“I was told by the commanding officer of my organization that… at this point the baby wasn’t a baby, it was just tissue,” she said, also claiming that she was “handled” for two days by her supervisor, who allegedly told her aborting the baby was the “greatest good.” A note from the supervisor, written at the time of the pregnancy, states that DeCrescenzo was”two months pregnant, upset about it and doesn’t want to have an abortion.”

“I never agreed to have an abortion,” said DeCrescenzo. “Did I concede? Yes, I did. Does it kill me every day? Yes, it does.”

According to ABC, the Church of Scientology has denied all allegations, despite acknowledging that policy prohibits active members of Sea Org from having young children. Attorneys for the Church argue that DeCrescenzo was a volunteer, and could have left if she wanted to. Scientology attorney Bert Deixler claims that DeCrescenzo’s stay with the organization was based on faith, not force.

But journalist Tony Ortega, who says he has researched the stories of hundreds of former Scientologists, argues that members of Sea Org are conditioned to believe they could never make it outside the organization. “They’re told you’ll never get a job, you don’t understand how the world works, and they’re terrified. They really are terrified about leaving,” said Ortega.

The lawsuit is currently pending litigation, with parties scheduled to appear in court in June.

“I was told by the commanding officer of my organization that… at this point the baby wasn’t a baby, it was just tissue,” she said, also claiming that she was “handled” for two days by her supervisor, who allegedly told her aborting the baby was the “greatest good.” A note from the supervisor, written at the time of the pregnancy, states that DeCrescenzo was”two months pregnant, upset about it and doesn’t want to have an abortion.”

“I never agreed to have an abortion,” said DeCrescenzo. “Did I concede? Yes, I did. Does it kill me every day? Yes, it does.”

According to ABC, the Church of Scientology has denied all allegations, despite acknowledging that policy prohibits active members of Sea Org from having young children. Attorneys for the Church argue that DeCrescenzo was a volunteer, and could have left if she wanted to. Scientology attorney Bert Deixler claims that DeCrescenzo’s stay with the organization was based on faith, not force.

But journalist Tony Ortega, who says he has researched the stories of hundreds of former Scientologists, argues that members of Sea Org are conditioned to believe they could never make it outside the organization. “They’re told you’ll never get a job, you don’t understand how the world works, and they’re terrified. They really are terrified about leaving,” said Ortega.

The lawsuit is currently pending litigation, with parties scheduled to appear in court in June.