Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 50
Church of Bible Understanding (COBU)
COBU Numbers Diminishing
The Church of Bible Understanding has dwindled to a few hundred members at most,
according to observers. Some of them live in and around the group‘s large Scranton, PA,
architectural artifacts business warehouse. Ex-members, supported by psychiatric
counselors, say that COBU, which also runs three orphanages in Haiti, remains a destructive
cult devoted to founder Stewart Traill. (Christopher J. Kelly, Scranton Tribune, Internet,
2/9/03)
Hare Krishna (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Airport Solicitation Restrictions Re-imposed
A federal judge has refused to continue blocking enforcement of the Los Angeles
International Airport anti-solicitation law despite appeals from the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna). Authorities say that the Krishna solicitors were
annoying passengers and required them to remain in small, cordoned-off ―booths‖ in the
passenger terminals. The Krishnas claimed that the law was unconstitutional because the
booths were in out-of-the-way places. (AP, Internet, 3/18/03)
Seeking Chapter 11 Reorganization
Eleven temples of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna)
were to have filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy reorganization on April 30. A $400 million
lawsuit against them for abuse in their boarding schools in the 1970s and 1980s was
dismissed in 2000, but similar charges were filed in Texas State court in 2001. The temples
say that the damages sought are greater than their collective assets and if awarded would
destroy their religious communities. The reorganization plan provides compensation for
youths who were abused at the schools but chose not to sue. (Business Wire, Internet,
4/29/03)
House of Prayer
Lawsuit Filed
The House of Prayer, some of whose members were convicted of child abuse last year,
have filed a federal lawsuit charging that when the state took some of its children into
protective custody, it sent them to foster homes and institutions more abusive than their
families‘ homes. The suit details the alleged abuse and says that police used excessive
force and injured some children when they took them into custody.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of the House of Prayer Leader,
the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr., because he has not complied with the terms of his court-
ordered counseling. (Jill Young Miller, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Internet, 3/1/03)
Rev. Allen Still Missing from Probation Hearing
Rev. Arthur Allen, head of the House of Prayer, convicted of cruelty for his punishment
of children in the church, has been ―missing‖ for two months and recently failed to attend a
probation hearing. Nor has he been in touch with his probation officer in Atlanta. (Kevin
Rowson, 11 Alive, WXIA, Internet, 5/13/03)
International Churches of Christ/Boston Movement
Reforms Announced
The South Florida branch of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) [in the wake of
the resignation of worldwide leader Kip McKean] says that the ICOC ―discipleship‖ policy, in
which senior members shepherd more junior members, became less a matter of ―advice‖
Church of Bible Understanding (COBU)
COBU Numbers Diminishing
The Church of Bible Understanding has dwindled to a few hundred members at most,
according to observers. Some of them live in and around the group‘s large Scranton, PA,
architectural artifacts business warehouse. Ex-members, supported by psychiatric
counselors, say that COBU, which also runs three orphanages in Haiti, remains a destructive
cult devoted to founder Stewart Traill. (Christopher J. Kelly, Scranton Tribune, Internet,
2/9/03)
Hare Krishna (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Airport Solicitation Restrictions Re-imposed
A federal judge has refused to continue blocking enforcement of the Los Angeles
International Airport anti-solicitation law despite appeals from the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna). Authorities say that the Krishna solicitors were
annoying passengers and required them to remain in small, cordoned-off ―booths‖ in the
passenger terminals. The Krishnas claimed that the law was unconstitutional because the
booths were in out-of-the-way places. (AP, Internet, 3/18/03)
Seeking Chapter 11 Reorganization
Eleven temples of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna)
were to have filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy reorganization on April 30. A $400 million
lawsuit against them for abuse in their boarding schools in the 1970s and 1980s was
dismissed in 2000, but similar charges were filed in Texas State court in 2001. The temples
say that the damages sought are greater than their collective assets and if awarded would
destroy their religious communities. The reorganization plan provides compensation for
youths who were abused at the schools but chose not to sue. (Business Wire, Internet,
4/29/03)
House of Prayer
Lawsuit Filed
The House of Prayer, some of whose members were convicted of child abuse last year,
have filed a federal lawsuit charging that when the state took some of its children into
protective custody, it sent them to foster homes and institutions more abusive than their
families‘ homes. The suit details the alleged abuse and says that police used excessive
force and injured some children when they took them into custody.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of the House of Prayer Leader,
the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr., because he has not complied with the terms of his court-
ordered counseling. (Jill Young Miller, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Internet, 3/1/03)
Rev. Allen Still Missing from Probation Hearing
Rev. Arthur Allen, head of the House of Prayer, convicted of cruelty for his punishment
of children in the church, has been ―missing‖ for two months and recently failed to attend a
probation hearing. Nor has he been in touch with his probation officer in Atlanta. (Kevin
Rowson, 11 Alive, WXIA, Internet, 5/13/03)
International Churches of Christ/Boston Movement
Reforms Announced
The South Florida branch of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) [in the wake of
the resignation of worldwide leader Kip McKean] says that the ICOC ―discipleship‖ policy, in
which senior members shepherd more junior members, became less a matter of ―advice‖
