Cult News

CultNews was a member of “Google News” for about two years, but was dropped early this month without notice. 

Google News is an on-line feature of the Internet search engine giant, which specifically is devoted to browsing about 4,500 members continuously as news sources.

More than once stories from CultNews have been featured prominently on the front page of Google News.

According to Google its news service provides results “without human intervention.” And “news sources are selected without regard to political viewpoint or ideology.”

However, after an inquiry was made last week to determine why CultNews was recently dropped, the response indicated that this was done through “human intervention.”

The “Google Team” stated in an e-mail received Friday June 23rd the following:

“Thank you for your note. Upon recent review of your site we found that we can no longer include it in Google News. We do not include sites that are written and maintained by individuals. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us and will log your site for consideration should our requirements change.”

What this means is that Internet users will no longer be able to pick up breaking stories from CultNews regarding controversial groups like Scientology, by launching searches specifically through Google News.

This does not mean that the main behemoth search engine Google will cease going through and gathering links to information within CultNews or its sponsor the Ross Institute of New Jersey. The recent change rather only will affect the breaking news search feature provided by Google.

CultNews has at times been the point of origin for news stories on the Internet. Subsequently, that information was often picked up by the mainstream media and CultNews was frequently cited as a source and/or quoted.

Cults, controversial groups and movements are of course only one small niche of the news, but CultNews has made every effort to provide the public with timely, interesting, relevant reports and analysis focused on that small corner of the news universe.

Other technology makes it possible for CultNews readers to continue to stay abreast regarding breaking news stories at this blog without relying upon Google News.

Check out the RSS feature located on this page (see “Meta” box by scrolling down left side) so you can keep up with CultNews using that technology, which essentially provides for continuously accessing fresh content at this site.

This recent Google News change in policy will not affect the quality or quantity of information, which will continue to flow from CultNews.  

Li Hongzhi the exiled founder of Falun Gong, a Chinese religious movement many consider a “cult,” was served with a subpoena last week, which requires him to appear before a judge in New York City as a witness this week.

That court proceeding is a divorce action filed by one of Hongzhi’s followers against her husband. The couple is estranged largely because of Falun Gong.

Essentially, the wife is a true believer, but her husband is not, and this ultimately led to a marital breakdown.

Ms. C. a devotee of Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa, has been separated from her husband Mr. C. for some time. The couple shares custody of their son and a New York family court will soon make a final determination regarding those arrangements.

Hongzhi was served Thursday June 15th 8:20 AM in the town of Saint James, New York. The Chinese exile that became an American citizen reportedly has two residences, one in New York and another in New Jersey.

As a direct result of the subpoena served Hongzhi is required to appear before a New York judge in Queens. His scheduled appearance is Thursday this week at 2:30 PM. 

Falun Gong received recent attention when a devotee with “press credentials” began shrieking at President Bush during a speech made by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House.

Interestingly, that same woman, Wang Wenyi, was once listed by Mela Wu-Malin Nee Mela Cawley as a potential witness in the New York court proceeding to be held this week.

The Epoch Times, a newspaper run by Falun Gong members that provided Wenyi with press credentials, has similarly sponsored Ms. C. as a reporter. Both Ms. C. and Wenyi have participated in Falun Gong protests and demonstrations against the Chinese government, which has outlawed the group as an “evil cult.”

Falun Gong has caused increasing tension within the Chinese-American community. Some communities, such as Flushing, New York and more recently San Francisco, do not appreciate the group’s participation at events. Some Chinese-American leaders have suggested that Hongzhi’s followers use such events to promote their own agenda.

Li Hongzhi has been criticized for his racist and homophobic remarks.

He has said that gays are “disgusting” and somehow a “black substance” accumulates within the bodies of gay men. “Disgusting homosexuality shows the dirty abnormal psychology of the gay who has lost his ability of reasoning at the present time,” Hongzhi stated. And one day the religious leader claims gays will be ’eliminated’’ by ’the gods.’’

Li Hongzhi’s racist remarks are also disturbing.

He teaches his followers that “mixed-race people¦[are] instruments of an alien plot to destroy humanity’s link to heaven.” And that these interracial unions are somehow part of “a plot by¦evil extraterrestrials.”

Interestingly, Mr. and Mrs. C., whose divorce proceeding Hongzhi is scheduled to appear at this week, are an example of one of those “interracial unions” and the couple’s son falls within the category of what Hongzhi’s calls “mixed-race-people.”

Mr. Hongzhi may soon have an opportunity to explain his beliefs before a judge and under oath as a witness.

