Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 27
Info-Cult‘s funding comes in the form of an annual grant from the Quebec Ministry of Health
and Social Services, discretionary funds from different Provincial Ministers, foundations,
private groups, and individual donations, as well as fees for certain services.
Info-Cult‘s clientele has greatly expanded through the years. Besides parents, ex-members,
students and teachers, clientele now includes members of different new religions,
academics, mental health professionals, attorneys, law enforcement, media and others.
From 1990 to 2003 Info-Cult has had numerous contacts and meetings with members and
representatives of ―cult‖ groups, spiritual organizations, and new religious movements.
Increasing interest and communication from academics with varying viewpoints has helped
to broaden Info-Cult‘s analysis and perspective on the issue.
Info-Cult is the only full-time organization of its kind in Canada. It houses a documentation
center that is one of the largest in the world with over 2,500 books, 9,000 files, academic
reports, journals, newsletters, government and legal documents and more than 1,200
programs on audio and video cassettes. The material is collected from sources around the
world and includes group-generated and critical literature.
From 1991 to 1996 the documentation center was open by appointment to all interested
parties. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, it is open on a restricted basis until such
time as a process of reopening to the public is considered feasible.
Info-Cult is widely regarded as a major source of information and assistance for dealing with
cults, new religions, Satanism, the Occult and other non-traditional and secretive groups.
With this reputation comes enormous responsibility to respond to individual and family
concerns in a nuanced and balanced way. Info-Cult avoids simplistic ―yes‖ or ―no‖ responses
to complex questions such as ―Is Group X a cult?‖ or ―Is the group my loved-one joined
dangerous?‖
Although Info-Cult has evolved over the years, certain positions on accessibility, kidnapping,
and legislation have remained constant:
Info-Cult has always operated out of a known location and is easily reachable by
phone.
Contrary to a popular belief concerning ―anti-cult‖ groups, Info-Cult has not
supported or assisted in the use of coercive measures to remove someone from a
group. In situations where Info-Cult has been asked about that option, we have
consistently counseled against it and have suggested non-coercive alternatives.
Existing laws are sufficient in dealing with the multiple problems associated with
―cults‖ and cultic groups. See:
http://www.math.mcgill.ca/triples/infocult/RESPONSE.htm.
Examples for Controversy
Labeled as an ―anti-cult group,‖ Info-Cult has been the target of inaccuracies that hinder our
mandate, which is to serve the public and promote balanced discussion of the issues.
Selected examples are presented to illustrate this point:
Order of the Solar Temple (OTS)
Members of the OTS created a world-wide sensation with the death of fifty-three members
in Switzerland in October 1994, sixteen members in France in December 1995, and five
people in Quebec in March 1997 (see Mayer, 1999, for a scholarly analysis of the Solar
Temple deaths).
Info-Cult‘s funding comes in the form of an annual grant from the Quebec Ministry of Health
and Social Services, discretionary funds from different Provincial Ministers, foundations,
private groups, and individual donations, as well as fees for certain services.
Info-Cult‘s clientele has greatly expanded through the years. Besides parents, ex-members,
students and teachers, clientele now includes members of different new religions,
academics, mental health professionals, attorneys, law enforcement, media and others.
From 1990 to 2003 Info-Cult has had numerous contacts and meetings with members and
representatives of ―cult‖ groups, spiritual organizations, and new religious movements.
Increasing interest and communication from academics with varying viewpoints has helped
to broaden Info-Cult‘s analysis and perspective on the issue.
Info-Cult is the only full-time organization of its kind in Canada. It houses a documentation
center that is one of the largest in the world with over 2,500 books, 9,000 files, academic
reports, journals, newsletters, government and legal documents and more than 1,200
programs on audio and video cassettes. The material is collected from sources around the
world and includes group-generated and critical literature.
From 1991 to 1996 the documentation center was open by appointment to all interested
parties. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, it is open on a restricted basis until such
time as a process of reopening to the public is considered feasible.
Info-Cult is widely regarded as a major source of information and assistance for dealing with
cults, new religions, Satanism, the Occult and other non-traditional and secretive groups.
With this reputation comes enormous responsibility to respond to individual and family
concerns in a nuanced and balanced way. Info-Cult avoids simplistic ―yes‖ or ―no‖ responses
to complex questions such as ―Is Group X a cult?‖ or ―Is the group my loved-one joined
dangerous?‖
Although Info-Cult has evolved over the years, certain positions on accessibility, kidnapping,
and legislation have remained constant:
Info-Cult has always operated out of a known location and is easily reachable by
phone.
Contrary to a popular belief concerning ―anti-cult‖ groups, Info-Cult has not
supported or assisted in the use of coercive measures to remove someone from a
group. In situations where Info-Cult has been asked about that option, we have
consistently counseled against it and have suggested non-coercive alternatives.
Existing laws are sufficient in dealing with the multiple problems associated with
―cults‖ and cultic groups. See:
http://www.math.mcgill.ca/triples/infocult/RESPONSE.htm.
Examples for Controversy
Labeled as an ―anti-cult group,‖ Info-Cult has been the target of inaccuracies that hinder our
mandate, which is to serve the public and promote balanced discussion of the issues.
Selected examples are presented to illustrate this point:
Order of the Solar Temple (OTS)
Members of the OTS created a world-wide sensation with the death of fifty-three members
in Switzerland in October 1994, sixteen members in France in December 1995, and five
people in Quebec in March 1997 (see Mayer, 1999, for a scholarly analysis of the Solar
Temple deaths).
