A former member of the Raelian sect has recounted her traumatic experiences of sustained abuse by a sect “priest,” Bobby “Lear” Potvin, who is currently on trial for multiple sexual assault charges. She detailed her introduction to the group in the early 1990s and the manipulation she faced, feeling trapped and coerced into compliance for over a decade. The trial, overseen by Judge Thierry Nadon, highlights the decline of the Raelian movement in Quebec, following past investigative scrutiny.
Insights from a Former Raelian Sect Member
A former participant of the Raelian sect has bravely shared her harrowing experiences, detailing the alleged repeated assaults by a so-called “priest” of the organization. For over a decade, she felt compelled to adhere to the sect’s oppressive authority.
During her testimony at the Montreal courthouse, she recalled, “Those who held his rank were referred to as ‘the guides.’ I felt humiliated and confused, struggling to find a way out of my predicament.” Speaking from behind a protective screen, her statements came as Bobby “Lear” Potvin faced trial for multiple sexual assault charges dating back to the 1990s, a time when the Raelian movement was rapidly growing in Quebec.
The Path to Joining the Sect
The 61-year-old accused has entered a plea of not guilty. The complainant, whose identity remains shielded by law, explained that she was introduced to the sect in the early 1990s by a friend. “I accompanied her to a Raelian event, and shortly after, I received a call from the accused, who was a prominent figure in the group,” she recounted, reflecting on her younger self.
Pursuing the encounter, Potvin invited himself over to her residence. After a brief conversation, he drove her to his home in eastern Montreal, where she experienced her first assault despite her resistance. “Afterwards, he returned to enjoy his bagels,” she stated in her testimony, responding to inquiries from lawyer Kahina Rougeau Daoud.
When questioned by defense attorney Pierre Poupart about her decision to follow a stranger, the woman admitted to feeling intimidated. She also clarified that she was unaware of the sect’s beliefs surrounding “sexual fulfillment” at that time. After months of silence from the group, she began researching Rael’s teachings on “the origin of life,” which ultimately led her to formally join the movement.
“There were approximately 200 to 300 individuals in the reception area,” she recalled. “He [Potvin] was assigned to conduct the ‘baptism.’ I was trembling and crying, and others assumed it was out of joy…”
Unfortunately, her nightmare was just beginning. Over the next ten years, she claims to have endured numerous abuses, whether during meditation retreats, at Potvin’s residence, or during “meditation Sundays.” “I felt trapped, submissive, and obedient,” she expressed, describing the years in which Potvin allegedly exploited her vulnerabilities.
The cycle of abuse persisted for a decade, severely damaging her self-esteem and making her feel valued only when she complied. The misconduct ceased once Potvin lost interest in her. He was later expelled from the sect, while she distanced herself in 2018, eventually reporting the incidents to the authorities months later.
The trial, presided over by Judge Thierry Nadon, is expected to unfold over seven days. Once a prominent presence in Quebec, the Raelian movement has significantly diminished in the province. Investigative reports, including a notable infiltration by *Le Journal* in 2003, uncovered various excesses of the group, leading to journalist Brigitte McCann’s publication titled *Journal d’une infiltrée.*