Perhaps the religious leader will also explain other statements he has made such as that he can “personally install’’ falun (a wheel of law) in the abdomens of his followers, “levitate” and “become invisible.”

Apparently he was unable and/or unwilling to either levitate or become invisible to avoid the process server that presented him with a subpoena last week.

Some years ago the Washington Post (2000) and later the San Jose Mercury News (2001) reported about Hongzhi’s bigoted and often bizarre beliefs. However, since then the Western Press has virtually given the leader a “free pass,” rarely asking him or his followers any tough questions. Instead, the focus has repeatedly been on Falun Gong claims concerning “persecution” in China.

Now a New York courtroom may become the latest venue for Li Hongzhi to speak. And this time the Falun Gong leader would not be holding forth within an environment that he essentially controls. Instead, the judge would control the courtroom and lawyers would be asking the questions.

This Thursday afternoon in Queens might prove to be a rare opportunity to see and hear Li Hongzhi unfiltered and on the record. The Falun Gong founder, who supposedly leads millions, may finally answer some tough questions.

Madonna appears to be increasingly predatory regarding her proselytizing for the controversial “Kabbalah Centre.” The 1980s diva seems to prey upon young and vulnerable stars. 

“The buzz is that Madonna has become very tight with Lindsay Lohan, sharing religious and professional tips,” reported Jeanette Walls for MSNBC. 

Lohan, who will turn twenty next month, says she is “looking into Kabbalah.”

There seems to be a pattern to Madonna’s missionary work lately and it isn’t pretty.

The soon to be 48-year-old singer apparently preys upon young troubled stars, promoting her mystical mentors and their teachings as a divine cure to solve their problems.

First there was Britney Spears, who was reportedly troubled by an increasingly difficult and turbulent life. Along comes Madonna with a kiss and her Kabbalah grab bag of goodies, including a ready-to-wear “red string” amulet and plenty of bottled “Kabbalah Water.”

However, eventually the magic wore off and Spears reportedly got tired of the constant pressure to give the mystical group more money.

Once the pop singer dumped the Kabbalah Centre it wasn’t long before Madonna gave her the “kiss off.”

After all, the “Material Girl” has given her gurus millions, so why should Spears hold out?

Apparently it’s not possible to be Madonna’s special mentoring partner without a commitment to her purported “cult.” 

Now it seems it’s Lindsay Lohan’s turn to be the targeted teen idol and she certainly fits the profile.

Estranged from her father with a tabloid history of bingeing and partying, Lohan looks like the next vulnerable young star the diva has hooked up to reel in.

“Madonna’s giving Lindsay advice on her music career, and she wants to work on a film with Madonna, too!” reported MSNBC. They are also planning a “spiritual journey” to “the Holy Land” a source said.

Maybe Lohan should consider that Britney Spears didn’t navigate her life any better with Madonna on-board as her mentor. And the disco queen’s spiritual advisors have not done much good for her personal life according to press reports.

Working with Madonna on a movie can be a disaster. Witness her past film collaborations with husbands Sean Penn (Shanghai Surprise) and Guy Ritchie (Swept Away), “two for two,” flops that is. 

Despite her recent retro album and tour the 1980s icon has fallen off the Forbes list of its “top 100 stars.” Madonna was No. 8 last year, and now she’s nowhere to be found, reports Fox News.

What about all that illumminating “light” supposedly beaming down at the Kabbalah Centre?

Lindsay Lohan would probably be better off feeling her way through the dark without any guidance from Madonna’s gurus. And if the young star wants to take a trip try driving up the California Coast Highway to Napa, rather than some diva-led pilgrimage.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church and self-proclaimed “messiah” controls a financial empire worth billions of dollars and wields substantial political influence through the Washington Times  and other media interests that he controls including United Press International UPI.

Moon has long been friendly with the Bush family and has given millions in honorariums to the first President Bush, who has jetted around the world to speak at venues connected to his interests.

Now it seems that the man many have called a “cult leader” hopes to get something more than just a few speeches,  political appointments, and VIP seating from the Bush family.

Moon was convicted for tax fraud in 1982 and subsequently served 13 months in Danbury federal prison.

But the dual roles as both convicted felon and “messiah” seem to bother the 86-year-old South Korean, who probably wants to clean up his legacy through a presidential pardon.

It’s getting down to crunch time.

And unless Moon dies before the second President Bush leaves the White House, relieving him of what could be an awkward obligation, expect a pardon at the President Bush’s second term.

Moon has labored long and hard to lubricate the Oval Office, greasing the “Presidential Pen,” so to speak.

