fame in Sydney, Australia.* In 1992, pre-dawn raids were carried out on Family communities in Australia, and six of my younger siblings were taken into the custody of social services for a brief time until their mental, emotional, and educational health was established. A lawyer, upon meeting Family children at that time, for the first time, described them as “articulate.” (*See web site reference for details at the end of this letter.)

To date, a total of 700 children from Family communities worldwide have been similarly examined by social services and the courts in several countries. The children have received a clean bill of health. If you took a random sampling of 700 children from society at large, in any country, one must question whether 100 percent of them would be found to be free of emotional, physical, and educational abuse.
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Name: Ruth Wescombe
Age: 24
Location: Sydney, Australia

Okay, so I was born and raised in the Family … but that doesn’t mean that I don’t know a thing or two about life and how to live it. And one thing I’ve learned is that holding on to bitterness and resentment can be pretty suffocating! I mean I should know! I let it take hold of my life for months and I did things that I regret; said words I didn’t mean and lost close friends. And while I can apologize and go on … it’s just not the same. All because of anger!

Those thoughts that used to rage through my head left me senseless. It goes on and on, the things you think of get worse and worse, and before you know it you could murder someone. You exaggerate. The scenario gets repeated in your mind so many times, each time embellished a bit more, until finally you don’t know the truth from the lies. It’s all one big blob of anger! Sound familiar?
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AN OPEN LETTER OF PROTEST TO THE MEDIA
By Michael Alcasas

A lot has been said about the recent murder-suicide case involving Ricky Rodriguez and Angela Smith—more than the story is really worth, in my own opinion. Even worse is the impetus that keeps this story going: accounts of abuse, of a secretive religious sect rife with deviant sexual practices, of abuse, of cover-ups, and did I mention abuse?

Indulge me this little editorial as I try to put this into perspective. A man’s parents are life-long AT&T customers. They like AT&T. They recommend it to their friends, and many of their friends have signed up. The man, however, decides he prefers T-Mobile. Maybe their customer service is better. Maybe he likes the look of his T-Mobile cell-phone more. It doesn’t really matter. It’s his choice, and he chooses T-Mobile. Thousands of others have. No big deal. In fact, he decides he’ll become a T-Mobile salesman.
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Date: 18th of Jan 2005
From: Michael Fischer
Age: 22
Country: Australia
Mission Field: Okinawa, Japan

“WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT DISTRESSED: we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”… “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (2Cor.4:8,9; Matthew 10:21,22)

Wow, what does that verse mean to me? In light of what has recently happened, I believe it means exactly what it says. We are getting attacked from every angle possible, but we are unafraid: we are saddened and confused as to why this happened, but we are not without a hope that some good can come from it. Yes, we are persecuted, but the Lord has not forsaken us. We have been cast down by the media and our very own loved ones, but they have not succeeded in their intent to destroy us. I guess this work just must be of God or something. This next bit is very interesting…. Our brothers are going to deliver us up to death, and the fathers their children, and the children are going to rise up against their parents, and perhaps even cause them to be put to death, and we are going to be hated of all men for the sake of Him who has called us into this line of work. How much more specific can you get?! Times are definitely getting darker, but if we’ll hang in there and “fight the good fight,” then the Lord’s going to see us through till the end. What an amazing piece of scripture that is.
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I never liked knowing about the actions or feelings of those who decided to speak out against the Family after they left, because they are a waste of time—not to mention pathetic—and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I myself have several friends who have left the Family altogether and I am still proud to know them. I‘d like to say that none of them are in any way involved with those “ever nose growing” apostates, who foolishly consider themselves “seekers of justice,” but in truth are directly or indirectly responsible for this murder-suicide tragedy that clearly shows us the danger of the hatred these ogres hold against the beliefs and life we have chosen to live for.

I’ve had a wonderful life in the Family, and despite the ups and downs—which is a common occurrence for anyone—there is nothing I can truly complain about. Life goes on for everyone. And for those apostates who continue to dwell in the past I only feel disgust. My life has been spent mostly in Australia, but I’ve lived overseas. I’m 19 and have lived my whole life in the Family, and have never wanted to live out my life anywhere else. For me to serve full time in the Lord’s service is a privilege and quite often a lot of fun. In my opinion nothing beats it. The fellowship, the sense of fulfilment, and the joy of serving Jesus and helping others is the ultimate high. And I would gladly defend what I have said with any person that says otherwise.

Michael Aerlic is a second generation member of the Family International, currently residing in Australia.

I have recently been informed of the heinous crime that was committed against Angela. I do not know her personally, but no human being should every have to end their life on Earth in such odious manner.

