Quote From: jlamatteryI am Jim, the father who appears in this show. I did not abuse my daughter and I am actively pursuing those who did through both an FBI and IRS investigation into The Family International. This is a pursuit that I will never retreat from, and it is one of the reasons that I appeared on the show. I joined The Family at the age of seventeen in 1970, and left the group with my wife and oldest daughter, Kerenina, in 1975. Unfortunately, my daughter's mother rejoined the group in 1975, and gave birth to Kristi, who also appears on the show, after I had left the group. Although I did not witness any abuse of children during my tenure with The Family, I was unsuccessful in convincing the divorce court that the group might use sex as a tool to gain membership, wealth, and protection, and consequently my daughters would be at risk. I fought long and hard for sole and separate custody of both children and before the divorce was finalized, my ex-wife kidnapped both daughters and fled to Thailand where their physical, sexual, and psychological abuse began. This show will hopefully illuminate some of the problems that not only my daughter, but thousands of other young adults have had in reconnecting with their extended families in efforts to stabilize their lives with education, careers, and personal relationships once they have escaped the confines of The Family International. You can visit my website at http://lamatteryresource.org for more information.
Once again I must say that I am completely astounded that you come here to rattle on about your work when the first words out of your mouth should have been related to how you and your daughter are doing and whether or not if you are giving her the support she so desperately needs.
I feel for your daughter and anyone who has been abused, yet that part of her life is over, she needs closure and I hope you will help her attain it by being a father, confidante, and supporter, instead of a journalist and writer out for a story or to make yourself look important.
You did your best and fought to get custody but now that she's here you seem more interested in her story than in her personally.
I wish you both luck and I hope that you will return to counseling with your daughter and create a bond that I feel both of you need desperately.
RNB