One example of “messianic” largesse recently discovered was a $1 million gift to the first President Bush’s library at Texas A&M reports the Houston Chronicle.

Moon funneled the million from the Washington Times Foundation through the Greater Houston Community Foundation to the Bush library foundation.  

This octogenarian “messiah” may not walk on water, but he knows how to float money.

Larry Zilliox of Maryland a long-time Moon critic and cult researcher uncovered this interesting cash flow.

President Bill Clinton was criticized for handing out some pretty controversial pardons on his way out of the White House.

Will the end of President Bush’s second term produce an equally if not more controversial pardon as pay back to Rev. Moon?

Mel Gibson has gone a bit “Mad Max” over the “Da Vinci Code.” The director of “The Passion of the Christ” says that the latest hit movie based upon religion “weaves facts with maverick theories” reports a Web site citing Hollywood.com as its source.

However, Gibson of all people should be the last person to criticize any film for taking dramatic license by positing specious theories and/or spinning some imagined history.

After all, the former Maverick had more than a few “maverick” moments in his own Jesus movie.

CultNews previous reported that Gibson portrayed Mary Magdalene pleading with the Romans to save Jesus after he is taken away to be tried by Jewish authorities.

Then he had Jesus tell Roman Governor Pontius Pilate that it’s the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas that will bear the “greater sin” for his execution.

And Mrs. Pilate even got into the act, tearfully bringing Mary the mother of Jesus, some towels and crying with her.

However, not one of these scripted moments is recorded specifically within the New Testament.

Mel Gibson made them up by weaving his “maverick theories” with Christian scriptures. 

Gibson reportedly said that what “worries” him “is that people will take [‘The Davinci Code’] as fact.”

But that’s exactly what worried many critics about his Jesus movie even before it was released.

Specifically, critics said repeatedly before and after the film was released that Gibson’s audience would “take…as fact” his “theories,” which amounted to an implicit indictment of the Jews for deicide, which would contribute to anti-Semitism.

Unlike those associated with “The Da Vinci Code” such as Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, best-selling author Dan Brown, or two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, Gibson, who received an Oscar for directing “Braveheart,” takes his Jesus movie very seriously rather than seeing it as simply entertainment.

“The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film,” Gibson once said.

But if that is true then why isn’t the questionable dialog within his movie somewhere in the bible?

One thing is without question and that is both “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Da Vinci Code” have the status of box office hits. And this was accomplished laregely through the controversy and “cult-following” each film developed, which fueled ticket sales.

Mel Gibson has no plans to spin “Passion” into a series, possibly offering a prequel regarding the ministry of Jesus or sequel, such as his version or vision of “The Resurrection.”

But it looks like Sony has decided that “The Da Vinci Code” will become a franchise and has already ordered up a movie script based upon another Dan Brown book.

Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” reportedly netted him more than $70 million dollars, largely because of the cult-like devotion the savvy director/producer cultivated for his film amongst evangelical Christians and its timely release for Easter. Is it possible that “The Da Vinci Code” could experience the same phenomenon only somewhat reversed?

The film based upon the Dan Brown book that sold more than 50 million copies to become something of a cultural and publishing phenomenon is based largely upon the “Gnostic Gospels,” which are considered “heretical to evangelicals and many other Christians. And thus the “Da Vinci Code” relates something less than the supernatural Christ depicted in Gibson’s film.

But it seems that the controversy surrounding this unorthodox religious movie may have built interest in the film much like the controversy that preceded Mel’s Gibson’s Jesus movie. According to Sony Pictures the Ron Howard film starring Tom Hanks has pulled in $224 million on its first weekend worldwide reports Associated Press.

Both “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Da Vinci Code” received less than glowing critical reviews. And both projects garnered the response that they were spurious, Gibson’s for its anti-Semitic content and Howard’s for its heresy.  

Could Ron Howard’s creation catch up to Mel Gibson’s, which grossed $370 million in the United States alone and more than $600 million worldwide?

Both films seem to have a kind of cult-following of “true believers.”

However, it seems doubtful that “The Da Vinci Code” can equal Mel Gibson’s 2004 box office take, though it will undoubtedly be a major moneymaker for Sony this summer.

In fact, Sony is already considering a sequel based upon Browns book titled “Angels and Demons” after the very successful first weekend of Da Vinci Code reports Coming Soon.net.

Father Marcial Marciel, an 86-year-old priest repeatedly accused of sexual abuse, probably thought that his age or past friendship with Pope John Paul II would protect him for the rest of his life, but he was wrong.

