[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >>> SO, IMAGINE SPENDING YOUR >>> SO, IMAGINE SPENDING YOUR ENTIRE CHILDHOOD IN ISOLATION, ENTIRE CHILDHOOD IN ISOLATION, SEPARATED FROM YOUR PARENTS, SEPARATED FROM YOUR PARENTS, BEING TOLD BEDTIME STORIES ABOUT BEING TOLD BEDTIME STORIES ABOUT THE APPROACHING APOCALYPSE. THE APPROACHING APOCALYPSE. 44-YEAR-OLD CHRISTINA BABIN SAID 44-YEAR-OLD CHRISTINA BABIN SAID SHE LIVED IT. SHE LIVED IT. SHE WAS RAISED IN THE CHILDREN SHE WAS RAISED IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD CULT, NOW KNOWN AS THE OF GOD CULT, NOW KNOWN AS THE FAMILY INTERNATIONAL. FAMILY INTERNATIONAL. SHE LEFT WHEN SHE WAS 21 AND IS SHE LEFT WHEN SHE WAS 21 AND IS JUST NOW OPENING UP ABOUT WHAT JUST NOW OPENING UP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. HAPPENED TO HER. WATCH THIS. WATCH THIS. >> MY MOTHER JOINED WHEN I WAS A >> MY MOTHER JOINED WHEN I WAS A BABY. BABY. >> Reporter: CHRISTINA BABIN >> Reporter: CHRISTINA BABIN GREW UP IN THE RELIGIOUS CULT, GREW UP IN THE RELIGIOUS CULT, CHILDREN OF GOD, CREATED BY CHILDREN OF GOD, CREATED BY DAVID BERGEN IN 1968. DAVID BERGEN IN 1968. >> THEY LOVE-BOMBED HER AND TOLD >> THEY LOVE-BOMBED HER AND TOLD HER THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE HER THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD AND GIVE HER AND HER THE WORLD AND GIVE HER AND HER KIDS A MEANINGFUL, PURPOSEFUL KIDS A MEANINGFUL, PURPOSEFUL LIFE. LIFE. AND SO, SHE JOINED. AND SO, SHE JOINED. THAT’S HOW MY STORY BEGAN. THAT’S HOW MY STORY BEGAN. >> Reporter: ON THE SURFACE, >> Reporter: ON THE SURFACE, CHILDREN OF GOD MEMBERS CHILDREN OF GOD MEMBERS PRACTICED CHRISTIAN BELIEFS AND PRACTICED CHRISTIAN BELIEFS AND COMMUNEAL LIVING. COMMUNEAL LIVING. >> DAILY LIFE WAS STRUCTURED. >> DAILY LIFE WAS STRUCTURED. YOU WOKE UP, YOU PRAYED AND YOU YOU WOKE UP, YOU PRAYED AND YOU DID INDOCTRINATION. DID INDOCTRINATION. AND YOU WENT ON THE STREET AND AND YOU WENT ON THE STREET AND BEGGED FOR MONEY AND FOOD. BEGGED FOR MONEY AND FOOD. THERE WAS NOT VERY MUCH TIME FOR THERE WAS NOT VERY MUCH TIME FOR SCHOOL. SCHOOL. MOST OF US DON’T HAVE MORE THAN MOST OF US DON’T HAVE MORE THAN A SIXTH GRADE EDUCATION. A SIXTH GRADE EDUCATION. I HAVE LESS PERSONALLY. I HAVE LESS PERSONALLY. THEY BELIEVED IN JESUS AND THEY BELIEVED IN JESUS AND SALVATION AND WITNESSING AND E SALVATION AND WITNESSING AND E ADVANTAGE LAZING THE WORLD. ADVANTAGE LAZING THE WORLD. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO CHRISTINA, THAT ALL EVENTUALLY CHRISTINA, THAT ALL EVENTUALLY CHANGED. CHANGED. >> WE WERE TRAFFICKED ACROSS THE >> WE WERE TRAFFICKED ACROSS THE WORLD, FROM COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY, WORLD, FROM COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY, FROM COMMUNE TO COMMUNE. FROM COMMUNE TO COMMUNE. WE WERE MOVED CONSTANTLY. WE WERE MOVED CONSTANTLY. THEY HELD OUR PASSPORTS AND I THEY HELD OUR PASSPORTS AND I NEVER KNEW WHERE MY PARENTS NEVER KNEW WHERE MY PARENTS WERE. WERE. MOST OF THE TIME, THEY DIDN’T MOST OF THE TIME, THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHERE I WAS. KNOW WHERE I WAS. I KNOW THAT I LIVED IN AT LEAST I KNOW THAT I LIVED IN AT LEAST 40 DIFFERENT PLACES. 