What happens when survivors tell their stories—and a community chooses to listen?On September 20th, over 100 people gathered at First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church as Shawn DeLude, Tim DeLude, and Bonnie Zampino shared their personal stories of growing up inside the Community of Jesus.Introduced by Susan Smith of First Parish Brewster UU, the event explored our experiences within a high-control religious community and the Community of Jesus’ presence and reach in Brewster, including through the performing arts.This is the live audio from that evening. Three survivors. One room. Nearly 100 people listening.This is Voices of Truth.

Award winning author Sarah Patrick speaks about the Community of Jesus and Grenville Christian College

In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle Glogovac sits down with author Beth Granger to discuss her powerful memoir Born and Raised. Beth shares the harrowing story of spending more than 30 years in a cult and the difficult journey of breaking free from a life shaped by coercive control and manipulation. Beth opens up about how cult environments operate, the psychological tactics used to maintain control, and the challenges survivors face when rebuilding their lives. She and Michelle discuss the warning signs of unhealthy power structures, the role of intuition in recognizing manipulation, and the long path toward healing and recovery. This powerful conversation explores cult survival, resilience, and the importance of understanding coercive control so others can recognize the signs and protect themselves. What We're Talking About... * How cults recruit members by presenting themselves as elite, successful, or spiritually superior communities * How cult environments isolate members and dismantle family relationships to maintain control * Why trusting your intuition can help identify cult warning signs and coercive control tactics * The reality of life after leaving a cult, including the long journey of healing, recovery, and rebuilding identity * Why education systems and communities must stay vigilant against manipulation, indoctrination, and abuse of power Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:28 Life in a Cult 07:26 The Impact of Cult Life 11:23 Family Dynamics and Separation 19:12 The Struggle to Speak Out 23:12 Advice for Cult Survivors 30:11 The Role of Support Systems 33:15 Reflections on Strength and Resilience 37:07 Education and Societal Concerns 40:44 Courage to Share: Beth's Story 41:13 Understanding and Empathy: The Importance of Connection Links Mentioned Beth Granger's Website: https://bethgranger.ca/ Beth Granger's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happygranger/ Beth Granger's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beth.gillisgranger/

Rock Harbor Truth gathered in Brewster for a Stand for Truth near the Performing Arts Center—a building survivors say was constructed, in part, through the labor of children from the Community of Jesus.In this special episode, hear the voices from that gathering.Together, they speak about abuse, accountability, survivor support, and the courage it takes to tell the truth in the very place where so much was hidden.

In this deeply personal conversation, Bryan Catlin shares what it was like to be born into the Community of Jesus as the Grandson of the Mother and raised entirely within its world. From loneliness, homeschooling, and life with the brothers, to fear, control, emotional confusion, and repeated attempts to leave, Brian reflects on the complexity of growing up inside a high-control religious environment — where even understanding what was “normal” became difficult. This is Part 1 of an honest and powerful survivor story.

Before he became the plaintiff in a federal lawsuit, Oliver “Ollie” Ortolani was a child growing up inside the Community of Jesus. In this episode of The Cult on the Cape, Bonnie Zampino speaks with Ollie’s former teacher, Nick Gascoigne, who knew him years before his allegations became public. Together, they explore the person behind the headlines: a bright, inquisitive young boy who loved technology, acting, and making people laugh, but who also spoke about long hours of work, separation from his parents, and a childhood that looked very different from that of his peers. Through the eyes of someone who knew him as a student, listeners will hear a deeply personal perspective on Ollie’s early life, the challenges he faced, and the lasting questions raised by his story. The episode concludes with an update on the ongoing federal lawsuit against the Community of Jesus, Arts Empowering Life, and the Performing Arts Building Foundation, as well as a discussion of “bounded choice” and the complex realities faced by families raised inside high-control environments. This is not an episode about legal filings. It is an episode about a child, a family, and the long journey of understanding what happened after leaving a world they once knew as home. 0:00 The child, the lawsuit, and the (alleged) unpaid labor 2:08 Unusual school placement 4:19 Ollie's hidden interests 7:45 Ollie's life and labor 11:36 Friendship, empathy, and shaming 15:04 Religious freedom vs. child exploitation 18:58 The impact of kindness 22:23 Bounded choices Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

The story of Sr. Madeleine. Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

Bonnie continues her discussion with psychotherapist Kari Fillian, LICSW, about how faith can become a weapon in high-control environments. Together, they explore ways to heal from this kind of abuse. .Bonnie connects Kari’s clinical insight to her own experiences at the Community of Jesus—including “light sessions,” chronic exhaustion, family separation, and the regulation of emotions, sexuality, and personal choice. They also examine why leaving a high-control group is so difficult—and why the effects can remain in the body long after someone is physically free.⁠Kari Fillian Psychotherapy

Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

Offered first to survivors of the Community of Jesus, Rock Harbor Truth offers the recorded Dessert and Learn Series to the general public. Session 1: TCTSY with Kari Fillian Kari is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts, a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Facilitator, and a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She specializes in complex trauma, religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and cult recovery. Her approach helps clients connect with their innate wisdom to experience wholeness and transformation in mind, body, and soul. LCTCTSY is the first yoga-based empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of the hatha style of yoga, where participants engage in a series of physical forms and movements. Elements of standard hatha yoga are modified to maximize experiences of empowerment and to cultivate a more positive relationship to one's body. Unlike many public yoga classes, TCTSY does not use physical hands-on adjustments to influence a participant's physical form. Rather, TCTSY presents opportunities for participants to be in charge of themselves based on a felt sense of their own body. Although TCTSY employs physical forms and movements, the emphasis is not on the external expression or appearance (i.e. doing it"right"), or receiving the approval of an external authority. Rather, the focus is on the internal experience of the participant. This shift in orientation, from the external to the internal, is a key attribute of TCTSY as a treatment for complex trauma and PTSD. With our approach, the power resides within the individual, not the TCTSY facilitator (TCTSY-F). Further, by focusing on the felt sense of the body to inform choice-making, TCTSY allows participants to restore their connection of mind and body and cultivate a sense of agency that is often compromised as a result of trauma. All TCTSY facilitators, staff, trainers, and mentors are required to agree and adhere to our ethical guidelines, or as we call them, Ways of Being. To learn more about TCTSY, please visit the official TCTSY website, from which this information has been taken. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen to The Cult on the Cape podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

In this deeply personal conversation, Bonnie speaks with psychotherapist Kari Fillian, LICSW, about how faith can become a weapon in high-control environments. Together, they explore the BITE Model of control, the use of shame and forced confession, and the ways religious trauma can disrupt a person’s identity, relationships, nervous system, and ability to trust themselves.Bonnie connects Kari’s clinical insight to her own experiences at the Community of Jesus—including “light sessions,” chronic exhaustion, family separation, and the regulation of emotions, sexuality, and personal choice. They also examine why leaving a high-control group is so difficult—and why the effects can remain in the body long after someone is physically free.Kari Fillian Psychotherapy

In Part Two of her story, Becky reflects on parenting a daughter with profound autism, confronting the lasting effects of Grenville and The Community of Jesus, and questioning the faith she inherited. Through fear, exhaustion, and deep self-examination, she discovers acceptance, a more expansive understanding of love, and the possibility that the life she has built is enough.

Becky Hathaway Dirksen was seven years old when her family moved to Grenville Christian College to live the life mandated by the Community of Jesus. What followed was a childhood governed by rigid schedules, forced labor, constant correction, family separation, and spiritual teachings that equated suffering with holiness and love with giving up what mattered most.In Part One of her story, Becky describes trying desperately to become the “good” person Grenville demanded—while never knowing exactly what was wrong with who she already was. She reflects on the lasting damage of being taught to distrust herself, the loneliness of being sent to Bermuda as an unpaid worker, and the dream of horses and Montana that became her imagined path to freedom.Becky eventually left determined to begin her life. But, as she explains, appearing resilient is not the same as escaping unharmed: “The fallout comes later.”

Author Heather King came to the Community of Jesus expecting a Benedictine retreat. Then she Googled “Community of Jesus Cult.”

Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

On Sunday, survivors, allies, and community members gathered on Cape Cod for Stand for Truth — a public show of support for those harmed by the Community of Jesus and those still inside.In this special episode of The Cult on the Cape, we bring you the voices from that day.You’ll hear from an ally and survivor of sexual abuse who fought for justice, saw her abuser sentenced to 42 years in prison, and spoke about what it means to find your voice — and to help others find theirs. You’ll also hear directly from two survivors of the Community of Jesus as they share their experiences and the lasting impact those experiences have had on their lives.For decades, many survivors were taught to stay silent.Now, they are speaking.These are the voices of Stand for Truth.

After spending her entire life inside the Community of Jesus, Magdelene Leon—known to many as Katie Buddington—believed her future had already been decided.In Part 2 of her story, she shares what it was like to take her vows as a novice and later as a permanently professed sister, despite a growing sense that something wasn't right. She describes the impossible choices faced by those raised in high-control groups, the fear of leaving everything they have ever known, and the quiet determination it took to begin imagining a different life.She reflects on the moment she realized the outside world wasn't what she'd been taught to fear, why so many people try to leave "the right way," and what it has taken to rebuild her identity after decades of control.This episode is an honest conversation about autonomy, faith, healing, and the extraordinary courage required to choose yourself when you've been taught your entire life not to.Content Note: This episode contains discussions of religious coercion, emotional abuse, family separation, and trauma.

Katie Buddington (Magdalene Leon) was the first child born into the Community of Jesus. In this episode, she shares what it was like to grow up inside a high-control religious community where family bonds were broken, fear became normal, and children learned that obedience came before everything else.From public humiliation and harsh discipline to the lifelong effects of childhood trauma, Katie's story offers a powerful look at what it means to be born into a system you never had the chance to choose—and the courage it takes to reclaim your life.