Maciel is the founder of the prominent and ultra-conservative Catholic order known as the “Legionaries of Christ” or “Regnum Christi,” which includes some 650 priests. But now the Vatican has publicly disciplined the priest on grounds of sexual abuse reports The Telegraph.  

Apparently the only consideration Marciel received is that he will be spared the public humiliation of a “full church trial.”

However, Marciel is “forbidden to celebrate Mass, speak in public or to the press.” And in its published official statement the Vatican urged him to live “a reserved life of prayer and penance.”

That “prayer and penance” is in response to complaints from about 20 Catholic seminarians that say Maciel sexually abused them when they were teenagers within the order. One such complaint came from the  former President of the United States Legionaries from 1971-76, who stated that Maciel began molesting him at the age of 12.

Though initially founded in Mexico the Legionaries of Christ has rapidly expanded its influence amongst American Catholics in recent years.

CultNews has received repeated and very serious complaints about the Legionaries from Catholic families. This has included claims that the order has isolated recruits and can be “deceptive, manipulative” and “secretive.”

Parishioners of at least one Catholic Church in California became divided and experienced serious problems after the Legionaries essentially took it over.

Likewise, Catholic educators have said that when the order takes charge of schools it soon purges those that don’t adhere to its strict ultra-conservative ways.

In New England an elderly man claimed the order bilked him out of much of his savings and home equity, through unethical fund-raising.

With this latest repudiation from the Vatican it seems that the Legionaries of Christ has always been deeply troubled, and from the top down. And its very foundation has now been shaken by the Vatican’s recognition of its founder’s serious sins.

Despite this though, neither Marciel or his followers have ever accepted responsibility for the sinful acts tacitly now acknowledged by the Vatican. Instead, the priest and his disciples have repeatedly denied everything, refusing to even admit that anything ever happened or apologize to anyone.

In response to the recent Vatican ruling the Legionaries offered a not so cryptic response. It says that Marciel accepts the Vatican pronouncement “with faith, complete serenity and tranquillity of conscience, knowing that it is a new cross that God has allowed him to suffer.”

“God has allowed him to suffer”?

It sounds as if the Legionaries think that somehow Marciel is working on becoming a saint.

What about all the suffering of his victims?

“Serenity and tranquility of conscience”?

What kind of “conscience” does Marciel have that permits him such “serenity” after so many sins?

The statement appears rather arrogant and unrepentant to say the least.

It seems that the Legionaries of Christ will continue to ignore the facts and defend the indefensible.

Meanwhile the Vatican has by necessity correctly recognized it cannot afford to remain silent regarding any predatory priest. And it has taken action that was long overdue in response to the cross suffered by Marciel’s victims.

The Scientology saga of Tom Cruise seems far from over. It appears that the next battle for the middle-aged action hero of MI-3 may take him from film to family feuds.

Cruise has not only arguably lost many movie fans but also apparently never really won over the family of Katie Holmes, which has been increasingly shut out of their daughter’s life.

The Holmes home in Toledo, Ohio is a long way from Cruise’s rented mansion in California, but that long distance gap widened further when baby Suri was born. 

Apparently the Holmes family was not invited and did not attend the blessed event. At the time the actress’s parents were on the other side of the country in their Florida vacation home. They supposedly received a text message from their daughter to let them know all was well.

On yet another family front Nicole Kidman may have fond memories of her ex, but she reportedly thinks Scientology is a “sinister force.”

The Oscar-winning actress, who completely abandoned Scientology after her divorce, is once again a Roman Catholic. And it seems Kidman is anxious about the influence Cruise’s religion may have over their two adopted children reports the Daily Mail.

As CultNews previously reported last year Scientology’s “Top Gun” has been pushing forward for the rapid indoctrination of his children Conner and Isabella Cruise. And it seems unlikely that he has any thought about discontinuing that process.

Meanwhile at the same time Scientology’s “Top Gun” has been busily submerging Katie Holmes in all things Hubbard. And as that process has moved ahead the former star of “Dawson’s Creek” has been described as “zombie-like” and a “Stepford Wife.”

The 27-year-old actress and unwed mother’s parents are reportedly unhappy about their daughter’s conversion from Catholicism to Scientology.

Who and/or what will come up next in the continuing sage of Scientology’s “Top Gun”?

Will Nicole Kidman be the first concerned parent to ride to the rescue of her children, or will it be the Holmes family intent upon saving their daughter and granddaughter from the “sinister force”?

“Holy Toledo”! 

