Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 96
Attorney General prohibited ESP head Keith Raniere — now called ―Vanguard‖ by ESP
students — from running a chain distribution business after a former company collapsed
under the weight of federal allegations that it was a pyramid scheme.
Some neighbors in the town of Halfmoon have organized to protest ESP plans to build a
facility. One neighbor said the ESP members he met at an unauthorized groundbreaking ―all
have that monotone voice. They were dressed up in business suits, fancy dresses. One
person there was in a wedding dress. They told us it was their property and they'd do as
they please," Tammy Quinn said. "I don't want them anywhere in the area.‖ (Dennis Yusko,
Albany Times Union, Internet, 8/8/03)
Faith Healing
Baby Dies from Kidney Infection
Four-moth-old Caleb Tribble died in December at his rural home near Pakotai, New Zealand,
of an untreated kidney infection. His grandfather, John Tribble, a ―faith healer,‖ prayed for
Caleb and felt he was improving just before the infant died.
Caleb‘s mother said: ―I don‘t have any regrets. I do my best. I‘m just so grateful to have
had four wonderful months with him. He was lent to us for a purpose. I can only say I
believe he is in God‘s hands now. It is God‘s will.‖ Caleb was one of eight children. The older
ones take correspondence lessons at home rather than attend a local school 6 miles away.
(New Zealand Press Association, Internet, 12/11/03)
Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith
Exorcism Banned
Ray Hemphill, minister of the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, has been
ordered, as condition of bail, not to perform any more exorcisms or spiritual healing. He had
been charged with felony child abuse in the death of 9-year-old Terrence Cottrell, who died
of suffocation during a prayer session calculated to release ―demons‖ from the child. (AP in
New York Times, Internet, 8/28/03)
False Memory
Disciplined Doctor Practicing Again
Psychiatrist Bennett Braun, who in 1999 lost his license to practice in Illinois for two years
for allegedly using drugs and hypnosis to persuade a family falsely that they had been
involved in cannibalistic and satanic cults, has resumed his practice, in Helena, MT.
Patient Patty Burgus sued Braun for persuading her that she had 300 personalities, ate
human flesh meatloaf, and was a high priestess in a satanic cult. She eventually sued him
and got a multi-million dollar settlement, but Braun in turn sued his insurer, saying the
settlement was made over his objections and violated his policy [sic]. Braun, who has since
regained his Illinois license, says he didn‘t contest the suspension because he had become
physically and financially exhausted. (Bon Anez, AP, Internet, 10/16/03)
Court Rules Memories May Be Flawed
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has, for the first time, ruled that repeated questioning by
social workers and police may induce children to report false memories of molestation.
Therefore, the court said, defendants are entitled to a pre-trial hearing to try to show the
children‘s testimony may be tainted and suggest they may be incompetent to testify.
―Common experience informs us,‖ the court said, ―that children are, by their very essence,
fanciful creatures who have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality who when asked a
question want to give the 'right' answer, the answer that pleases the interrogator who are
Attorney General prohibited ESP head Keith Raniere — now called ―Vanguard‖ by ESP
students — from running a chain distribution business after a former company collapsed
under the weight of federal allegations that it was a pyramid scheme.
Some neighbors in the town of Halfmoon have organized to protest ESP plans to build a
facility. One neighbor said the ESP members he met at an unauthorized groundbreaking ―all
have that monotone voice. They were dressed up in business suits, fancy dresses. One
person there was in a wedding dress. They told us it was their property and they'd do as
they please," Tammy Quinn said. "I don't want them anywhere in the area.‖ (Dennis Yusko,
Albany Times Union, Internet, 8/8/03)
Faith Healing
Baby Dies from Kidney Infection
Four-moth-old Caleb Tribble died in December at his rural home near Pakotai, New Zealand,
of an untreated kidney infection. His grandfather, John Tribble, a ―faith healer,‖ prayed for
Caleb and felt he was improving just before the infant died.
Caleb‘s mother said: ―I don‘t have any regrets. I do my best. I‘m just so grateful to have
had four wonderful months with him. He was lent to us for a purpose. I can only say I
believe he is in God‘s hands now. It is God‘s will.‖ Caleb was one of eight children. The older
ones take correspondence lessons at home rather than attend a local school 6 miles away.
(New Zealand Press Association, Internet, 12/11/03)
Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith
Exorcism Banned
Ray Hemphill, minister of the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, has been
ordered, as condition of bail, not to perform any more exorcisms or spiritual healing. He had
been charged with felony child abuse in the death of 9-year-old Terrence Cottrell, who died
of suffocation during a prayer session calculated to release ―demons‖ from the child. (AP in
New York Times, Internet, 8/28/03)
False Memory
Disciplined Doctor Practicing Again
Psychiatrist Bennett Braun, who in 1999 lost his license to practice in Illinois for two years
for allegedly using drugs and hypnosis to persuade a family falsely that they had been
involved in cannibalistic and satanic cults, has resumed his practice, in Helena, MT.
Patient Patty Burgus sued Braun for persuading her that she had 300 personalities, ate
human flesh meatloaf, and was a high priestess in a satanic cult. She eventually sued him
and got a multi-million dollar settlement, but Braun in turn sued his insurer, saying the
settlement was made over his objections and violated his policy [sic]. Braun, who has since
regained his Illinois license, says he didn‘t contest the suspension because he had become
physically and financially exhausted. (Bon Anez, AP, Internet, 10/16/03)
Court Rules Memories May Be Flawed
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has, for the first time, ruled that repeated questioning by
social workers and police may induce children to report false memories of molestation.
Therefore, the court said, defendants are entitled to a pre-trial hearing to try to show the
children‘s testimony may be tainted and suggest they may be incompetent to testify.
―Common experience informs us,‖ the court said, ―that children are, by their very essence,
fanciful creatures who have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality who when asked a
question want to give the 'right' answer, the answer that pleases the interrogator who are
