Dear Dr. Phil,

I just would like to respond to your show that was recently aired “The Family Cult”, and let you know how extremely disappointed I was to know that you would air such things without researching or looking at the other side of the story.

My name is Abi Orcutt and I also grew up in The Family, or the Children of God, or as you put it “The Family Cult.” I was born in 1980 and have lived in a lot of different countries and have been in many of our “communities” around the world, so I can say I’ve seen a fair bit of what happened back then. (I want to add here that I have never seen anyone abused, raped, or mistreated in the Family). I know that everyone is entitled to their side of the story and so I wanted to include mine as when reading what you have posted on your site made me question just how much of your “inside scoop” you really did get.

I’ve had a wonderful life, I grew up in a family with 11 other siblings and I can say that I love my childhood, have many fond memories of my parents, where I grew up, and of my friends whom I did have. I can say to the contrary of others opinions, growing up the way I did I was able to make many friends and even though I did not attend public school, my mother did an excellent job in teaching us, and to tell her she did a bad job or raised us wrong would be a slap in the face.

I have 3 children now, and I give every day to them. I’m a stay-at-home mom and I home school my children. I have considered putting them in a public school and I have seen what they have to offer, and after discussing it with my husband we see fit to home school them. If I should change my mind later on in how I want to raise them (in the Family or not) I would have that choice.

I know how it can be hard on some people who want to leave our group, as it is a bit of a life changing thing to do, but I wouldn’t say that it’s not possible to “fit in” or learn a new job. On the contrary I think that we have learned so many different things in The Family that it would be easy for us to pick things up quickly. Sure, you can’t be a millionaire overnight, but if you are determined and you work at it slowly I think that you can do it, without going through all this “I was raised in a cult, so I can’t move on with my life.” Anyone can say that about anything—“I had to live on a farm so I can’t make a life for myself,” “I was born to a hippie family so I can’t make it without psychiatric help.” I know there are some people who do need that, and I appreciate the fact that you are giving it to them, but please don’t slander our Family name just because of a few people who can’t seem to move on.

Sincerely,
Abi Orcutt