The Judgment of Lord Justice Ward 5. Emotional, Social or Behavioural Harm

5. Emotional, Social or Behavioural Harm

Life within The Family frequently is highly emotional. To be "on fire" is an emotional experience and at times firing up these enthusiasms has been emotionally draining for the children experiencing it. It is, however, part of the religious life which this community chooses to lead and by itself and unless taken to extremes as it was in the Victor programmes, it is not necessarily harmful. The Family's use of Open Heart Reports can be abusive and the use of excessive periods of isolation and silence restrictions undoubtedly was abusive. Although some contact is made with the outside world both through the newly established policy of openness and also because witnessing brings The Family into contact with the world, the children still tend to lead cloistered lives with little opportunity to mix. Unless there is goodwill contact with the natural Family is more likely than not to wither away. Certainly it does not provide the window of opportunity for a child within The Family naturally and lovingly to absorb influences from outside. This isolation is concerning. So, speaking generally, is the intensity of pressure on adult and child alike to conform. To live a communal life one must, to some extent, sacrifice self, and my concern for children within The Family is that legitimate assertions of precious individuality are suppressed as sins of worldliness and pride. I find it ironic - and the irony has struck EM who commented on the teenage girls insisting on wearing a bra when she and her generation were burning theirs - that the leaders who grew up in the permissive age of the 60's and 70's yet who revolted against shackles of society, now at times ruthlessly run their society with such a heavy hand. Even in these darker corners of communal life winds of change are beginning to blow and PER and the TSers reconciliation programme are welcome signs of a much needed breath of fresh air.

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