Disconnection

Disconnection is the Scientologist practice of severing ties between a member and friends, colleagues , children and family (http://members.ams.chello.nl/mgormez/childabuse/disconnect.html) who disapprove of the faith; that is, "sources of disinformation" that interfere with their progress in the organization. The practice was ended in 1969 and reinstated in 1983.

Like the related (but converse) practice of shunning, disconnection has ended marriages and separated families.

The official organization of Scientology asserts that disconnection is a necessary procedure to free members from persons who have a negative effect on their spiritual growth. Critics assert that the real reason for this policy is to block access of Scientologists to any source of information contradicting the claims of the church.