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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)

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Falun Gong
Psychiatric Abuse against Practitioners Alleged
The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has postponed its investigation of allegations of
psychiatric abuse of Falun Gong practitioners by authorities. Chinese officials say Falun
Gong practitioners are psychotic, homicidal, and suicidal, but Falun Gong USA says healthy
practitioners are put into psychiatric facilities where they are given electric shocks and high
doses of psychotropic drugs that cause slurred speech, paralysis, and even death. (Nathea
Lee, Epoch Times, Internet, 5/2/04)
The Family
Suit Alleges Long-term Psychological Injuries
Anouree Crawford, 34, removed along with a number of other youths in 1987 by police from
the Victoria (Australia) cult known as The Family, has sued leader Anne Hamilton-Byrne
for the psychological disorder Crawford says stems from her treatment in the group.
Crawford alleges her experience included denial of adequate food, education, and
socialization as well as emotional, physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. (ABC News,
Australia, Internet, 7/16/04)
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Mormon Leader Rejects Blackmore
Wayne Bourne, a high priest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, says that
Winston Blackmore, leader of a breakaway faction of the Fundamentalist Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — itself is an offshoot of the mainline Mormon church
— ―has false and foolish notions about polygamy,‖ and that Blackmore‘s religion ―has as
much to do with the Church of Latter-day Saints [Mormons] as Martin Luther has to do with
Catholicism.‖ Blackmore, whose grandfather was excommunicated from the Mormon church
in the late 19th century, lives with 20 wives and 500 followers in Bountiful, British
Columbia. (Mike D‘Amour, Calgary Sun, 7/28/04)
Jeffs Banishes More Followers
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs,
who banished 21 male followers in January, telling them to leave their wives and children
behind, has reportedly cast out eight more. Since the earlier expulsions from the
polygamous communities of Hilldale, UT, and neighboring Colorado City, CO, law
enforcement authorities have increased patrols in the area, and social service agencies have
said they‘re ready to help anyone who wants to leave the towns.
The recently expelled include Truman Barlow, son of the late polygamous prophet John Y.
Barlow. Former member Richard Holm, once the Colorado City mayor, whom Jeffs ousted
from the church last year, says of the community: ―It seems quiet [but] there‘s a lot of
fear.‖ (Pamela Manson, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 7/28/04)
Sexual Assault Allegedly Called God’s Work
Brent Jeffs, a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, has accused three of his uncles, including church leader Warren Jeffs, of
sexually assaulting him on numerous occasions at a church school when he was a child. He
says they told him that what they had done was ―God‘s work,‖ a way to make him a man,
and that if he told anyone he would suffer the pain of eternal damnation. (Pamela Manson,
Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 7/30/04)