Former members of secretive Quebec religious sect speak about [Video]

Several former members of fringe religious community the Mission de L’Esprit-Saint are urging the Quebec government to intervene following claims that it was a cult that brainwashed some members.

Noovo Info journalist Marie-Christine Bergeron collected their stories as part of a three-part documentary series, La prison de l’Esprit-Saint, which is streaming on Crave.

• READ MORE: «Un lavage de cerveau»: d’anciens membres de la Mission de l’Esprit-Saint supplient le gouvernement d’agir

The community was founded in 1913 by Montreal policeman Eugene Richer, known as La Flèche (the arrow), who believed he was the embodiment of the Holy Spirit.

The Mission de l’Esprit Saint continues to operate in Quebec, North Carolina, Massachusetts and California.

Some members have left and are speaking out about what they said happened to them behind closed doors.

“I stayed in touch with these people,” said Bergeron, who worked with director Isabelle Tincler on the documentary. “It took time and trust for them to share their stories.”

In the documentary, former members …