Cult News

The Mormon Church (LDS) is buying up another chunk of downtown Salt Lake City (SLC).

First the church apparently was intent on establishing a buffer zone for its historical temple, where free speech would be prohibited. Now it apparently wants to offer city residents a trade off, through better shopping opportunities.

After all, who needs to waste time on free speech when you can have fun shopping?

The LDS investment arm called Property Reserve Inc. cut a deal to purchase two shopping plazas, which will potentially be combined into one super mall by linking them up with a skywalk, reports the Salt Lake City Tribune.

This is what the Mormon Church calls its “master plan” to determine development of downtown SLC.

“It’s great. I think it’s wonderful that the church is going to take over,” said one exited resident.

However, the LDS “take over” of Utah was long ago an accomplished “master plan.”

Madonna’s foray into children’s books isn’t going well, despite a much-publicized promotional spin on Oprah today.

England’s Mail on Sunday didn’t like the former “material girl’s” material, even for kids. A critic wrote the singer possessed neither the talent for prose nor even the imagination to be a successful author.

The Mail urged the 20th Century sensation to “stick to the day job,” concluding that her first written work for children titled English Roses, is “pedestrian…and certainly no classic.”

The flowery title and Madonna’s London address doesn’t seem to matter much to her British critics.

The book’s illustrations, not done by the diva, got a better review.

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, another Londoner, apparently has nothing to worry about.

The American press was brutal to the expatriate.

Madonna has a “persecution complex so narcissistic that she ought to have paid readers $100 an hour,” proclaimed the San Francisco Chronicle.

The central character of Madonna’s book is pretty “Binah,” a blond girl who suffers from “toooooooo much attention.”

Amen.

Madonna seemingly used little Binah as her alter ego, a self-indulgence that apparently didn’t work as a literary device.

The singer’s book is supposedly suffused with spiritual principles, reportedly lifted from the idiosyncratic “Kaballah Center,” led by Philip Berg and often called a “cult”

It appears the aging sex symbol’s writing talents are as limited as her understanding of Jewish mysticism. Since beginning her association with Berg the trajectory of Madonna’s career has been less than transcendent.

The pop diva has become Berg’s high priestess of proselytizing amongst Hollywood celebrities. Is she now hoping to try out as his missionary for kids?

Four more books are planned in a touted series. Does Madonna think she’s Moses?

Well, maybe the pop priestess and the prophet have one thing in common and it’s not being Jewish. The fading icon turned proselytizer, like Moses, may not make into the Promised Land of successful publishing.

English Roses may be Swept Away, like her last movie was by the critics. Of course this Hollywood heroine may just label that further proof of enduring “persecution.”

Husband/director/collaborator and fellow Kaballah Center groupie Guy Ritchie seems to be experiencing his own form of persecution too.

Not only was his movie partnership with Madonna a flop, but the last script submitted by the English director infused with its own dose of “Kaballah,” was rejected.

The publisher of English Roses may be expecting some sort of miracle. The book’s first printing includes more than one million copies in 30 languages.

But expecting Madonna to part the Red Sea might have been a better bet.

Alleged murderer Scot Peterson sits in jail while his lawyers appear to be feverishly playing the role of media spin-doctors specializing in Satanism.

Once again the never-ending Peterson spin machine churned out yet another “satanic cult” theory, which they hope will focus attention away from their client.

Up until now Peterson’s lawyers have not pointed out a plausible “satanic cult” specifically by name as the possible murderers responsible for the brutal slaying of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner.

But now it seems they have found one to tag in their latest theory, which may hang literally by a thread.

The Peterson’s defense team has found an overcoat they claim may belong to a cult member that supposedly bragged about killing Laci Peterson reports the Modesto Bee.

They are still woefully short on specifics, such as who is the bragging cultist in the overcoat, but they have come up with another prop for their production.

Last time it was gruesome graffiti near the bay, which somehow linked the murder to a cult of “satanic” artists.

That theory flopped when the artists came forward and said they were more of a club and certainly not “Satanists.”

And before this tale there were scary stories from a self-proclaimed “cult survivor.”

Now it’s an overcoat with an Oakland Raiders patch. Maybe the Raiders are somehow suspect?

Peterson’s attorneys did come up with a possible group to cast suspicion upon this time. A violent cult whose leaders are in prison, which has been defunct for more than a decade.

The Peterson defense team wants the press, public and potential jury pool to believe that somehow there is a malevolent remnant still roving the streets of Modesto.

Uh huh.

