Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 93
the contrast between what our legal obligation is under the Independent Schools Act and
what people‘s concerns are over the moral questions and the legal questions involved in
polygamy, which is quite different from what the ministry is mandated for,‖ she said.
British Columbia in 1992 decided not to prosecute two polygamists from Bountiful and ruled
that the Criminal Code section outlawing polygamy was unconstitutional. (Camille Bains,
Canadian Press, Internet, 7/2/03)
Charles Manson
Ex-Follower Sues California Governor
Imprisoned former Charles Mason follower Susan Atkins has sued California Governor Gray
Davis saying that his opposition to parole for nearly all convicted murderers has made her a
―political prisoner.‖ Atkins, who maintains her innocence, has been denied parole ten times
since her conviction thirty years ago. (AP, Internet, 6/1/03)
Christ’s Church/International Churches of Christ
Proselytizing in Russia
Christ’s Church, an arm of the U.S.-based International Chuches of Christ, is active in
Russia. The author of this article became especially interested in the group when she met a
college acquaintance who had changed since graduation from a smoking-drinking-girl-
chasing guy into a very sober and totally devoted member of the new church.
According to sources, members pay 10–15 percent of their income to the church and are
organized in a pyramidal structure, where ―each mentor has several pupils whose lives he
scrupulously controls.‖ Members‘ ―spiritual and intellectual outlook becomes reduced,‖ they
break with friends and relatives, including parents, and ―experience abnormal psyche [sic]
changes.‖
An expert from the Rostov Committee for Internation [sic] Relations, Religion and the
Cossacks, Vladimir Papov, says parents have reported children dropping out of school after
attending Christ‘s Church sessions. (Viktoria Steklova, Pravda, Internet, 9/11/03)
Faith in God Christian Deliverance Church
Raid to Investigate Child Abuse
SWAT teams and detectives have raided Kissimmee, FL, apartments rented by the Faith in
God Christian Deliverance Church and removed a dozen children to examine them for signs
of abuse. They also searched the Osceola home of church pastor Jack Russell Jones, who
denied the abuse charges. Former members say that the alleged abuse was sometimes the
result of attempts to drive out demons. (WESH TV News, Internet, 6/5/03)
Fundamentalist Child Abuse
Pastor Faces 30 Years for "Holy Spankings"
New Haven, CT, pastor The Rev. Walter Oliver has been charged with assault and risk of
injury for beating two children in his congregation in Jesus‘ name. The ―holy spanking‖ was
administered, he says, according to the adage, ―Spare the rod and spoil the child.‖ He
added that he punished the children with their mother‘s permission and in his official
capacity. Neither of the children was bloodied or seriously injured, although prosecutors say
the beatings left marks on their bodies. They say they are treating the incident as child
abuse without reference to religious freedom. (AP in New York Post, Internet, 11/3/03)
the contrast between what our legal obligation is under the Independent Schools Act and
what people‘s concerns are over the moral questions and the legal questions involved in
polygamy, which is quite different from what the ministry is mandated for,‖ she said.
British Columbia in 1992 decided not to prosecute two polygamists from Bountiful and ruled
that the Criminal Code section outlawing polygamy was unconstitutional. (Camille Bains,
Canadian Press, Internet, 7/2/03)
Charles Manson
Ex-Follower Sues California Governor
Imprisoned former Charles Mason follower Susan Atkins has sued California Governor Gray
Davis saying that his opposition to parole for nearly all convicted murderers has made her a
―political prisoner.‖ Atkins, who maintains her innocence, has been denied parole ten times
since her conviction thirty years ago. (AP, Internet, 6/1/03)
Christ’s Church/International Churches of Christ
Proselytizing in Russia
Christ’s Church, an arm of the U.S.-based International Chuches of Christ, is active in
Russia. The author of this article became especially interested in the group when she met a
college acquaintance who had changed since graduation from a smoking-drinking-girl-
chasing guy into a very sober and totally devoted member of the new church.
According to sources, members pay 10–15 percent of their income to the church and are
organized in a pyramidal structure, where ―each mentor has several pupils whose lives he
scrupulously controls.‖ Members‘ ―spiritual and intellectual outlook becomes reduced,‖ they
break with friends and relatives, including parents, and ―experience abnormal psyche [sic]
changes.‖
An expert from the Rostov Committee for Internation [sic] Relations, Religion and the
Cossacks, Vladimir Papov, says parents have reported children dropping out of school after
attending Christ‘s Church sessions. (Viktoria Steklova, Pravda, Internet, 9/11/03)
Faith in God Christian Deliverance Church
Raid to Investigate Child Abuse
SWAT teams and detectives have raided Kissimmee, FL, apartments rented by the Faith in
God Christian Deliverance Church and removed a dozen children to examine them for signs
of abuse. They also searched the Osceola home of church pastor Jack Russell Jones, who
denied the abuse charges. Former members say that the alleged abuse was sometimes the
result of attempts to drive out demons. (WESH TV News, Internet, 6/5/03)
Fundamentalist Child Abuse
Pastor Faces 30 Years for "Holy Spankings"
New Haven, CT, pastor The Rev. Walter Oliver has been charged with assault and risk of
injury for beating two children in his congregation in Jesus‘ name. The ―holy spanking‖ was
administered, he says, according to the adage, ―Spare the rod and spoil the child.‖ He
added that he punished the children with their mother‘s permission and in his official
capacity. Neither of the children was bloodied or seriously injured, although prosecutors say
the beatings left marks on their bodies. They say they are treating the incident as child
abuse without reference to religious freedom. (AP in New York Post, Internet, 11/3/03)
