Leah Remini's '20/20' Tell-All On The Church Of Scientology Leaked; Memoir 'Troublemaker' Out Now!
Leah Remini sat down with Dan Harris on ABC's "20/20"; to give an exclusive, tell-all interview about her life inside the Church of Scientology, revealed ABC news.
Leah grew up in Brooklyn, New York; in a tight-knit Italian neighborhood of Bensonhurst. Her parents divorced when she was seven, and in a search for meaning, Remini's mother Vicki Marshall joined the Church of Scientology; a religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, according to sources.
Vicki signed up both her teen daughters Leah and Nicole, to join the volunteers in the church. The name of the group is Sea Org. The sisters began to learn Scientology's unique terms, and Hubbard's teachings.
The family also moved to Clearwater, Florida; to the church's spiritual headquarters, known as the Flag Land Base.
Scientologists believe in reincarnation. "They provide room and board and you work there and you sign a billion-year contract," said Leah Remini. Sea Org members are expected to return to work every time they come back.
Remini served the church for 30 years.
The former "King of Queens" star left the Church in 2013; and when Leah decided to leave, the actress was concerned that her family would disconnect from her.
"I'm ready to walk away from everybody that I've ever known and cut ties with my own husband, my own mother, because you don't know what they're going to decide," said Remini. "Very often, my experience is people choose the Church."
The actress may be the most high-profile celebrity to leave and voice criticisms against the church.
To her relief, her family supported her decision, and left the church, too. Leah's husband, Angelo Pagan was in full support of her "20/20" tell-all, according to People.
"I don't regret what I've been through," said Remini towards the end of the interview. "I don't regret spending my life there because it did really teach me a lot and because we've all survived it and we're living life, it's like we have a gift of a second chance at life."
Leah Remini's memoir "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology" hit shelves Nov.3.