40 DIFFERENT PLACES. >> Reporter: IN 1976, DAVID BERG >> Reporter: IN 1976, DAVID BERG INTRODUCED FLIRTY FISHING, THAT INTRODUCED FLIRTY FISHING, THAT ENCOURAGED FEMALE MEMBERS TO ENCOURAGED FEMALE MEMBERS TO SHOW GOD’S LOVE WITH SEXUAL SHOW GOD’S LOVE WITH SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS TO POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS TO POTENTIAL CONVERTS. CONVERTS. CHRISTINA SAID THEY WERE TO CHRISTINA SAID THEY WERE TO ENGAGE IN WHAT BERG CALLED ENGAGE IN WHAT BERG CALLED SEXUAL SHARING. SEXUAL SHARING. >> FATHER DAVID SENT OUT A >> FATHER DAVID SENT OUT A LETTER TO EVERYBODY AND SAID LETTER TO EVERYBODY AND SAID CHILDREN SHOULD BE SHOWN HOW TO CHILDREN SHOULD BE SHOWN HOW TO HAVE SEX. HAVE SEX. AND AN ADULT COUPLE GOT ME IN AND AN ADULT COUPLE GOT ME IN THE NIGHT AND SHOWED ME HOW TO THE NIGHT AND SHOWED ME HOW TO HAVE SEX. HAVE SEX. BY THAT TIME, I KNEW THAT WOMEN BY THAT TIME, I KNEW THAT WOMEN WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROSTITUTES. WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROSTITUTES. AND WE WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO SAY AND WE WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO SAY NO TO SEX AND SEX WAS PART OF NO TO SEX AND SEX WAS PART OF OUR LIFE. OUR LIFE. SO, I KNEW MENTALLY WHAT WAS SO, I KNEW MENTALLY WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF ME AND WHAT I WAS EXPECTED OF ME AND WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO FEEL. SUPPOSED TO FEEL. BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT DIDN’T BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT DIDN’T FEEL RIGHT. FEEL RIGHT. IT DIDN’T FEEL GOOD. IT DIDN’T FEEL GOOD. AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. >> JOINING ME NOW, CHRISTINA >> JOINING ME NOW, CHRISTINA BABIN. BABIN. CHRISTINA, WELCOME. CHRISTINA, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME >> I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU’VE SPOKEN OUT ON TELEVISION YOU’VE SPOKEN OUT ON TELEVISION PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS. PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YOU WERE BASEICALLY RAISED IN YOU WERE BASEICALLY RAISED IN THIS CULT, FROM AGE 1, WHEN YOUR THIS CULT, FROM AGE 1, WHEN YOUR MOM JOINED AND BROUGHT YOU INTO MOM JOINED AND BROUGHT YOU INTO IT, RIGHT? IT, RIGHT? >> YES. >> YES. THIS IS ALL I’VE KNOWN. THIS IS ALL I’VE KNOWN. >> DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST AGE >> DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST AGE WHERE IT DAWNED ON YOU WHAT’S WHERE IT DAWNED ON YOU WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IS NOT NORMAL? HAPPENING HERE IS NOT NORMAL? >> HONESTLY, I ALWAYS HAD THIS >> HONESTLY, I ALWAYS HAD THIS SICK FEELING IN MY STOMACH. SICK FEELING IN MY STOMACH. IT NEVER FELT RIGHT. IT NEVER FELT RIGHT. IT WAS MORE THE ONABSENCE OF IT WAS MORE THE ONABSENCE OF FEELING WHAT WAS NORMAL. FEELING WHAT WAS NORMAL. >> THE GROUP STARTS OFF AS THIS >> THE GROUP STARTS OFF AS THIS SORT OF -- WE’RE ALL ABOUT GOD SORT OF -- WE’RE ALL ABOUT GOD AND JESUS AND WE LOVE PEOPLE. AND JESUS AND WE LOVE PEOPLE. AND THEN, IT MORPHED INTO THIS AND THEN, IT MORPHED INTO THIS SICK SEX CULT. SICK SEX CULT. I UNDERSTAND THE AUTHORITIES OUT I UNDERSTAND THE AUTHORITIES OUT OF NEW YORK IN 1974, ACTUALLY OF NEW YORK IN 1974, ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO THE GROUP. LOOKED INTO THE GROUP. YOU WERE -- WERE YOU BORN YET? YOU WERE -- WERE YOU BORN YET? >> I WAS BORN IN 1974. >> I WAS BORN IN 1974. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. AND DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING AND DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS A THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. >> YES. >> YES. >> HOW IS IT THAT THE >> HOW IS IT THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAVE SEEMED TO FAIL AUTHORITIES HAVE SEEMED TO FAIL YOU TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME YOU TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME IN SHUTTING THIS THING DOWN? IN SHUTTING THIS THING DOWN? >> THE EXCUSE WE ARE GIVEN BY >> THE EXCUSE WE ARE GIVEN BY THE FBI, AND THEY HAVE MANY THE FBI, AND THEY HAVE MANY FILES, THERE’S ALL KINDS OF FILES, THERE’S ALL KINDS OF EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET, THE EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET, THE LIBRARY OF SANTA BARBARA HAS AN LIBRARY OF SANTA BARBARA HAS AN ENTIRE COLLECTION OF THE CULT’S ENTIRE COLLECTION OF THE CULT’S DOCTRINE AND TEACHINGS. DOCTRINE AND TEACHINGS. WE’RE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE WE’RE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED OVERSEAS, CRIMES WERE COMMITTED OVERSEAS, THEY’RE UNTOUCHABLE. THEY’RE UNTOUCHABLE. AND WE’RE TOLD THE STATUTE OF AND WE’RE TOLD THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS EXPIRED. LIMITATIONS HAS EXPIRED. >> ON CHILD RAPE? >> ON CHILD RAPE? >> YES. >> YES. IT IS SHOCKING. IT IS SHOCKING. THERE’S A FEW REASONS IT GETS THERE’S A FEW REASONS IT GETS COMPLICATED. COMPLICATED. WE WERE TRAFFICKED. WE WERE TRAFFICKED. WE WERE MOVED CONSTANTLY. WE WERE MOVED CONSTANTLY. WE WERE NEVER TAUGHT ANYBODY’S WE WERE NEVER TAUGHT ANYBODY’S NAMES. NAMES. IT’S DIFFICULT TO LEARN YOUR IT’S DIFFICULT TO LEARN YOUR ABUSERS NAMES. ABUSERS NAMES. >> IS THAT BY DESIGN? >> IS THAT BY DESIGN? >> OH, WITHOUT A DOUBT. >> OH, WITHOUT A DOUBT. WE NEVER SHARED OUR NAMES WITH WE NEVER SHARED OUR NAMES WITH ANYBODY. ANYBODY. NOBODY KNEW OUR NAMES, EITHER. NOBODY KNEW OUR NAMES, EITHER. >> YOU’RE OPEN ABOUT THE FACT >> YOU’RE OPEN ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU WERE FORCED INTO SEXUAL THAT YOU WERE FORCED INTO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, STARTING AT WHAT RELATIONSHIPS, STARTING AT WHAT AGE? AGE? >> AT AGE 11. >> AT AGE 11. >> DID YOUR MOTHER KNOW ABOUT >> DID YOUR MOTHER KNOW ABOUT THAT? THAT? >> NO, SHE DIDN’T. >> NO, SHE DIDN’T. USUALLY IT WAS DONE BY OTHER USUALLY IT WAS DONE BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT YOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT YOUR PARENTS. PARENTS. BUT YOU GAVE YOUR CHILDREN TO BUT YOU GAVE YOUR CHILDREN TO THE CULT. THE CULT. SO, THE CULT RAISED YOU AS A SO, THE CULT RAISED YOU AS A COLLECTIVE. COLLECTIVE. EVERYBODY WAS YOUR PARENT. EVERYBODY WAS YOUR PARENT. SO, MOST PARENTS DIDN’T SO, MOST PARENTS DIDN’T PARTICIPATE. PARTICIPATE. SOME DID. SOME DID. BUT THE THING THAT IS VERY BUT THE THING THAT IS VERY INTERESTING IS THAT, AT 11, I INTERESTING IS THAT, AT 11, I HAD ALREADY BEEN TAUGHT THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN TAUGHT THAT WOMEN WERE SEXUAL OBJECTS. WOMEN WERE SEXUAL OBJECTS. THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOD’S WHORES. GOD’S WHORES. SO, IT WAS NOT THAT SHOCKING TO SO, IT WAS NOT THAT SHOCKING TO ME THAT THEY TOOK ME ASIDE AND ME THAT THEY TOOK ME ASIDE AND SAID, HERE, WE’RE GOING TO TEACH SAID, HERE, WE’RE GOING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO HAVE SEX BECAUSE THIS YOU HOW TO HAVE SEX BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF YOUR TRAINING. IS PART OF YOUR TRAINING. WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT I WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT I DIDN’T LIKE IT. DIDN’T LIKE IT. AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY HEART, MY SOUL, BECAUSE I DIDN’T HEART, MY SOUL, BECAUSE I DIDN’T ENJOY THE THING BECAUSE DAVID ENJOY THE THING BECAUSE DAVID BERG SAID THAT I SHOULD. BERG SAID THAT I SHOULD. >> WOW. >> WOW. OF COURSE, YOU WERE NOT ALONE. OF COURSE, YOU WERE NOT ALONE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY CHILDREN INSIDE THE CULT. CHILDREN INSIDE THE CULT. AND IT WOULD