A former Modesto police officer familiar with the cult named wasn’t buying it. “One minute it’s white supremacy, one minute it’s God, one minute it’s witchcraft and the next it’s Satan,” he pointed out.

What’s next for Scott Peterson’s lawyers after this story sputters and then fails?

Stay tuned as the busy defense team churns out one conspiracy theory after another.

The problem with their latest showing, is even though they managed to come up with another prop, shouldn’t they at least provide one actor?

If Peterson’s attorneys are so intent on staging a satanic show at court time, they will need more than props to convince a jury. And something more than imprisoned cultists to hang their coat on.

Psychologist and peripatetic professional “cult apologist” Dick Anthony is on the road again.

This time the man who often defends Scientology and considers Rev. Moon’s Unification Church and the Waco Davidians “non traditional religions” is plying his trade in Dixie.

Anthony charges $3,500 per day for his services and is now working for Jane Whaley, the leader of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, North Carolina.

WOFF has often been called a “cult,” so it seems that would qualify Whaley as a client for Anthony.

Whaley and her followers are warring against a mother for custody of her four minor children. The alleged “cult leader” has apparently decided that some parents can’t leave her church with their family intact.

Former members say Whaley essentially controls her following through “brainwashing.”

However, Anthony is slated to submit an affidavit that will rebut such claims reports the Digital Courier.

Such a job is rather routine for the traveling professional apologist whose trade seems to be getting “cults” off the hook in legal situations.

“Have apologies, will travel,” must be Anthony’s motto in what appears to be a lucrative business.

And he certainly has his work cut out for him in the WOFF case.

The group is known for its bizarre behavior through such practices as “blasting.” This is when members are subjected to so-called “strong prayer” to deliver them from evil influences and/or sinfulness. Blasting basically amounts to surrounding and then screaming at someone designated as a likely “sinner.”

Not a pleasant experience according to some former members.

During recent court proceedings in Spindale Anthony was seen taking copious notes.

But at $3,500 per day is Whaley really getting her money’s worth?

Maybe the alleged “cult leader” should have checked out Anthony’s references first, case by case.

Dick has been on a bit of a losing streak lately.

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Scientology, two of his most recent clients, each paid out substantial settlements despite Dick’s help.

The Witnesses alone opted to pay a plaintiff $1.5 million, the largest settlement in their history, rather than rely on Anthony as an expert in court.

Such settlements don’t really support the effectiveness and/or professional ability of this “cult apologist.”

Never mind. Anthony still seems to be laughing all the way to the bank and it looks like another good payday for him in Spindale.

Former teen sensation Britney Spears appears to be the latest celebrity to jump into a “cult.”

Her spokesperson admitted that the pop singer has been recruited by Madonna, the high priestess of proselytizing, reports MSNBC.

Madonna seems to be spending her middle age as a missionary for the so-called “Kaballah Center” run by Philip Berg.

Spears fashion sense has often been ridiculed, but now it might be her common sense that is questioned.

Perhaps she just wants to follow another Hollywood trend and is desperately seeking some guru or fringe group to hook up with; it often appears that almost every star has.

Britney likes to mimic Madonna. And the former “Material Girl” turned religious devotee does go on about her much touted “spirituality.”

Will Spears also start gulping down the rather bizarre and somewhat pricey “Kaballah water“?

Apparently Madonna got more than her tongue inside Britney’s head.

A Commission in Utah sought the last word from the Mormon Church before rendering its final decision regarding the method of state executions.

Church leaders offered their opinion, which seems to carry the weight of law in Utah. They demurred that that the church “has no objection to the elimination of the firing squad,” reports Fox News.

Death by firing squad has been the method for capital punishment in the 45th state for some time.

A Mormon doctrine says blood must be shed for justice to be done regarding murder.

But apparently the church has decided that negative media attention surrounding firing squads doesn’t suit its more pragmatic public relations needs.

Once again Utah officials have bowed before the Mormon Church, demonstrating that theocracy is not just a principle encouraged by mullahs in a distant land.

Recently the church has squelched free speech around its historic temple in Salt Lake, humbled the mayor for resisting its edicts and even dictated the planning of shopping malls.

Separation of church and state?

Well, maybe not in Utah.

The Book of Mormon claims it’s the history of migrating Hebrews who came to the Western Hemisphere and started a new civilization after the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.

However, according to reputable historians, archaeologists, anthropologists and DNA experts this never happened.

Outside of Mormon sources you won’t find anything about the mythological cities and characters cited by Joseph Smith.

