Cult News

Pat Robertson the head of Christian Broadcasting Network once condemned the Bush “faith-based initiative,” which is designed to give money to religious groups for social service programs. The TV preacher said he was worried that “cults” would exploit such funding.

However, Rev. Robertson apparently has changed his mind and accepted $500,000.00 from Uncle Sam for his “Operation Blessing” reports the Washington Post.

The grant to the Robertson charity was one of 25 dispersed yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services.

There are many groups called “cults” that have programs, which they claim, are designed to help the larger community. Critics have charged that such programs are often little more than fronts for proselytizing.

Scientology promotes “Applied Scholastics,” which has been endorsed by President Bush Sr., Barbara Bush and Mr. and Mrs. Colin Powell. The Krishna Consciousness movement runs soup kitchens. And Rev. Moon’s Unification Church has sponsored abstinence programs through “Pure Love Alliance.”

It is not clear what “cult” organizations may receive a share of the $30 million dollars being doled out by the Bush program this year. But it is likely that some “cults” will at least try to get their own piece of the pie.

It seems improbable that religious groups known for fervent proselytizing can somehow compartmentalize their core beliefs when doing “social work.” But President Bush thinks so. And Pat Robertson once a staunch critic of this controversial formula, has now become its first “poster boy.”

Regardless of his support for some conservative causes and politicians, Rev. Moon, the founder of the Unification Church and the money behind the Washington Times, is not well received by everyone within the conservative movement.

Cliff Kincaid, a Washington based conservative writer recently denounced Moon. And when criticized for his comments, Kincaid denounced Moon again, in “TooGood Reports, The Right Stuff, for Right Thinkers.”

Kincaid doesn’t seem to appreciate Rev. Moon’s seemingly megalomaniacal insistence that he is somehow the “messiah,” chosen by God to fulfill a mission once given to Jesus.

According to Moon’s theology whereas Jesus failed, he will succeed. And despite some obfuscation by “Moonies” Mr. Kincaid pins them down regarding specific statements they have made, which confirm his conclusions.

Some religious conservatives, like Jerry Falwell, have received money from Moon. And the millions Moon transfused into Falwell’s coffers seem to have bought him some support from the past spokesman for the “Moral Majority.”

Apparently Rev. Falwell doesn’t care what Moon and his followers think about Jesus, though he seems to have fervent feelings regarding this subject when it comes to the rest of the world.

Rev. Moon also seems to buy the presence of notable leaders for his conferences, based upon hefty honorarium. He has paid for the services of President Bush Sr. and it now appears former Clinton appointee and Ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson. When it comes to photo ops Moon doesn’t discriminate against Democrats.

However, it is heartening to note that some within the conservative movement will not buy into or be bought by Rev. Moon. Hopefully, Mr. Kincaid has invoked some “right stuff” amongst “right thinkers.”

Leonardo Erobas has been charged with child abuse, reports Philippine Headline News.

Erobas drew attention when he sent sexually explicit photos of sex acts between his followers and minors to members of the Philippine Senate.

Again, the Philippine government has demonstrated it has little tolerance for criminal cults and acted in a matter of days after learning of Erobos’s crimes.

In another related development a jailed cult leader Reuben Ecelo Jr., the leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, which is the group Erobas left to form his own cult, was sent to the hospital. Ecelo is awaiting trial for murder.

It seems that after Ecelo returns from the hospital he and his former disciple Erobas may have a sort of cult reunion, hosted by the Philippine government and coordinated by their jailers.

Three members of an extreme Buddhist group burned themselves to death in bathtubs of gasoline. They believed the ritual suicide would take them to heaven, reports Reuters.

The leader of the fringe Buddhist cult is now in Police custody.

The Buddhist religion, typically known for its peace and kindness, is no more immune to the cult phenomenon than Christianity, Islam or Judaism. Every religion seems to have its fringe groups, frequently dominated by charismatic leaders.

Apparently the Cambodian believers were not much different than other cult members of the past such as the members of the Solar Temple, Heaven’s Gate or Waco Davidians, who like them believed suicide was a route to another world.

Wal-Mart owned “Sam’s Club” in Natick, Massachusetts has decided to prohibit fundraising at its store by “Hope Worldwide,” reports Metro West Daily News.

The store responded to complaints from the community regarding “Hope Worldwide,” which is an extension of the “International Church of Christ” (ICC). This group has frequently been called a “cult.”

The ICC is an independent religious organization and not affiliated with any denomination. Kip McKean, a former college ministry leader once funded by the Houston Memorial church of Christ, founded it in 1978.

The Houston church of Christ, as a result of serious allegations, ended their support of McKean shortly before he began his own church.

The ICC recruited the teenage daughter of a Natick family. That family became concerned due to the extraordinary control the group exercised over their child’s life. Their daughter later left, but the parents now have begun a campaign to expose the group throughout their area.

The ICC is known for its use of “discipleship training,” through which each member is matched with a partner for accountability. This can be seen as a pyramid scheme of control, culminating with virtual dictatorial power at the top.

The ICC’s recruiting and “discipleship” efforts have drawn bad press and complaints from around the world. However, the “cult” has grown to more than 100,000 members.

The ICC frequently targets college students and has been banned from many campuses. Apparently they are now including high school students within their recruitment efforts. This may ultimately raise the issue of the ICC abrogating parental authority with minors.

