Cult News

Seth Joseph was a senior executive vice president at Digital Lightwave, until he tried to get the sister of Scientology’s supreme leader off the company payroll, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Joseph wanted to dump Denise Licciardi, the twin sister of David Miscavige, Scientology’s apparent leader for life.

Licciardi was reportedly “linked to an accounting scandal.”

However, the CEO and founder of the company Bryan Zhan, a Scientologist, apparently decided his devotion to the controversial church outweighed obligations to stockholders or creditors.

He fired Joseph; it seems to avoid upsetting his religious leader.

So Joseph sued Digital Ligtwave for wrongful termination and eventually landed a $5.2 million dollar judgment, which the company says it won’t appeal.

But maybe the ex-employee should hurry to collect while he can.

Digital Lightwave appears to be on a downward spiral, recently tapping an emergency credit line to keep afloat.

It seems whatever Scientology courses Zhan took failed to provide him with the insight necessary to keep his company from tanking.

Perhaps the CEO should have watched his bottom line more and worried about Scientology less.

Children once separated from their families due to false claims of “Satanic ritual abuse” are now suing Scottish social services, reports Scotland on Sunday.

During the early 90s numerous children were taken from their families by zealous social workers that falsely claimed they were abused by parents suspected as participants in “Satanic rituals.”

One judge called the treatment of the children by social services, “[A] tragedy of immense proportions.”

A plaintiff in the suit looking back on a ruined childhood said, “My education suffered badly and I became withdrawn. I still lack self-esteem. I have no confidence in anything I do.”

Her mother added, “Imagine what it would feel like to have your child taken away from you, not to see her for a year and to have only limited supervised contact for another four. This matter devastated my whole family.”

Such unproven claims of “Satanism” and supposed “ritual abuse” still often go unchallenged within the United States and networks of “survivors” support each other in such claims.

A cottage industry of “helping professionals,” related books and seminars centered on such allegations continues to thrive.

But many US mental health professionals have been virtually put out of business by lawsuits filed by victimized patients and/or their families.

Many children are the proven victims of “cults” such as the Krishna movement, Nuwaubians and Church of God Restoration.

It seems responsible professionals and public servants should focus limited resources on those proven to be victims, rather than pursuing fantastic conspiracy theories.

The controversy surrounding an Easter article run within the Chicago Tribune has spilled over into Christianity Today.

It was reported that more than 250 Chicago churches held Passover dinners called seders this year.

However, some of these “seders” were apparently based upon rather questionable and self-serving interpretations, concocted by groups such as the controversial fundamentalist Christian missionary organization called “Jews for Jesus” (JFJ).

An ordained Baptist minister who once worked for the American Board of Missions to the Jews founded JFJ, which is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Missionaries from JFJ have a traveling road show titled “Christ in the Passover,” which passed through Chicago. This program often serves as a rather viable vehicle for fund-raising.

Basically, the theme of this JFJ program is to present the Passover ritual observance superimposed with alleged prophetic references to Jesus. The actual meaning and historical significance of the traditional seder is thus distorted and/or negated.

After the Tribune ran the report about these pseudo-seders Jews in Chicago protested that their holiday was being misrepresented in the paper. The staff writer responsible for the report admitted to some religious bias.

“Misinformation and outright falsehoods, said one Jewish reader. And added that the piece did “great harm to the cause of interfaith understanding,”

Rabbi Ira Youdovin, executive vice president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis said, “Fundamentalists [who] seek to co-opt an ancient Jewish ritual…appreciate Jews not for what they are…but for this caricatured identity as proto-Christians. This is highly offensive to Jews.”

Another rabbi noted, “We have problems with Christians transforming our symbols and stories into a Christological message that robs us of our holy experience and thoughts.”

Of course JFJ doesn’t seem to care about such things. In fact they probably enjoyed the controversy. Why do you think they chose their name in the first place?

After all, the more controversy, the more attention and that attention just might translate into contributions.

JFJ had a serious shortfall in its budget last year and staff layoffs followed.

It seems many within the evangelical Christian community have grown tired and perhaps a bit bored with the organization. They have actually not produced many “Jews for Jesus,” despite their multi-million dollar annual expenditures.

Perhaps the group hopes its annual “hit and run” Passover programs will rejuvenate some interest and help their sagging revenues?

The Japanese “cult” Pana Wave is now encamped within a mountain region of Japan, reports Mainichi News.

But area residents are not happy and hope the group will move back to its own property soon.

Police continue to watch Pana Wave closely.

Next week on Thursday, according to Pana Wave’s leader Yuko Chino, the world will end.

Hopefully, this date may mark the return of group members to their compound to ponder a failed prophecy.

Japanese citizens appear weary of the wandering “cult” caravan of white vans rolling around the country.

This past week many residents of Ohio were led to believe that “a Satanic cult [was] operating” in the area.

“Dogs” were found skinned with their “eyes painted orange,” reported News 5 a local TV station.

One resident said, “It’s a Satanic ritual — something to do with voodoo.”

Never mind.

Days later the same News 5 crew reported that these claims were completely false.

The remains were in fact not even “dogs,” but the carcasses of coyotes marked by construction workers with paint to be readily seen for disposal.

Such stories of supposed “Satanism” have become urban myths much like the tales of “UFO abductions.”

Thankfully, this Ohio yarn was put to rest quickly before it reached epoch proportions.

A group called the “Al Moroccan Empire or Moors” decided one of its religious rites or rights, is to distribute fake money orders, reports NBC News 10 in New Jersey.

Police rounded up members of the group yesterday and they are now facing criminal charges for passing out about $10 million dollars of the “funny money” orders.