Smith was the supposed discoverer and translator of this religious tome and founder of the Mormon Church.

Most credible scholars surmised long ago that Smith was more of a con man than a “prophet,” though if you are Mormon coming to such a logical conclusion might be the basis for your excommunication.

After more than a century with nothing to show as proof regarding their book, one Mormon has finally come up with something.

Gary Rogers has made “The Book of Mormon Movie.”

The Mormon moviemaker spent $2 million on his pet project and staged a world premiere last night in Sandy, Utah reports the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Well, if you can’t have a museum exhibition why not a movie? And if scholars won’t confirm your myth there’s always Hollywood.

Parts of the newly proclaimed epoch were filmed on a Hollywood soundstage.

The producer hopes that his fellow Mormons will buy admission around the world. And basically this would seem to be the film’s only viable audience.

Rogers plans more installments, but only if ticket sales hold up. Apparently even his faith has limits.

Greta Van Susteren is the queen at Fox News and regularly wins the ratings wars against her old employer CNN reports the Kansas City Star.

The Midwest newspaper gushed about Van Susteren’s success and quoted a source parenthetically about how “she and her husband are heavily into the Church of Scientology.”

But Greta and hubby John Coale, both lawyers, seem to have been more than just “into” Scientology. They did some rather interesting legal work reportedly linked to their church.

It is often said that suing is something like a religious rite for Scientology. Maybe this explains why Van Susteren and Coale once appeared together to figuratively sing “hallelujah” from a court pew in Ohio.

The two devout Scientologists represented an apparent puppet plaintiff in what appears to have been a harassment lawsuit filed against Wellspring Retreat, a nonprofit licensed mental health facility for former cultists.

The suit was eventually dropped and never went to trial. But not before the noted rehab was bled considerably defending itself.

Some time later Van Susteren experienced her first makeover into a credible journalist for CNN. Then came her literal physical transformation through plastic surgery to look good for Fox.

United States Congressman Mike Doyle recently received the “Conscience and Courage award” from the “Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners” reported The Tartan.

Falun Gong is banned in China as an “evil cult” due to its extremism, which includes medical neglect and suicide.

The group like other purported “cults” was founded, is defined and led by an absolute leader.

Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong’s charismatic founder, now lives in exile within the United States.

But the man behind Falun Gong has been exposed as both a bigot and racist. Hongzhi has made harsh and condemning statements publicly and in his writings regarding interracial marriage and gays.

The recently given Falun Gong award may flatter Doyle, but after other politicians learned about Hongzhi’s racism and intolerance they distanced themselves from the controversial leader.

Hongzhi and his followers have become quite adept at manipulating the media and public officials in well-orchestrated events and photo ops to promote the group and its agenda.

Doyle joins a growing list of unwitting dupes used by Falun Gong like pawns in Hongzhi’s never-ending effort for power and influence in China.

A controversial group called a “cult” by local residents suffered a serious setback in New York federal court yesterday reports the Albany Times-Union.

NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) also known as “Executive Success Programs” has filed lawsuits against John Hochman, MD and Paul Martin, Ph.D. regarding their written analysis of the group and its programs.

The Ross Institute (TRI) was also sued for publishing those reports.

The group founded by Keith Raniere, a failed multi-level marketing guru, wants $9 million dollars in damages.

Raniere’s lawyers claim that because NXIVM material is quoted within the reports Hochman, Martin and TRI are guilty of “trade secret” and “copyright” violations.

However, a federal judge once again denied NXIVM’s requests for temporary injunctions, aimed at removing the critical articles from the Internet.

This is the third time the court has turned down Raniere’s efforts to suppress the information.

Interestingly, NXIVM’s recent defeat comes not long after The Hague gutted Scientology’s last hope of removing its own trade secrets and copyright protected material from view on the Internet.

Scientology, the controversial church that Time Magazine dubbed the “Cult of Greed,” has a long history of legal defeats. Observers have often claimed the organization simply uses litigation as a vehicle to target its perceived enemies.

In an ironic twist, a well-known Scientology operative Nancy O’Meara claimed that she is cooperating with NXIVM regarding its current New York litigation.

“I am working on two cases right now where [The Ross Institute] is being sued for copyright trademark violation (filed in July 2003),” stated O’Meara in an email dated August 22nd.

It appears that Raniere is being coached by Scientology, arguably the most litigious “cult” in the world.

And judging by his recent court setbacks, the man NXIVM devotees call “Vanguard” may be losing his edge by following in Scientology’s dubious legal footsteps.