Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 54
Reiji Kiraku Nijo-kai
Guru Duped Followers
The female guru Emiko Hirabashi has been sentenced to a 6-year jail term for talking a
woman follower out of more than $1 million by telling her: ―Banks will go under anytime
now. It‘s much safer to entrust the money to me. I have to purify the money to revitalize
your fortune.‖ Hirabashi used the money to cover her debts. The judge said that she
―exploited the victim‘s unsettled personal situation.‖ (Mainichi Shimbun, 5/7/03)
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus
Judge Returns Children to Parents
A Philippines family court judge ordered 14 children returned to their parents in the Salva
Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus ―cult,‖ saying: ―Do not neglect your children. Your children
are not your personal property. If your beliefs interfere with their rights to normal lives, the
government will certainly intervene.‖
The order is considered a setback for the Cebu City government‘s effort to place the children
in protective custody. The social services department acted in the first place following
reports that the children in the group, which is led by the charismatic Alfredo Verano, live
in squalid conditions in the Buhisan neighborhood without proper nourishment, and that
they are kept from attending school. Authorities also allege that the children are forced to
dig the tunnels in which members live. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr., Manila Bulletin Internet,
1/27/03)
The Cebu Sun reports that Salve Me—the full name means ―Father, save us from all our
offenses‖— numbers about 30 ―long haired men, women and children,‖ who live in caves
and wooden houses five stories high on a mountain overlooking the city and wait for the
―heavens to rain fire and brimstone.‖ Children as young as nine are involved in carving out
beds, tables, and chairs in the cave homes that the group is building. Some Buhisan
residents say that Verano treats female followers, including minors, as ―sex slaves,‖ and
150 have signed a petition demanding that the group be ejected from the neighborhood.
(Lorenzo P. Ninal, Cebu Sun,Internet, 1/9/03)
Scientology
Billionaire Meets with Tom Cruise
Australian media tycoon Jamie Packer, heir to a $7 billion fortune, and wooed by
Scientology, had been seeing his ―spiritual mentor‖ Tom Cruise. The star, said to be a
highly-ranked ―Operating Thetan‖ in the ―cult,‖ met with Packer in New Zealand, where he
is filming ―The Last Samurai.‖ Cruise is believed to have introduced Packer to the teachings
of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard following the collapse of the Australian‘s marriage
last year. (Daily Mail, London, Internet, 1/14/03)
Accused of Packing Polls
Joe Shea, a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, who edits an Internet newspaper called
American Reporter, says that he lost his bid to become a member of the Hollywood
Neighborhood Council when Scientologists ―descended by the busload‖ on the polling
station to ensure that fellow Scientologists would be elected. A Scientology spokesman
criticized Shea for referring to the voters‘ religious backgrounds, and denied that there was
an official Scientology list of candidates. (Daily News, Los Angeles, Internet, 2/15/03)
―Religion‖ Status Appeal Withdrawn
Scientology in Greece withdrew in December its appeal of court and government decisions
that denied the organization recognition as a religious institution. A 1997 court decision that
Reiji Kiraku Nijo-kai
Guru Duped Followers
The female guru Emiko Hirabashi has been sentenced to a 6-year jail term for talking a
woman follower out of more than $1 million by telling her: ―Banks will go under anytime
now. It‘s much safer to entrust the money to me. I have to purify the money to revitalize
your fortune.‖ Hirabashi used the money to cover her debts. The judge said that she
―exploited the victim‘s unsettled personal situation.‖ (Mainichi Shimbun, 5/7/03)
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus
Judge Returns Children to Parents
A Philippines family court judge ordered 14 children returned to their parents in the Salva
Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus ―cult,‖ saying: ―Do not neglect your children. Your children
are not your personal property. If your beliefs interfere with their rights to normal lives, the
government will certainly intervene.‖
The order is considered a setback for the Cebu City government‘s effort to place the children
in protective custody. The social services department acted in the first place following
reports that the children in the group, which is led by the charismatic Alfredo Verano, live
in squalid conditions in the Buhisan neighborhood without proper nourishment, and that
they are kept from attending school. Authorities also allege that the children are forced to
dig the tunnels in which members live. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr., Manila Bulletin Internet,
1/27/03)
The Cebu Sun reports that Salve Me—the full name means ―Father, save us from all our
offenses‖— numbers about 30 ―long haired men, women and children,‖ who live in caves
and wooden houses five stories high on a mountain overlooking the city and wait for the
―heavens to rain fire and brimstone.‖ Children as young as nine are involved in carving out
beds, tables, and chairs in the cave homes that the group is building. Some Buhisan
residents say that Verano treats female followers, including minors, as ―sex slaves,‖ and
150 have signed a petition demanding that the group be ejected from the neighborhood.
(Lorenzo P. Ninal, Cebu Sun,Internet, 1/9/03)
Scientology
Billionaire Meets with Tom Cruise
Australian media tycoon Jamie Packer, heir to a $7 billion fortune, and wooed by
Scientology, had been seeing his ―spiritual mentor‖ Tom Cruise. The star, said to be a
highly-ranked ―Operating Thetan‖ in the ―cult,‖ met with Packer in New Zealand, where he
is filming ―The Last Samurai.‖ Cruise is believed to have introduced Packer to the teachings
of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard following the collapse of the Australian‘s marriage
last year. (Daily Mail, London, Internet, 1/14/03)
Accused of Packing Polls
Joe Shea, a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, who edits an Internet newspaper called
American Reporter, says that he lost his bid to become a member of the Hollywood
Neighborhood Council when Scientologists ―descended by the busload‖ on the polling
station to ensure that fellow Scientologists would be elected. A Scientology spokesman
criticized Shea for referring to the voters‘ religious backgrounds, and denied that there was
an official Scientology list of candidates. (Daily News, Los Angeles, Internet, 2/15/03)
―Religion‖ Status Appeal Withdrawn
Scientology in Greece withdrew in December its appeal of court and government decisions
that denied the organization recognition as a religious institution. A 1997 court decision that