The US Attorney said, “The essence of the group is their belief that they are not subject to the laws of the United States, but that they are owed money from the citizens and the government of the United States.”

Apparently Moorish believers felt buying Concorde tickets to Europe, luxury cars and squaring away their gambling debts with the faked tender, was an act of faith too.

In court group members steadfastly refused to recognize civil authority and one told the judge, “You’re fired.”

But despite their religious fantasy and fanaticism, it looks like the “Moors” will be subjected to a dose of reality as their crimes likely lead to a prison term, rather than a free trip to Europe.

Once again it seems Scientology is in potentially serious trouble in France.

Two officials of the French branch of Scientology have been placed under official investigation for “fraud and complicity in illegally practicing pharmacy,” reports AFP.

Allegations involve the use of high dosages of vitamins and giving “personality tests” without a scientific basis, ultimately as a means “to obtain money.”

In the United States its unlikely authorities would bother Scientology over such matters.

But in France Scientology does not have the special status of a recognized religion and is instead identified as a “cult.”

Scientologists claim they have “10,000” members in France.

However, membership claims routinely made by the organization have never been objectively verified.

Some say that Scientology may actually have less than 100,000 truly active members worldwide.

A team of 100 Japanese riot police is presently tracking the “cult” Pana Wave, reports The Guardian.

Village after village has protested the group and made it clear they are unwelcome.

But Pana Wave has not been connected to any crime.

However, the ominous predictions of coming doom made by its leader Yuko Chino, deeply disturb many Japanese who remember the cult Aum.

An editorial in Asahi News noted, “In hindsight…Aum became increasingly bloody-minded, the police were late in taking appropriate action” and warned they should now “be prepared to move swift and sure if [Pana Wave] breaks any laws.”

However, that same editorial said, “Police need to keep in mind the possibility that groups of this sort, when pressed too hard, can sometimes lash out dangerously.”

So Japanese authorities are engaged in a precarious balancing act, between protecting the public from a potentially unsafe group, while being sensitive to the group itself.

Even the Prime Minister of Japan weighed in and said, “I would like groups, whatever kind, not to cause inconvenience to local areas and other people,” reported Japan Today.

Of course the crucial ingredient in all this remains Yuko Chino.

Much like Aum leader Shoko Asahara, Chino is the impetus behind her group and she largely defines it. The 69-year-old woman has the power to keep Pana Wave peaceful, or act as its ignition point.

Asahi lamented the intense nonstop TV coverage of the “cult” citing this as “One of the main reasons so much attention is being drawn to this group.”

However, Chino seems to be directing her followers in a series of sensational stunts that have garnered the group increasing attention.

Maybe with so many news cameras now focused on her group, 100 police engaged in ongoing surveillance and the Japanese Prime Minister commenting about Pana Wave, Chino is satisfied and has finally received all the attention she wants.

A sensational claim was made this week by a government official in Uganda regarding infamous African cult leader Joseph Kibwetere, reports New Vision.

Kibwetere led the cult called the “Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God,” which ended its history in 2001 through a horrific mass murder/suicide that claimed the lives of hundreds of followers.

This tragedy occurred after doomsday predictions made by Kibwetere and his accomplice Credonia Mwerinde failed to materialize at the turn of the millenium.

A Ugandan elected official told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that Kibwetere altered his appearance through “plastic surgery” and now lives in Israel.

He offered no proof to support this claim.

Kibwetere and Mwerinde’s bodies were never recovered. There were persistent rumors that Mwerinde may have escaped after looting the group’s assets.

However, many believe Kibwetere is dead, though his remains have never been positively identified.

It is very doubtful that such a notorious cult leader could have successfully entered Israel, which is a country known for its tight security and carefully monitored immigration.

The Ugandan cult murder/suicide probably exceeded the number of deaths at Jonestown, making it the most horrific cult tragedy in recorded history.

But due to the lack of forensic and technical assistance available in Uganda, a true count of the dead will never be known.

“Tama-chan the “little seal with a lousy sense of direction” became a TV star in Japan. A whole series titled “The World According to Tama-chan,” chronicled the life of this ocean orphan lost in the Tama River.

The adorable mammal became a “national sweetheart” as his exploits were watched in a series of episodes on Japanese national television. He even had a fan club, reports Daily Yomiuri.

But by Episode 4, Tama-chan had some trouble from strange new fans that wanted to “rescue” him. And that “fan club” is now known as the “cult” called Pana Wave.

“Cult leader” Yuko Chino and her devoted cohorts tried to kidnap little Tama-chan. Later she would claim that the seal’s “rescue” would somehow “save humanity.”

But perhaps all Chino really had in mind was moving into the limelight generated by darling seal, rather than rescuing either Tama-chan or the human race.

Eventually the media dug a little too deep and made Chino unhappy. She then had her followers chase them off with a bulldozer.

So is Yuko Chino a dangerous doomsday cult leader, or a manipulative media hound?

Maybe she is both rolled up into one odd combination?

It wasn’t that long ago that another “cult” known as the “Raelians” burst into prime time, claiming they had produced the “first human clone.”

However, all they really ever produced was an orchestrated media blitz.

Perhaps then Chino’s fascination with Tama-chan is telling. It does seem to mirror a Raelian-like publicity stunt.

Raelian leader Claude Vorilhon (“Rael”) seems to feed his voracious ego on such self-indulgent fare. Is Chino cut from the same cloth? They are both “cult leaders,” do they have more in common?

Everything has now seemingly come around full circle. Yuko Chino and Pana Wave are now the stars of their very own media series, seen through daily news coverage.

If the cult leader craved attention, she has certainly fulfilled her dream.

But it may turn out that the odd woman in the white van, will once again not like her close up.