Miscaviage Hill’s story is more one of personal growth and survival and a retelling of what she experienced and how it has shaped her life. The former seems to have written her book in large part to clear her name as it relates to criminal and civil proceedings against her in California courts that she claims were a result of church instigation.
LeClair has more of an axe to grind with “the church” than Miscaviage Hill. Ron Hubbard that homosexuals are perverts and deviants. While Scientology claims it takes no position on homosexuality, countless defectors have written and spoken of specific church policies against same and have provided statements by L. Her break with the group arose after she fell in love with a woman, which she writes the church would not accept. By her account, she made the church millions through her business and paid the church millions over the years to stay in good standing.
Michelle is beautiful and was highly successful, turning her part-time job in a Scientology based insurance company into a full time major money-making operation. Michelle LeClair, unlike Jenna, was a “public” Scientologist, meaning not within the Sea Org. In others, such as when her own parents left, it subjected her to extra negative attention and repercussions. In some ways, the relationship provided her protections. It was both a blessing and a curse that Jenna is the niece of the church’s current leader, David Miscavige. Once Jenna reached elementary school age, she was shipped off to The Ranch where she was required to do exhausting physical labor and her education consisted of primarily church related things.
Parents spend virtually no time with their children. Members are expected to work 14 hour days and have family time for less than 10 hours a weekend.
Touted as a privilege and honor to be a member of this internal ‘leadership’ group, the work is arduous and the pay is criminal. Her parents joined and became members of the Sea Org early on. Jenna Miscavige Hill, although not born into Scientology, was a member from a very young age.