Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 110
alleged that he joined his charismatic older brother and leader, Glenn Helzer, to murder an
elderly couple in preparation for Christ‘s return. The defense argued that Justin suffered
from the rare ―shared delusional disorder‖ and should have been declared insane. (AP,
Internet, 7/16/04)
David Francis
Failed Resurrection Subject Buried
After some eight weeks at home, then in a mortuary, and then back home, while his wife
and some of his relatives prayed for a resurrection promised by part-time minister and
―prophet‖ David Francis, the late Paul Meintjes was buried in Herzogville, Orange Free
State, South Africa. Police removed the body from the Mientjes home saying it posed a
health hazard. Francis, who fixes leaking roofs in Durban for a living, has stayed at his own
home, out of sight, with the phone unplugged. (Edwin Naidu, Sunday Independent, South
Africa, Internet, 8/22/04 Andre Gobler, SAPA [South Africa], Internet, 8/25/04)
Église du Centre-ville
Claims 10-Year Old Knew What She Was Doing
The unnamed leader of a small Montreal-area sect, L’Église du Centre-ville, who took a
10-year-old as a wife six years ago, says: ―In my mind, she understood what she was doing
very, very well. The proof is that she stayed in the relationship for many years. He also says
he has a marriage certificate, signed by a fellow pastor, who legalized the union. The girl
testified at a hearing that he molested her. (Allison Hanes, Montreal Gazette, Internet,
8/19/04)
Exclusive Brethren
Settlement with Accuser
The secretive Exclusive Brethren, in Australia, has dropped a $50,000 suit against
―exiled‖ former member John Wallis who, they said, alleged in a letter that the group
divided families. Moreover, the church paid Wallis $25,000 to settle his counter suit. ―The
church needs to understand,‖ said Wallis, ―that it no longer has control over what I do or
say.‖ The Brethren claim Wallis has harassed members and made false statements about
their religion.
The [unnamed] Brethren world leader is based in Sydney, and there are several hundred
followers in Perth. Members, who are born into the church, believe that the outside world is
corrupt. Wallis was first expelled for buying his family a set of encyclopedias. (Jim Kelley,
Sunday Times [Australia], Internet, 8/8/04)
Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith
Exorcist Sentenced
Milwaukee minister Ray Anthony Hemphill, of the Faith Temple Apostolic Church, has
been sentenced to 30 months in prison and seven-and-a-half years in prison for presiding
over the exorcism of an 8-year-old who died in the process. He has also been barred for
trying any exorcisms for the next 10 years. The judge said extended supervision was
needed to protect Milwaukee form Hemphill‘s unorthodox practices. (Derrick Nunnally,
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Internet, 8/17/04)
alleged that he joined his charismatic older brother and leader, Glenn Helzer, to murder an
elderly couple in preparation for Christ‘s return. The defense argued that Justin suffered
from the rare ―shared delusional disorder‖ and should have been declared insane. (AP,
Internet, 7/16/04)
David Francis
Failed Resurrection Subject Buried
After some eight weeks at home, then in a mortuary, and then back home, while his wife
and some of his relatives prayed for a resurrection promised by part-time minister and
―prophet‖ David Francis, the late Paul Meintjes was buried in Herzogville, Orange Free
State, South Africa. Police removed the body from the Mientjes home saying it posed a
health hazard. Francis, who fixes leaking roofs in Durban for a living, has stayed at his own
home, out of sight, with the phone unplugged. (Edwin Naidu, Sunday Independent, South
Africa, Internet, 8/22/04 Andre Gobler, SAPA [South Africa], Internet, 8/25/04)
Église du Centre-ville
Claims 10-Year Old Knew What She Was Doing
The unnamed leader of a small Montreal-area sect, L’Église du Centre-ville, who took a
10-year-old as a wife six years ago, says: ―In my mind, she understood what she was doing
very, very well. The proof is that she stayed in the relationship for many years. He also says
he has a marriage certificate, signed by a fellow pastor, who legalized the union. The girl
testified at a hearing that he molested her. (Allison Hanes, Montreal Gazette, Internet,
8/19/04)
Exclusive Brethren
Settlement with Accuser
The secretive Exclusive Brethren, in Australia, has dropped a $50,000 suit against
―exiled‖ former member John Wallis who, they said, alleged in a letter that the group
divided families. Moreover, the church paid Wallis $25,000 to settle his counter suit. ―The
church needs to understand,‖ said Wallis, ―that it no longer has control over what I do or
say.‖ The Brethren claim Wallis has harassed members and made false statements about
their religion.
The [unnamed] Brethren world leader is based in Sydney, and there are several hundred
followers in Perth. Members, who are born into the church, believe that the outside world is
corrupt. Wallis was first expelled for buying his family a set of encyclopedias. (Jim Kelley,
Sunday Times [Australia], Internet, 8/8/04)
Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith
Exorcist Sentenced
Milwaukee minister Ray Anthony Hemphill, of the Faith Temple Apostolic Church, has
been sentenced to 30 months in prison and seven-and-a-half years in prison for presiding
over the exorcism of an 8-year-old who died in the process. He has also been barred for
trying any exorcisms for the next 10 years. The judge said extended supervision was
needed to protect Milwaukee form Hemphill‘s unorthodox practices. (Derrick Nunnally,
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Internet, 8/17/04)