HAVE DEVASTATING [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >>> WE’RE BACK, NOW, WITH >>> WE’RE BACK, NOW, WITH CHRISTINA BABIN, A FORMER MEBL CHRISTINA BABIN, A FORMER MEBL OF OF MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD CULT, WHO MANAGED TO ESESCAPE. CULT, WHO MANAGED TO ESESCAPE. THIS CULT STILL EXISTS. THIS CULT STILL EXISTS. IT’S AN ONLINE GROUP NOW. IT’S AN ONLINE GROUP NOW. BUT IT’S NOT GONE. BUT IT’S NOT GONE. YOU, THE SEXUAL ABUSE, IT WAS YOU, THE SEXUAL ABUSE, IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CULT. CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CULT. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY EXPERIENCED VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY EXPERIENCED IN YOUR MEMORY? IN YOUR MEMORY? >> EVERYBODY OF THE FIRST WAVE >> EVERYBODY OF THE FIRST WAVE OF CHILDREN. OF CHILDREN. WE ALL EXPERIENCED THE -- I WE ALL EXPERIENCED THE -- I ALMOST WANT TO CALL IT SPIRITUAL ALMOST WANT TO CALL IT SPIRITUAL ABUSE, TEACHING WOMEN THAT THEY ABUSE, TEACHING WOMEN THAT THEY ARE A SEXUAL OBJECT, THAT SEX IS ARE A SEXUAL OBJECT, THAT SEX IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THAT SEX IS HOW YOU PORTRAY LOVE THAT SEX IS HOW YOU PORTRAY LOVE AND THAT THAT LOVE SHOULD BE AND THAT THAT LOVE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERYONE. GIVEN TO EVERYONE. MOST OF THE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL MOST OF THE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL ABUSE HAPPENED TO US OLDER KIDS. ABUSE HAPPENED TO US OLDER KIDS. >> AND DAVID BERG, THE HEAD OF >> AND DAVID BERG, THE HEAD OF THE GROUP, PUSHED INCEST, AS THE GROUP, PUSHED INCEST, AS WELL. WELL. >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. >> I KNOW YOU SAY, THANKFULLY, >> I KNOW YOU SAY, THANKFULLY, YOU WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO THAT. YOU WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO THAT. BUT AS YOU WERE, I MEAN, IT’S BUT AS YOU WERE, I MEAN, IT’S RAPE. RAPE. AS YOU WERE RAPED BY FULLY GROWN AS YOU WERE RAPED BY FULLY GROWN MEN INSIDE THE CULT, DID YOU MEN INSIDE THE CULT, DID YOU SENSE ANY REMORSE ON THEIR PART? SENSE ANY REMORSE ON THEIR PART? WAS THERE ANY SHAME ATTACHED TO WAS THERE ANY SHAME ATTACHED TO IT ON THEIR END? IT ON THEIR END? >> THE FIRST TIME, ACTUALLY, >> THE FIRST TIME, ACTUALLY, YES. YES. AND IT’S -- IT WAS A TERRIBLE AND IT’S -- IT WAS A TERRIBLE MOMENT. MOMENT. BUT IT WAS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL BUT IT WAS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT FOR ME TO GET A GLIMPSE MOMENT FOR ME TO GET A GLIMPSE INTO HOW MUCH CONTROL THE CULT INTO HOW MUCH CONTROL THE CULT HAD OVER PEOPLE AND HOW I WASN’T HAD OVER PEOPLE AND HOW I WASN’T THE ONLY ONE. THE ONLY ONE. I OVERHEARD THE MAN TALKING TO I OVERHEARD THE MAN TALKING TO THE WOMAN -- THE WOMAN -- >> HIS WIFE? >> HIS WIFE? >> UH-HUH. >> UH-HUH. AS FAR AS I KNOW. AS FAR AS I KNOW. HE SAID, THAT WAS SO WRONG. HE SAID, THAT WAS SO WRONG. I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. AND HE SAID IT WITH CONVICTION. AND HE SAID IT WITH CONVICTION. AND I REMEMBER THINKING, OH. AND I REMEMBER THINKING, OH. I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THIS. THIS. I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THAT. THAT. AFTER THAT, I WASN’T QUITE AS AFTER THAT, I WASN’T QUITE AS LUCKY. LUCKY. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE THAT, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE BRAINWASHED, THEY WERE BRAINWASHED, THEY WERE CONTROLLED. CONTROLLED. IF THEY REBELLED, THEY COULD IF THEY REBELLED, THEY COULD LOSE THEIR CHILDREN AND NEVER LOSE THEIR CHILDREN AND NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN. SEE THEM AGAIN. THIS CULT WAS ABOUT CONTROL. THIS CULT WAS ABOUT CONTROL. AND CONTROLLING’S SOMEBODY AND CONTROLLING’S SOMEBODY SEXUALITY IS ONE OF THE BEST SEXUALITY IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO CONTROL SOMEBODY. WAYS TO CONTROL SOMEBODY. SEXUAL ABUSE IS ABOUT POWER, NOT SEXUAL ABUSE IS ABOUT POWER, NOT ABOUT LUST. ABOUT LUST. YOU CONTROL SOMEBODY’S YOU CONTROL SOMEBODY’S SEXUALITY, YOU CONTROL THE MOST SEXUALITY, YOU CONTROL THE MOST INTIMATE PART OF THEIR SOUL. INTIMATE PART OF THEIR SOUL. AFTER THAT, YOU CAN ASK THEM TO AFTER THAT, YOU CAN ASK THEM TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS. DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS. >> IT INSTILLS SHAME FOR THE >> IT INSTILLS SHAME FOR THE CHILDREN. CHILDREN. AND IN THIS MAN, FOR THE AND IN THIS MAN, FOR THE PERPETRATEOR PERPETRATEOR PERPETRATOR, AS WELL. PERPETRATOR, AS WELL. I KNOW THAT THE SUICIDE RATE, I KNOW THAT THE SUICIDE RATE, FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE CULT, IS FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE CULT, IS INCREDIBLY HIGH. INCREDIBLY HIGH. >> IT IS EXTREMELY HIGH. >> IT IS EXTREMELY HIGH. >> THAT’S NO ACCIDENT. >> THAT’S NO ACCIDENT. ONE OF DAVID’S SO-CALLED SONS, ONE OF DAVID’S SO-CALLED SONS, AN ADOPTIVE SON, THAT HE CALLED AN ADOPTIVE SON, THAT HE CALLED DAVIDIDO. DAVIDIDO. HE ENDED UP LEAVING IFE INGING T HE ENDED UP LEAVING IFE INGING T AS AN ADULT, KILLING HIS NANNY. AS AN ADULT, KILLING HIS NANNY. AND THEN, KILLING HIMSELF. AND THEN, KILLING HIMSELF. THERE’S LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES TO THERE’S LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES TO THIS. THIS. WE’LL GET IN A MINUTE TO HOW YOU WE’LL GET IN A MINUTE TO HOW YOU GOT OUT. GOT OUT. HOW DID THEY MAKE MONEY? HOW DID THEY MAKE MONEY? I READ ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING I READ ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING FORCED TO BEG ON THE STREETS. FORCED TO BEG ON THE STREETS. >> WELL, THERE WERE TWO WAYS >> WELL, THERE WERE TWO WAYS THAT WERE USED TO MAKE MONEY AND THAT WERE USED TO MAKE MONEY AND TO SURVIVE. TO SURVIVE. ONE OF THEM WAS NOT PEOPLE ONE OF THEM WAS NOT PEOPLE WORKING AND HAVING JOBS. WORKING AND HAVING JOBS. THAT WOULD INVOLVE TOO MUCH THAT WOULD INVOLVE TOO MUCH INTERACTION WITH THE OUTSIDE INTERACTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WORLD. SO SHGS SO SHGS SO, THE CHILDREN BEGGED, WE SANG SO, THE CHILDREN BEGGED, WE SANG ON THE STREETS AND SOLD ON THE STREETS AND SOLD RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA FOR EIGHT RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY. HOURS A DAY. AND THE OTHER WAY WAS THE WOMEN AND THE OTHER WAY WAS THE WOMEN OF THE GROUP WERE PROSTITUTES IN OF THE GROUP WERE PROSTITUTES IN THE EVENING. THE EVENING. AND THAT WENT ON FOR A WHILE AND THAT WENT ON FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE AIDS SCARE HAPPENED UNTIL THE AIDS SCARE HAPPENED AND WE STARTED REBELLING AND AND WE STARTED REBELLING AND THEY STARTED TO TRY TO CHANGE THEY STARTED TO TRY TO CHANGE SOME OF THE RULES AND FIT BETTER SOME OF THE RULES AND FIT BETTER INTO SOCIETY. INTO SOCIETY. >> YOU HAD TO BECOME LITTLE >> YOU HAD TO BECOME LITTLE ACTORS. ACTORS. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAD TO SMILE NONSTOP. WE HAD TO SMILE NONSTOP. YOU COULD NOT HAVE A BAD DAY. YOU COULD NOT HAVE A BAD DAY. IF YOU WERE FROWNING AND DID NOT IF YOU WERE FROWNING AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONSTANTLY HAPPY, APPEAR TO BE CONSTANTLY HAPPY, INSIDE THE COMMUNE AND OUT. INSIDE THE COMMUNE AND OUT. WE REHEARSED SMILING. WE REHEARSED SMILING. WE REHEARSED WHAT TO SAY IF WE WE REHEARSED WHAT TO SAY IF WE WERE ASKED QUESTIONS. WERE ASKED QUESTIONS. IT WAS ALWAYS, I’M HAPPY, I’M IT WAS ALWAYS, I’M HAPPY, I’M LOVED, I’M CARED FOR. LOVED, I’M CARED FOR. LOVED MEANT WE ALLOW YOU TO WORK LOVED MEANT WE ALLOW YOU TO WORK AND WE SHOW OUR LOVE BY BEING AND WE SHOW OUR LOVE BY BEING SEXUAL WITH YOU AND DISCIPLINEIN SEXUAL WITH YOU AND DISCIPLINEIN YOU AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO BE A YOU AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO BE A CHILD. CHILD. >> WERE YOU SURPRISED? >> WERE YOU SURPRISED? I KNOW YOU DIDN’T KNOW ROSE I KNOW YOU DIDN’T KNOW ROSE McGOWAN OR JOAQUIN PHOENIX. McGOWAN OR JOAQUIN PHOENIX. BUT WERE YOU SURPRISED THEY WERE BUT WERE YOU SURPRISED THEY WERE ALSO IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD ALSO IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD CULT? CULT? >> NOT REALLY. >> NOT REALLY. IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME THAT FORMER CULT MEMBERS WOULD THAT FORMER CULT MEMBERS WOULD BE GOOD ACTORS AND WOULD EXPRESS BE GOOD ACTORS AND WOULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES JUST BECAUSE OF HOW THEMSELVES JUST BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH WE PERFORMED AS CHILDREN. MUCH WE PERFORMED AS CHILDREN. >> ROSE’S BOOK AS GOT JUST A >> ROSE’S BOOK AS GOT JUST A HEART WRENCHING RECITATION OF HEART WRENCHING RECITATION OF TIME IN THAT GROUP AND HOW SHE TIME IN THAT GROUP AND HOW SHE FINALLY GOT OUT. FINALLY GOT OUT. FOR HER FATHER, THE INCEST WAS FOR HER FATHER, THE INCEST WAS THE LAST STRAW. THE LAST STRAW. THAT’S THE POINT HE SAID I’M THAT’S THE POINT HE SAID I’M OUT. OUT. BUT IT WAS AMAZING IT WAS BUT IT WAS AMAZING IT WAS ALLOWED TO GO OF FOR AS LONG AS ALLOWED TO GO OF FOR AS LONG AS IT DID. IT DID. ONE OF THE PIECES OF THE CULT ONE OF THE PIECES OF THE CULT WAS SENDING THE CHILDREN TO, >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. WE’RE SPEAKING WITH CHRISTINA WE’RE SPEAKING WITH CHRISTINA BABIN, A MOTHER OF FOUR NOW, WHO BABIN, A MOTHER OF FOUR NOW, WHO SPENT HALF OF HER LIFE IN THE SPENT HALF OF HER LIFE IN THE INFAMOUS CHILDREN OF GOD CULT. INFAMOUS CHILDREN OF GOD CULT. WE DID REACH OUT TO THIS WE DID REACH OUT TO THIS ORGANIZATION FOR COMMENT. ORGANIZATION FOR COMMENT. THEY SAID TO US, IN PART, THEY SAID TO US, IN PART, ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY INTERNATIONAL HAS APOLOGIZED FOR INTERNATIONAL HAS APOLOGIZED FOR HURT, REAL OR PERCEIVED, THAT HURT, REAL OR PERCEIVED, THAT ANY MEMBER OR FORMER MEMBER ANY MEMBER OR FORMER MEMBER MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED. MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED. WE DO NOT GIVE DETAILS OF WE DO NOT GIVE DETAILS OF INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE, TOLD BY INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE, TOLD BY THOSE SEEKING THEIR OWN CAUSES THOSE SEEKING THEIR OWN CAUSES OR FINANCIAL GAIN. OR FINANCIAL GAIN. YOUR ACCOUNT READS LIKE YOUR ACCOUNT READS LIKE SENSATIONALIZED FICTION BECAUSE SENSATIONALIZED FICTION BECAUSE YOU POSTED AN ONLINE ACCOUNT AND YOU POSTED AN ONLINE ACCOUNT AND SAID THAT YOU WERE SOLICITING SAID THAT YOU WERE SOLICITING FUNDING FOR A BOOK AND ARE NOT FUNDING FOR A BOOK AND ARE NOT TO BE BELIEVED. TO BE BELIEVED. ANY RESPONSE TO THAT? ANY RESPONSE TO THAT? >> THEY SAID WHAT I THOUGHT THEY >> THEY SAID WHAT I THOUGHT THEY WOULD. WOULD. I DON’T NEED TO GET INTO THAT. I DON’T NEED TO GET INTO THAT. THERE’S ENOUGH PROOF OUT THERE THERE’S ENOUGH PROOF OUT THERE THAT I’M GOING TO