Tiago Sant’Ana, 26 anos, Brazil

I was astonished at the news of Angela’s murder followed by Ricky’s suicide and to learn that it was a premeditated crime. It’s even more horrifying and astonishing to see that there are those in the media trying to explain such barbarism, as if there were some kind of reasonable or logical excuse for such a horrendous act, blaming the Family International for what happened, with sensationalist and biased articles with no regard whatsoever for the truth. These draw their information from people whose avowed goal is to slander and destroy our way of life. I hope that greed and the quest for ratings have not grown to the point of overshadowing truth and dignity.

I am “born and raised” in The Family International, and I’m proud of it. Unfortunately, there are few in the world that have the privilege of having a childhood as happy as that which my and friends and I experienced. Few can say, without a shadow of doubt, that they grew up with the assurance that their parents, teachers and those around them loved them and did all they could to assure their well-being and happiness. We were surrounded by people willing to do anything to help us have a happy childhood. I grew up with that privileged certainty.

Today I’m part of The Family International because I choose to be here. Like all young people who grew up in The Family, I was one day faced with the decision to be here or to follow a different path. I remember those days well. My family was going through a transitional period out of The Family’s inner circle, and I had to choose between rejoining the Family or living a secular life, studying, working and living like the vast majority. I remember one thing that weighed heavily in my decision was the kind of life and education I wanted to offer my children. I was only 16, and didn’t yet have children, but I knew that one day I would. I thought about it, looked around and realized that not even the best schools could offer what The Family gives to every child: love. The Family offers people who care for and love both the children and what they do. I also thought about the kind of life I wanted to lead and I chose to be a missionary in The Family International. I rejoined without my parents (who rejoined a couple of years later).

After rejoining, for a few years I took on well paying secular job. My salary was well above average. I led, in many ways, what would be considered a “normal life”; I had a good income, car, credit card etc. During those years I meet lots of people, made lots of friends and received many interesting job proposals. One day I was offered a job in which the pay was three times as much as I was making, it was then that I was once again faced with the decision to stay in The Family as a missionary or to pursue another career. I chose to remain in The Family, quit my job, and became a full time missionary.

Not everyone who was born and raised in The Family made the same choices I made, many did others didn’t. The vast majority move on with their lives, are successful and happy. I know this as many were my childhood friends. We’re still friends, we chose different paths, but we respect each other. To these I wish all the happiness and success in the world.

Unfortunately, there is a small minority among those who left, that choose to hate, lie and slander The Family and my way of life. Life in The Family isn’t perfect, but what lifestyle is? We’ve got problems and faults just like everyone else. No society or culture is perfect. But I don’t understand the reason for all of these accusations that Family children are abused or deprived in some way. I grew up in The Family and I was NEVER abused in anyway, neither sexually or emotionally. I was never deprived. To the contrary I had a childhood that most kids would envy. A childhood that many parents wish they could offer their children. Even spending money on fine schools, trips, courses and extra-curricular activities will not buy love. That is something every child in The Family receives freely: love, genuine love.

Today I’m a father of two, a boy and a girl. I love them more than anything. Believe me, if there were a better place to raise them I wouldn’t hesitate, for a minute, to change my life to offer them the best. I’m in The Family because I want to be here.

Tiago Sant’Ana is a second-generation member of The Family International