My name is Maria. I was born in Mexico into ¨The Family International¨. I was always bright and well adjusted as a child due to my social environment and Family schooling. Aside from being in Mexico half my life, I have also lived in Australia, the States, and the Philippines. In my lifetime of almost 23 years, I have never once experienced or seen another child experience sexual abuse. I am not saying there have not been bad people in the Family at one point or another, just as there are bad people the world over. But I have heard of cases where as soon as an abuser of any kind was found out, he was automatically EXCOMMUNICATED! I am not defending the past of ¨The Children of God¨. I was not there. I am defending what I live in and have grown up in all my life, and what is now being attacked: “The Family”.

Where in the world do we teach that when someone has a legitimate ought against another, to kill them? Why are people defending and condoning a murder? Is that what our society has come to? Ricky sure didn’t learn that in The Family!

If Ricky had a legitimate allegation, he should have taken those INDIVIDUALS to court, and to proper justice and left The Family out of it! The Family is made up of thousands of individuals, and we are not all responsible for Ricky’s gripes about his past. Why didn’t Ricky go to the proper authorities? Was it because he knew his accusations were not legitimate? Was it because he knew that these exact same type of accusations were taken to court before, time and again, even to the point of the police taking Family children away from their homes and parents to examine them, and it all still coming out that not ONE SINGLE CASE OF ABUSE WAS FOUND?

I met Angela less than six months ago, just for a couple days. She was a tiny, sweet voiced lady who seemed to emanate love. She was full of fuzzy warmth and did make you feel like you were her close friend. She would always hand out compliments. She told me ¨Sorry if I sound corny in my compliments, but they really are sincere.¨ We had a barbeque one night, and she went straight to the little four year old girl in our home, befriended her, and let her help take pictures with her camera during the dinner to help her feel special. I’m almost sorry I met her, then it wouldn’t have been so sad when she was stabbed several times in the arm, before getting her throat cut. Anyone who can physically cut someone’s throat must be seriously deranged. They just don’t teach you those kinds of things in The Family.

Most of my life I have lived in larger Family homes. I have taught kids for quite a large chunk of my life, and can easily see that the Family is the best place for kids to grow up. Sheltered? Well, that depends on the country, situation, and parents(same as outside The Family). But dangerous? Never! The Family is a safe, Godly, loving, helpful and highly educational environment which more than adequately prepares children for a happy, successful life. When I have kids, this is definitely where I want them to grow up!

Maria is a second-generation member of the Family International.