From Alfred Yuuichirou Cloward, 15. Japan

My name is Alfred Yuuichirou Cloward, I’m 15, I’ve been born in Japan (have been here ever since) I was born and raised in the Family (or offically known as the family international) and I can proudly say that I like my life, I like the where I am, I like what I do, and I can truly say that I have never (no wait…NEVER!) been abused! (as some have assumed) (more…)

People Magazine
Letter to the editor
Re: Article on the The Family International, July 18th issue, pg. 87

I just finished reading the article on “The Family International” in
your 7/18 issue and I had to laugh. Daniel Roselle says he “only had
a first grade education at age 20″? Seriously. I grew up in The
Family and he was one of my childhood friends between the ages of 10
and 18. He was an extremely bright person. When he “came out” he
“didn’t know how to do long division?” Spare me. I could do that at
age 9 and I had essentially the same upbringing he did.

Look, I respect his choice to pursue a secular career. I get the
point that he doesn’t like his parents and thinks a high-commitment
religious life is not for him. But don’t you think he’s pushing the
envelope a bit to make his story a bit more dramatic? (more…)

Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m currently working in Japan as a missionary for The Family
International. I was born in the States but grew up in Japan. I was
never stuck at home or abused by my parents or members of the group.
On the contrary, I remember making friends my own age and, although I
was home-schooled in English, I also learnt Japanese and visited
ancient castles, studied the Buddhist religion etc. These wonderful
experiences as a child led to my decision to remain a missionary. Now
I work with young (12 - 17 years) members of our group to give them
that same chance. I’m speaking out on behalf of these teens. They
don’t understand why we are being misrepresented.

Michelle Dykas
Nagano, Japan

Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m a second generation member of The Family International. My
attention has been drawn to your article about our missionary
movement, in connection with the suicide of Ricky Rodriguez ["Killing
Myself is The Only Way Out Of The Cult", May]. Some of the statements
published there are quite misleading. The presented “fact” that “for
many years cult members had virtually no contact with the outside
world” was surprising to me. I’ve lived in over 15 different
countries, and had substantial contact with the local people and
cultures. Mine has been a beautiful and happy life thus far, not only
free from abuse, but filled with a “world education” that few have
the opportunity to enjoy. I would want nothing better for my own
future children.

Lorie Richards