When Australian mum June Rose-Claire tried to leave extremist sect the Exclusive Brethren she lost everything ? including her two sons.
June Rose-Claire was a carefree, laugh-a-minute kind of girl. Then she made the innocent mistake of falling in love.
The man she fell head over heels for was a churchgoer ? so naturally June assumed he would believe in all the Christian virtues of grace, mercy, love and kindness to your fellow man.
As she plunged headlong into her relationship, she quickly found herself immersed in the church of the Exclusive Brethren. Instead of heaven on earth, she found a living hell.
“One minute I’m this happy, very energetic aerobics instructor who is also working at a health food store and studying hard to become a naturopath,” June tells Woman’s Day. “The next, I’m an oppressed wife, accused by his church of being a whore, of dabbling in the occult, withholding money and warned against having anything to do with anyone outside the church.
“Its silly calling them a church ? they are more like a cult. Cults take over people’s lives; church is meant to be a place of joy, love and worship. I never felt God was anywhere near whilst [I was] a part of the Exclusive Brethren. It was all about fear, brainwashing and extreme control.”
NOTE: A complaint to the Australian Press Council about part of this article was upheld. Read the full adjudication here.
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