WASTE ANY THAT I’M GOING TO WASTE ANY TIME. TIME. GO ONLINE AND CHECK IT OUT. GO ONLINE AND CHECK IT OUT. >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRISON CAMPS. PRISON CAMPS. YOU WERE IN A PRISON CAMP. YOU WERE IN A PRISON CAMP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> WE WERE TEENAGERS, I WROTE >> WE WERE TEENAGERS, I WROTE THAT I WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE SEX THAT I WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH ADULTS, A LOT OF US WERE WITH ADULTS, A LOT OF US WERE ASKING FOR EDUCATION OR TO ASKING FOR EDUCATION OR TO LEAVE, AND THEY MADE CAMPS. LEAVE, AND THEY MADE CAMPS. I WAS SENT WITH MY BROTHER TO I WAS SENT WITH MY BROTHER TO THE PHILIPPINES. THE PHILIPPINES. WE WERE IN A CAMP, WITH BARBED WE WERE IN A CAMP, WITH BARBED WIRE AND GLASS. WIRE AND GLASS. WE HAD ARMED GUARDS KEEPING US WE HAD ARMED GUARDS KEEPING US IN. IN. THEY WOULD PUBLICLY BEAT YOU IF THEY WOULD PUBLICLY BEAT YOU IF YOU ASKED TO LEAVE. YOU ASKED TO LEAVE. THEY WOULD ISOLATE YOU AND THEY THEY WOULD ISOLATE YOU AND THEY WOULD MAKE YOU FAST FOR DAYS AND WOULD MAKE YOU FAST FOR DAYS AND TRY TO BREAK YOU AND GET YOU TO TRY TO BREAK YOU AND GET YOU TO CONFESS. CONFESS. THAT’S, YEAH. THAT’S, YEAH. >> HOW DID YOU PUT AN END TO >> HOW DID YOU PUT AN END TO THAT PHASE OF YOUR TIME IN THE THAT PHASE OF YOUR TIME IN THE CULT? CULT? >> THE WORLD STARTED TO TAKE >> THE WORLD STARTED TO TAKE NOTICE AND THEY SHUT IT DOWN. NOTICE AND THEY SHUT IT DOWN. I WAS SENT BACK TO THE U.S. TO I WAS SENT BACK TO THE U.S. TO BE A MEDIA HOME, TO TELL THE BE A MEDIA HOME, TO TELL THE WORLD THAT WE WERE HAPPY AND WE WORLD THAT WE WERE HAPPY AND WE WERE OKAY. WERE OKAY. AND IT TOOK ME UNTIL I WAS ABOUT AND IT TOOK ME UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 21 TO ACTUALLY LEAVE. 21 TO ACTUALLY LEAVE. >> WOW. >> WOW. >> IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE YOU >> IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE YOU COULD GET OUT. COULD GET OUT. WHEN I HEAR THAT YOU WERE BORN WHEN I HEAR THAT YOU WERE BORN INTO THE CULT AT 1, YOU GET TO INTO THE CULT AT 1, YOU GET TO 21, HOW DID YOU GET OUT. 21, HOW DID YOU GET OUT. >> I MET MY HUSBAND AND HE TOLD >> I MET MY HUSBAND AND HE TOLD THE LEADERSHIP HE WAS BRINGING THE LEADERSHIP HE WAS BRINGING ME HOME TO VISIT HIS PARENTS. ME HOME TO VISIT HIS PARENTS. I WAS SHOCKED. I WAS SHOCKED. AND THEY WERE SO LOVING AND AND THEY WERE SO LOVING AND ACCEPTING, THEY DIDN’T KNOW ME. ACCEPTING, THEY DIDN’T KNOW ME. BUT THEY WELCOMED ME INTO THEIR BUT THEY WELCOMED ME INTO THEIR HOME. HOME. THEY HAD NORMAL DINNERS WHERE THEY HAD NORMAL DINNERS WHERE THE FAMILY SAT DOWN TOGETHER. THE FAMILY SAT DOWN TOGETHER. AND JUST SHOWED ME THAT THERE AND JUST SHOWED ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING OUTSIDE THAT WAS WAS SOMETHING OUTSIDE THAT WAS KIND AND GENTLE. KIND AND GENTLE. >> AND YOU WERE ALLOWED TO JUST >> AND YOU WERE ALLOWED TO JUST STAY OUT AND LEAVE AND NOBODY STAY OUT AND LEAVE AND NOBODY BOTHERED YOU? BOTHERED YOU? >> THEY CAME AROUND A LITTLE >> THEY CAME AROUND A LITTLE BIT, TRYING TO GET US TO COME BIT, TRYING TO GET US TO COME BACK. BACK. ONCE YOU’RE 18, THEY NO LONGER ONCE YOU’RE 18, THEY NO LONGER WANT YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE WANT YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE THERE OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL. THERE OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL. AT 18, THEY NO LONGER TRIED TO AT 18, THEY NO LONGER TRIED TO PHYSICALLY KEEP YOU. PHYSICALLY KEEP YOU. BUT THE MENTAL CHAINS ARE BUT THE MENTAL CHAINS ARE DIFFICULT TO BREAK AFTER THAT