I resent the fact that these apostates are now turning this dreadful event into some kind of campaign to further their cause against an organisation that is only assisting others. Why don’t they channel their energy into offering condolences to the families of the victims instead of slandering the names and lives of hundreds of people in the full-time volunteer organisation? You wonder why I use the plural “victims”? They were both victims of hate. Angela was victim of Ricky’s anger and hatred. Ricky was the victim and tool of the apostates’ malevolent repugnant opinions. He was influenced by these people and allowed them to turn him into a fiend—[one] that didn’t even shadow his former self. He in turn became a victim to that hate and killed himself. And damned well they know it!
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(From Lorie Richards, 30, second-generation member of the Family International)

The recent tragedy involving Ricky and Angela has been on my mind a lot lately. I knew them both. He, quite well, although some time ago, when we both lived in Maria and Peter’s Home (1997-2000). She, not as well, but more recently. He was, at the time, a good man and a good friend. How he went from there to where he ended up is something very painful to think about, and which I’m struggling to understand. It’s shocking when from one day to the next someone who you know and love is not around on Earth any more. It isn’t something I had experienced before. I believe in a life beyond this one, and that those who have departed have gone to a better place—but I can’t help but feel sadness at the thought of not only the loss of life itself, but the taking of one life by another.
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John Paul Frank (Age 17)
Missionary in Eastern Europe

Recent reports from biased, choleric sources about our lifestyle and child-raising methods have been both twisted and bigoted in their presentation; a typical story of Aesop’s “Sour Grapes,” for that which, at first, may have seemed pleasing and worth attaining is suddenly the object of criticism when it is found to be difficult to achieve. Such is the case with those who have, of late, swamped the press with fantastic tales that provide the media with a new, juicy tale of slander to sell to those who crave a bash on “alternative” lifestyles and conjured accusations that make a good horror story of any way of life contrary to their own.

Reporters are notorious for adulterating the facts to support their personal biases. It is not a rare occurrence for them to construe ludicrous conclusions from simple facts when they bear a prejudice against any denomination or group that does not follow the mainstream.
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To whom this may concern,

Firstly, I was not a personal friend of Angela, in fact I never even met her. When I first heard what happened, however, I felt as though I had been punched in the stomach. I honestly couldn’t breathe and felt physically sick. Why. … No. … How could someone, anyone, do a thing like this?

My name is Heidi Hartingdon. I was born in India but I’ve grown up in Australia—where I live now. Though I have been overseas I’ve spent most of my life here.
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Daniella Close
San Diego, CA

To the Editor of the Los Angeles Times
And writers Larry Stammer and Cara DiMassa

I read your article in the La Times on 1/17/2005 in regards to “The Family International.” I was born into and am a former member of The Family. I left in 2001 to pursue a career in the medical field, having spent 21 years in The Family.

I am appalled and disgusted with this article. Suggesting that the murder of Angela Smith was “deserved” and that Mr. Rodriguez is the victim shocks and sickens me. It’s as if you are condoning murder. ANGELA was the victim NOT Mr. Rodriguez. Angela was a wonderful, caring person who devoted her whole life to the Lord and telling others about Him. She was the most selfless person I ever met and I don’t know anyone who knew her personally–as I did–who says otherwise.

I grew up with Daniel Roselle, as both our families lived abroad helping with missionary work and humanitarian aid. We were IN NO WAY EVER ABUSED, to the contrary we were well taken care of and provided for by our parents and other members of The Family. Why he is saying these things is beyond me and is probably to draw attention to himself. I ask you to stop for moment and consider your sources. I have been both in The Family and am now no longer a part of the group. I KNOW FOR A FACT that these accusations and insinuations are wrong and ask you to please print the other side of the story, MINE!

Daniella Close is a second generation former member of The Family International.

My name is Anita Yuri Wisniewski. I’m 22 yrs old. I was born and raised in The Family. I have lived most of my life in Japan where I am now still a missionary. I have traveled to India, Brazil, and the States as a missionary in The Family.

I was blessed with a wonderful, happy childhood, with parents who love the Lord and raised me to love and serve Him as well. I come from a family of nine brothers and sisters, eight of whom are still in The Family.
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Mike Moore
So. California, USA

I am a 29-year old second-generation member of The Family International. A program director for missionary outreach, I live in Southern California with my wife and three children. I was shocked and saddened to hear news of the brutal murder of Angela Smith and the subsequent suicide of her killer, Richard Rodriguez.

What happened was horrific. I know Angela very well. She was a beautiful person; gentle, caring, funny and young at heart. She didn’t deserve this. After the initial shock and anger I now feel a great sadness for the loss not only to her family, but to all of her friends and the many of us who knew and loved her. She will be missed.
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