Former Scientologist tells of abortions

A Canberra woman has given a tearful account of how the Church of Scientology coerced her to have two abortions, as a fresh attempt was being made for a Senate inquiry into the organisation.

Senator Nick Xenophon's effort to get an upper house inquiry into the tax-free status of religious groups, including Scientology, failed last week, when both Labor and the Coalition voted against it.

The Senate on Thursday will vote on an inquiry with revised terms - looking at alleged abuse in the church, and whether criminal, consumer protection and occupational health and safety laws are adequate to deal with its practices.

It will not examine Scientology's beliefs, following concerns an inquiry would impinge on religious freedom.

Senator Xenophon believes his bid could be successful.

"I'm confident that my colleagues are thinking more deeply than they did a week ago," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

His efforts are backed by former Scientologist Janette Lang, who spoke out for the first time about her ordeal with the church.

Ms Lang said she was a Scientologist for 13 years, after falling pregnant at age 20 to a man who had recently been recruited to the organisation.

Her boyfriend's Scientologist bosses coerced them into terminating the pregnancy, she said.

"We fought for a week, I was devastated, I felt abused, I was lost and eventually I gave in," she told reporters, fighting back tears.

"It was my baby, my body and my choice, and all of that was taken away from me by Scientology."

The pair married and had two daughters, but Ms Lang's husband was sent to the US to train as a spiritual counsellor.

"While he was over there, I was forbidden to contact him," she said.

"After a year, we agreed to a divorce."

As a full-time employee of the church, Ms Lang said she earned $2,000 a year and was sometimes forced to work until 2am, with her two daughters asleep in the office.

After her divorce, she fell pregnant to another Scientologist and the church threatened her with excommunication if she didn't have another abortion.

"My children would not be able to see their father, I would not be able to see my sister and I was told I would get cancer and die," she said.

"(Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd and (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott: please don't let us suffer in silence."

The account of coerced abortions, separation from family members and workplace law breaches by the Church of Scientology echo others that have been aired in recent weeks.

Canberra couple James and Liz Anderson, whose story was featured on the ABC's Four Corners program, also fronted reporters on Wednesday.

The couple is seeking meetings with both Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott ahead of the Senate vote.

They and other former Scientologists plan to make themselves available to parliamentarians outside Parliament House on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Church of Scientology said it completely rejected the claims of forced abortion.

"The Church of Scientology considers the family unit and children to be of the utmost importance and does not condone nor force anyone to undertake any medical procedure whatsoever," said Church spokeswoman Virginia Stewart.

Ms Stewart said a Scientology friend of Ms Lang had reported that she had said she had had an abortion "and it was a decision between her and her husband alone because of troubles with their relationship".

Ms Stewart said allegations like Ms Lang's were very serious and should be reported to the police, not detailed to the media.

"We would co-operate fully with any investigation of persons allegedly involved," she said.