In Part 1 of Todd Lynch's story, we hear what it was like to enter the Community of Jesus as a teenager after being raised in a loving family outside the group. What began as a search for spiritual guidance quickly became a life defined by separation, control, and impossible choices.Todd shares the shock of being sent away to Grenville Christian College in Canada with almost no notice, the heartbreaking experience of being pressured to criticize his own mother, and the realization that the "community" he had been promised was anything but family.Together, Todd and Bonnie explore the psychological concept of bounded choice—how people can appear to have freedom while, in reality, every option comes at an unbearable cost. They also discuss the manipulation of faith, the erosion of personal autonomy, and why asking, "Why didn't you just leave?" misses the reality of life inside a high-control group.This episode offers an honest and deeply thoughtful look at coercive control, family separation, and the courage it takes to recognize when something claiming to be spiritual has become something very different.

Before he became the plaintiff in a federal lawsuit, Oliver “Ollie” Ortolani was a child growing up inside the Community of Jesus.In this episode of The Cult on the Cape, Bonnie Zampino speaks with Ollie’s former teacher, Nick Gascoigne, who knew him years before his allegations became public. Together, they explore the person behind the headlines: a bright, inquisitive young boy who loved technology, acting, and making people laugh, but who also spoke about long hours of work, separation from his parents, and a childhood that looked very different from that of his peers.Through the eyes of someone who knew him as a student, listeners will hear a deeply personal perspective on Ollie’s early life, the challenges he faced, and the lasting questions raised by his story.The episode concludes with an update on the ongoing federal lawsuit against the Community of Jesus, Arts Empowering Life, and the Performing Arts Building Foundation, as well as a discussion of “bounded choice” and the complex realities faced by families raised inside high-control environments.This is not an episode about legal filings.It is an episode about a child, a family, and the long journey of understanding what happened after leaving a world they once knew as home.

In this deeply personal conversation, Bryan Catlin shares what it was like to be born into the Community of Jesus as the Grandson of the Mother and raised entirely within its world. From loneliness, homeschooling, and life with the brothers, to fear, control, emotional confusion, and repeated attempts to leave, Brian reflects on the complexity of growing up inside a high-control religious environment — where even understanding what was “normal” became difficult. This is Part 1 of an honest and powerful survivor story. 0:00 Bryan Catlin's early memories 13:17 Growing up lonely 18:40 Homeschooling 23:35 Bryan's parents divorce 33:24 "You'll be killed out there" 42:00 Life with the brothers 49:26 Discipline vs. abuse 56:27 The "Smiling" Incident 1:04:33 Stealing a truck 1:17:35 Cliffhanger Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

In Part 2 of Bryan Catlin’s powerful story, Bryan shares what happened after he fled the Community of Jesus — terrified, exhausted, and completely unprepared for the outside world. What followed was a mental health crisis, arrest, hospitalization, and ultimately the beginning of rebuilding a life from scratch. Bryan speaks candidly about fear, isolation, survival, and the lifelong effects of growing up in a high-control environment. He also shares the people who helped save him — a social worker who understood cult dynamics, a father who kept showing up, friends who opened their homes, and the woman who would eventually become his wife. This episode is a raw and deeply human conversation about trauma, forgiveness, family estrangement, parenting after coercive control, and learning how to trust yourself after a lifetime of being told who you were supposed to be. At its heart, this is a story about survival, healing, and building a life that finally belongs to you. Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

Listen to Ken McCormick share his experiences during the early days of the Community of Jesus. 0:00 Ken's early life 5:45 Cay and Judy 8:12 Ken's family embraces Cay and Judy 12:46 Cay and Judy's growing influence 15:13 Ken's childhood memories 17:20 The barn church dilemma 20:05 "Death to Self" and celibacy 24:45 Early communal living 28:15 The separation and reunion of Cay and Judy 31:06 The Ark 33:42 Stony Brook 37:47 The network 42:02 Ken's time at the Ark Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape

In this special episode for International Cult Recovery Day, Bonnie shares a speech recorded by her son Brendan for a college class final project. In it, Brendan reflects on the Community of Jesus, Rock Harbor Truth, survivor stories, and the importance of listening to people who have too often been silenced or dismissed. This episode is a reminder that recovery begins when people are willing to speak and to hear the truth — and that the next generation is paying attention. 🕊️ Welcome to The Cult on the Cape, a podcast series dedicated to the discussion of the Community of Jesus. The host, Bonnie Zampino, is a survivor of the Community, and is a cofounder of Rock Harbor Truth. Rock Harbor Truth is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public of the history and continued actions of the Community of Jesus, as well as providing a platform for those who have been hurt by the Community, so that they may share their voices and heal. We hope that this series not only helps survivors speak but also helps you learn of this group and what they have done for decades and continue to do now. Thank you for listening. Even by simply listening to an episode of the podcast, you are helping to make a difference. Find more about us here: https://rockharbortruth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Rock-Harbor-Truth-61559941887908/ Listen on other platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cult-on-the-cape/id1853708779 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f6fd10f4-4862-48f1-a746-294dab43b7c2/the-cult-on-the-cape