Louise Paulin, once a Catholic nun, became a “prophet” and led a commune some call a “cult.” The “Four Winds” community founded by Paulin, is located on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Paulin now faces charges of child abuse. Children who escaped her community have detailed severe beatings, which they endured at Paulin’s hands. And former members claim she “brainwashed” and controlled them, reports the National Post.

Canada is struggling to define just what constitutes the illegal abuse of children through corporal punishment.

Another controversial religious group called the “Church of God Restoration,” led by David Layne of California with branches in Canada, has also recently been charged with criminal child abuse. Parents were charged in the Layne group, but clearly they were following the dictates of their sect. They claim that corporal punishment is not only their parental prerogative, but also a religious right.

Increasingly both within Canada and the United States the courts are reviewing and in some situations redefining, the parameters of children’s rights and protections from abuse.

When a parent’s punishment leaves welts, contusions and/or bruises, does this then cease to be a “spanking” and instead become battering? And when the influence of religious group and/or its leadership occupies a pivotal role in an abuse case, what is their responsibility?

The case of Louise Paulin is somewhat simpler. She was not the parent of the children involved and decided herself to dole out their harsh punishment. And because she was an absolute leader without limits to her authority, she lacked any meaningful accountability.

But now Paulin is being held accountable for her actions in court. Hopefully, the judge will punish the “prophet” and restrict her ability to inflict further pain upon children.

The last album made by former Beatle George Harrison is titled “Brainwashed,” Capitol Records will soon release it, reports Entertainment Weekly.

It seems eerily odd that Harrison, as a long-time devotee of the “cult” known as the ‘International Society of Krishna Consciousness” (ISKCON), chose to name what became the album’s title song “Brainwashed.”

Harrison claimed his history with a former manager inspired the composition. In an almost therapeutic sense he explained, ”I need to get that last song out of my system.”

However, to the day he died Harrison never purged the Krishna group from his system. He ended his life amidst friends chanting “Hare Krishna,” the refrain that epitomizes the group’s devotees. Harrison also left a large part of his estate to the “cult,” including a mansion in England.

A Krishna spokesperson said, “We are eternally grateful for all George has done for us. His generosity allowed the Krishna movement to take root in Britain.” Some observers might credit the former Beatle as the single person most responsible for the spread of the movement worldwide.

George Harrison said, ”To have someone sit at your table with your family every night and then betray your trust is one of the worst experiences imaginable.” Again, he was referring to the focus of his song “Brainwashed.”

But Harrison seemed to have little understanding or public sympathy for the many children whose trust was betrayed by their Krishna teachers and caregivers in its schools and communes. Certainly, the ex-Beatle knew of such abuse, which was eventually acknowledged publicly by ISKCON’s leaders before his death. However, he didn’t sing or even speak out about this betrayal of trust and continued to support the organization.

Harrison summarized his song “Brainwashed” as one way he could “respond to the outside world” and “exorcise its demons.” Perhaps the former pop star should have done something meaningful to respond to and/or help the children “brainwashed” and caught within the world of ISKCON? Their horrific experiences seemed to reflect the effects of “demons” worthy of an exorcism.

Rap star Coolio says he was “tricked” into participating in a program where people were “screaming and hollering” at him. He was featured in the Fox show “Celebrity Boot Camp,” which puts stars through stressful and rigorous training, reports Zap2it TV News.

Coolio said they used “brainwashing techniques like sleep deprivation” and added, “the training is designed to create instantaneous obedience.”

Hmmm, sounds a bit like some “cults”?

Perhaps this show allowed participants and the audience to get a taste of cult life? Interestingly, it seems that the tough guy rapper succumbed to peer pressure. Despite the stress and abuse Coolio said, “I just stayed because nobody else quit” and admitted taht even he was vulnerable or “soft,” regarding coercive persuasion.

But the rapper doesn’t want to do a rerun, “I finished my tour,” he stated bluntly.

Some of Coolio’s fans may not be so lucky. Many teens remain in controversial “boot camps” supposedly designed to correct them. And though some may wish to leave, they cannot decide when to end their “tour.” It’s doubtful that Fox will do a show about this subject for its entertainment value.

What makes a “cult film”? John Waters, director of “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray” spoke about the essentials required to make a movie a “cult film classic” at a recent film festival, reports the Delaware News Journal.

Waters outlined the pivotal importance of well-defined, often sensational characters and scenes that engender devotion.

Describing “Pink Flamingos” as “notorious,” he said that film credit would probably be featured first in his obituary. “Pink Flamingos” is widely known for its now famous finale of a 300 pound transvestite named “Divine” eating freshly laid “dog doo.”

Similarly, Faye Dunaway who played the tyrannical Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest,” made cult film history screaming “no wire coat hangers”

Recognized cult films like “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Mommie Dearest” and “The Producers” all have outrageous characters. And Broadway has mined this genre for two hit musicals. First translating Mel Brooks’ movie “The Producers” into box office gold and now Waters’ “Hairspray.”

Fans of Waters films are deeply devoted and see their favorites over and over again. This type of cult following turned “Rocky Horror Picture Show” from a flop to a lucrative franchise and made Susan Sarandon a star.

Audience participation became the hallmark of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Fans attending that movie cloned its characters through the use of costumes and chanted dialog while viewing the film. Likewise, the cult following devoted to “Mommie Dearest” often brought wire coat hangers to play along with Faye Dunaway.

Let’s hope for the sake of hygiene that Waters fans don’t mimic the definitive scene within “Pink Flamingos” anytime soon.