Leah Remini Says Dedication to Scientology Allowed for 'Minimal Time' with Family (VIDEO)

"I don't think people know the amount of dedication it takes to be in this organization," she says on Oprah: Where Are They Now?

Photo: Michael Kovac/WireImage

Leah Remini‘s roots with Scientology were lifelong, but – before the actress publicly left the organization in July 2013 – she says being a devoted Scientologist was actually causing her to sacrifice time with her family.

In an exclusive clip from this weekend’s episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? Remini admits the church wasn’t something she chose entirely on her own: “Most people don’t know that we were raised into it. I didn’t decide to get into it, I was brought into it by my mom.”

Though Scientology was part of the fabric of family in her childhood, Remini began to struggle with the time-consuming demands of the church when she had her own family.

“I don’t think people know the amount of dedication it takes to be in this organization,” she says. “It was every day, three and a half hours minimum, seven days a week usually.”

She continues, “You know, I’m working most of my time, and then the other time was spent at the church, and so minimal time is really spent with your family.”

Remini, 44, previously told reporters the imbalance was what prompted her to distance herself from Scientology: “In my house, it’s family first – but I was spending most of my time at the church,” she said. “So, I was saying ‘family first,’ but I wasn’t showing that. I didn’t like the message that sent my daughter.”

Oprah: Where Are They Now? airs Saturdays (10 p.m. ET) on OWN.