Leah Remini's Daughter Baptized as a Catholic 2 Years After Leaving Scientology
Actors Leah Remini and Angelo Pagan have officially baptized their daughter, Sofia, two years after leaving the Church of Scientology in an attempt to provide the 11 year old with a more spiritual existence.
The family has shared much of their life on the TLC reality show "It's All Relative" and decided to reveal the special moment when their daughter was baptized as a Catholic on social media.
"A very special day for our little girl and her Godparents @crabichuk wanted to share with all of you #baptism #catholic #newbeginnings," Remini, 45, wrote on Instagram.
Although Remini was baptized as an infant she became a scientologist at the age of 9. After choosing to leave the organization two years ago, however, "The King of Queens" actress has been vocal about detaching herself from the beliefs associated with it.
Her husband also expressed how much of a beautiful experience his daughter's baptism was and made it clear that he and his wife have identified with Catholicism for some time.
"For the record @leahremini and I have always been Catholic! Why we waited so long to baptize Sofia! Hmmm ...," Pagan wrote. "Anyway it was a beautiful experience and our little angel is on her way to a more spiritual existence. God Bless!"
Remini decided to respond to her husband questioning why their daughter was not baptized before the age of 11, insisting that she was now old enough to understand what was taking place, unlike babies who are frequently baptized as Catholics.
"Happened at the right time. Our daughter was aware of what she was accepting," she tweeted. "And that was beautiful to witness."
On her TLC Network television show, Remini opened up about deciding to leave Scientology after her daughter was born in 2004.
"I decided I didn't want to raise my daughter in the [Church of Scientology] because from what I've experienced and what I saw, the church becomes your everything. It becomes your mother, your father, your everything. You are dependent on the church," Remini said.
"I just didn't want her to be raised that way, because let's say in 10 years if I don't want to be connected to the church anymore, my own daughter would be taught to disconnect from me."