DIFFICULT TO BREAK AFTER THAT POINT. POINT. >> YOUR WHOLE LIFE -- YOU HAVE >> YOUR WHOLE LIFE -- YOU HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED. BEEN BRAINWASHED. HOW DO YOU BREAK FREE OF THAT? HOW DO YOU BREAK FREE OF THAT? HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? >> I’M 44. >> I’M 44. >> HOW DID YOU SPEND THOSE 23 >> HOW DID YOU SPEND THOSE 23 YEARS BECOMING THE PERSON WE NOW YEARS BECOMING THE PERSON WE NOW SEE? SEE? >> LIVING IN THE NOW, EMBRACEING >> LIVING IN THE NOW, EMBRACEING FREEDOM AND EMBRACING HAPPINESS, FREEDOM AND EMBRACING HAPPINESS, BECOMING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT BECOMING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY WERE. THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY WERE. HAVING A SUPPORT SYSTEM. HAVING A SUPPORT SYSTEM. >> DID YOU GET SOME THERAPY? >> DID YOU GET SOME THERAPY? >> YES. >> YES. >> AMEN TO THERAPY. >> AMEN TO THERAPY. >> A LOT. >> A LOT. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> DO YOU HAVE ANY FEAR ABOUT >> DO YOU HAVE ANY FEAR ABOUT THEM NOW? THEM NOW? >> I DO. >> I DO. I HAVE EMPATHY FOR THE ADULTS I HAVE EMPATHY FOR THE ADULTS WHO WERE STUCK IN IT AND WHO WHO WERE STUCK IN IT AND WHO HAVEN’T BROKEN THE CHAINS. HAVEN’T BROKEN THE CHAINS. HOWEVER, THE LEADERSHIP -- HOWEVER, THE LEADERSHIP -- >> DAVID DIED. >> DAVID DIED. BUT SHE WAS HIS WIFE. BUT SHE WAS HIS WIFE. >> SARAH KELLY, WHO WAS >> SARAH KELLY, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ME BEING HELD AGAINST MY WILL IN THE AGAINST MY WILL IN THE PHILIPPINES. PHILIPPINES. THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE BROUGHT THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. TO JUSTICE. THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED. THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED. >> HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THE >> HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THE FBI? FBI? >> YES. >> YES. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. >> YOU HAVE TALKED TO THE FBI. >> YOU HAVE TALKED TO THE FBI. DO YOU HAVE AN INVESTIGATION? DO YOU HAVE AN INVESTIGATION? >> THEY HAVE LOTS OF FILES. >> THEY HAVE LOTS OF FILES. THEY TOLD US BECAUSE THE STATUTE THEY TOLD US BECAUSE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ARE OVER, AND OF LIMITATIONS ARE OVER, AND BECAUSE THEY WERE COMMITTED IN BECAUSE THEY WERE COMMITTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY CAN’T OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY CAN’T REACH THAT FAR. REACH THAT FAR. AND IF WE HAVE LAWS THAT ARE AND IF WE HAVE LAWS THAT ARE STOPPING THEM FROM PURSUING STOPPING THEM FROM PURSUING THIS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE THIS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE LAWS. LAWS. >> LAST QUESTION. >> LAST QUESTION. WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, YOU WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, YOU HAVE FOUR CHILDREN NOW. HAVE FOUR CHILDREN NOW. >> YES. >> YES. >> YOU’RE SUPPORTING YOURSELF AS >> YOU’RE SUPPORTING YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST. AN ARTIST. >> I’M A FULL-TIME ARTIST. >> I’M A FULL-TIME ARTIST. >> HOW ARE YOU NOW? >> HOW ARE YOU NOW? >> I AM FANTASTIC. >> I AM FANTASTIC. ART HAS BEEN A GREAT THERAPY FOR ART HAS BEEN A GREAT THERAPY FOR ME, ENGAGING IN IT. ME, ENGAGING IN IT. BEING A MOTHER HAS BEEN AMAZING. BEING A MOTHER HAS BEEN AMAZING. IT HAS REVERSED SO MUCH. IT HAS REVERSED SO MUCH. >> GOOD FOR Y FOR DOING THE >> GOOD FOR Y FOR DOING THE WORK YOU NEEDED TO BECOME THE WORK YOU NEEDED TO BECOME THE MOTHER YOU ARE. MOTHER YOU ARE. [ APPLAUSE ]
