My name is Maria Doehler, I am 27 years old, and very happily married to a unique and totally incoercible man. We have 2 kids and are expecting our third in July.

We are here in the Family because we are fully convinced that it is the place where both we and our children will be the happiest and have the best chance at a full and happy life.

My kids are my biggest concern and probably the greatest motivation I have. I love the Family and know so many amazing people within its fellowship, but if I felt that remaining in the Family would endanger our children I would be out of here so fast!

I have a question for Daniel and the rest of our second generation apostates, are you parents? Do you really understand the love of a parent? When our kids were born it’s hard to describe the fierce love I felt for them, and I know Sam (my husband) felt it too. We would do anything we could to help them be happy and successful in life. We are not perfect, nor will you be when you become a parent, but we sure are trying.

Probably the greatest insult one can receive as a parent is to have people (total strangers no less) question whether or not you’re fit to be a parent or accuse you of abusing your children. Who do you think you are? Do you know me? Do you know my kids?

Please be careful in what you say lest you be responsible for the greatest trauma and abuse our kids could ever know, being taken away from their parents who love them more than you could ever imagine. If you were a parent you would understand!

The reason I feel that the Family is a good, safe and even superior environment to raise my children in is because I was raised in the Family and have such happy memories of my childhood. I always felt loved and cared for. I was never abused, and I intend to see that my kids grow up free from abuse of any kind.—And I believe they will because every member of the Family considers it his or her responsibility to ensure that our communities provide a safe and loving atmosphere for all Family children.

I know that there were some incidents of abuse earlier on in the Family, though I don’t know many people who have experienced abuse. I suppose that since the Family has over 32,000 ex-members and over 5,000 current adult members there are bound to be some people in that bunch who have some problems. I think the Family as a group has learned from its mistakes and set in place rules and guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of all Family members, especially children.

Honestly, I’m not raising my kids without the understanding that there are a lot of things they could choose to be and do. I don’t know if they’ll choose the life I have, and that’s not really the point. The point is that I, as a parent, have the God given right and responsibility to raise my children in the way I feel is best for them and to do all within my power to ensure that they grow up to be well adjusted, caring, educated people who will be an asset to mankind regardless of whether or not they choose to be a Family member or missionary. I am doing that.

I don’t know what you’ve experienced in the Family or why you’re so bent on destroying our way of life. If it’s “closure” you seek then seek it for yourself and not for us. We aren’t the ones complaining. We aren’t trying to fiddle in your life.

If you are someone who has never been in the Family or someone who is telling this story to the public via some form of media, I urge you to please do your research well. Be objective and seek truth over sensationalism. I know you would want others to do the same if the story was about you.

In closing I have to add that I personally know Angela. She was a special person who had a way of making you feel loved even if she hardly knew you. This isn’t something we say about her because she isn’t with us anymore, but a fact that everyone talked about even when she was around. What happened to her was tragic, wrong and certainly inspired by Satan. There was nothing justifiable about it! But, knowing Angela, she would have probably done it willingly if it would have helped even one of our detractors see how dangerous the path of “revenge” is and how it can destroy you and your chance at a happy life.

Please consider your actions, please consider your pursuit. I am not saying this as a threat, what power do I have over you? I only say this because we have all lost here and it would be sad if we didn’t learn something from it.

Maria Doehler is a second-generation member of The Family International