The next battle facing Tom Cruise may not be at the box office after all, but instead a rather more conventional custody battle in the courts.

Now deceased “Yogi Bhajan” (a.k.a. Harbhajan Singh Puri), a notorious guru and purported “cult leader,” was honored by having a highway named after him posthumously that runs through New Mexico, where the guru’s followers still maintain their largest community compound.

The New Mexico State Transportation Commission has renamed state highway 106 “Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway” reports The Indian Express. 

Bhajan died  October 6, 2004, but his diehard disciples keep arranging honors for their guru through their still functioning political connections in New Mexico.

CultNews previously reported how the guru’s followers managed to pump a joint resolution honoring Yogi Bhajan through Congress. And before that came no less than a “presidential proclamation,” seemingly engineered by Bhajan’s old political crony New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson.

During his lifetime Bhajan was apparently quite generous to Richardson, regularly contributing to his political campaigns and turning out his followers to vote at election time.

Richardson reportedly remarked how Bhajan “kept a hand in politics” and noted that “many of the elected officials” attending the recent highway naming ceremony “sought his counsel…many times.”

“Counsel” must be a politically correct euphemism for cash campaign contributions. And it seems the guru is still getting his payback even after his death. 

However, Yogi Bhajan’s life can be seen as a series of scandals.

Prominent sociologist and Stanford University professor Richard Offshe stated in an affidavit that Bhajan’s organization known  as “3HO exhibits characteristics common to cult organizations.”

The guru’s former followers had less than glowing things to say about him. Many claimed that “3HO” exploited them and hurt their families. 

Some female followers complained that Bhajan’s attentions were at times also less than spiritual. A former personal secretary sued him for sexual harassment and gross misconduct.

One lawsuit stated, “The method by which Bhajan induced others to follow him was to pose as a Yoga master and teacher, and then covertly subject yoga students to a process of mental and emotional conditioning in which their personalities are disrupted and ultimately destroyed.”

Lawsuits against Bhajan and/or his businesses were often quietly settled and the guru lived a life of luxury, until his death at 75.

Bhajan immigrated to the US in the 1970s and built his following amongst largely white, middle-class Americans. He began  as a yoga teacher, but soon declared himself a religious leader. The idiosyncratic brand of religion Bhajan concocted was a blend of yoga, meditation and his quirky personal philosophy, which was frequently denounced and/or criticized by more mainstream and traditional Sikhs.

Over the years Bhajan and his followers succeeded in putting together a multi-million dollar financial empire that included AKAL Security, one of the largest private security companies in North America. AKAL relied heavily upon government contracts, helped along no doubt by Bhajan’s political connections.

Through his various enterprises the guru also marketed teas, herbs and assorted health food.

It seems illegal “herbs” also found their way through New Mexico with the help of Bhajan’s right hand man “Gurujot Singh Khalsa” (a.k.a. Robert Alvin Taylor). In the 1980s Taylor was criminally indicted for conspiring to import more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the US. He was subsequently sentenced to a term in federal prison.

CultNews also has reported that in 1985 then Congressman Bill Richardson “hand-delivered” a letter from the Chancellor of the “Sikh Dharma.”

The letter said in part; “We have been informed that the above [3HO phone] numbers are and have been the subject of electronic surveillance by the United States government during the past several months¦Would you please make an inquiry with the Justice Department, the CIA, the National Security Commission and any other government agency that may be involved in this surveillance and inform me of the results of your inquiry.”

Bill did exactly what was asked. He sent a letter days later to the FBI.

Richardson wrote, “I have received the attached letter from one of my constituents¦Any information you can provide my office to help us respond¦will be most helpful.”

The congressman also assigned one of his staff “to handle [the] matter.”

In December the FBI responded, “A check was made of our records here at FBI Headquarters and in our offices in Albuquerque and Los Angeles, and no information was located to indicate that the [3HO] is now or has been the subject of electronic surveillance by the FBI.”

But what Richardson didn’t know is that he had contacted the wrong federal law-enforcement agency.

Apparently it was the DEA that likely had the “cult” under surveillance, as the eventual arrest of Guru Jot Singh in 1987 for drug-trafficking would seem to indicate.

“It is…with great pleasure that I declare New Mexico State Highway 106 as Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway,’’ gushed the Governor of New Mexico at a recent dedication ceremony. 

Bhajan may be dead, but the 3HO multi-million dollar financial empire still exists, as do old and loyal political cronies like Richardson.

Perhaps the highway has a few crooked miles, which would make it a fitting memorial for the deceased “cult leader.”