Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 119
control of the New Vrindaban Krishna community in Marshall County, WV. ―Krishnas aren‘t
very popular,‖ Bahktipada said when he pleaded guilty in 1996. The community, once 700
strong, was expelled from ISKCON in 1987.
The ISKCON governing body has forbidden Bhaktipada from participating in the
organization, and the manager of New Vrindaban, stressing that ISKCON has worked hard
to establish good relations with its West Virginia neighbors, said: ―There is no turning back
on our fresh start, and Kirtinananda has no part to play in our future.‖ (AP via Charleston
Daily Mail, Internet, 6/17/04 AP in Charlotte Observer, Internet, 6/18/04)
Paroled Swami Returns to Breakaway Faction
Kirtananda Swami Bhaktipada, recently paroled from prison after serving a term for
racketeering while head of the Hare Krishna community in West Virginia, has returned to
lead his splinter group, the Interfaith League of Devotees, in New York City. The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness has prohibited the 66-year-old swami
from visiting any of its temples. It earlier expelled him for ―numerous, serious illegal acts‖
as well as for deviating from its teachings and elevating himself above A.C. Bhaktivedanta,
the founder of ISKCON. (Peter Duffy, New York Times, Internet, 7/11/04)
Heartland Christian Academy
Agency Must Pay Reform School for Raid
A judge has ordered Missouri juvenile officer Michael Waddle to pay more than $800,000 in
attorneys‘ fees and expenses to Heartland Christian Academy, a private institution for
troubled youths, near Bethel. He was charged with removing 115 children from the school in
a 2001 raid following allegations that Heartland, based on strict Christian doctrine and
reliant on corporal punishment, abused students. No one at Heartland was convicted of
abuse. (AP in News Tribune [Jefferson City], Internet, 8/17/04)
Helge Fassmo/Knutby Church
Minister Gets Life in Prison
Pentecostal minister Helge Fossmo, of Knutby, Sweden, has been sentenced to life in
prison for instigating the murder of his second wife and the attempted murder of his lover‘s
husband. The family nanny, Sara Svennson, was found guilty of actually committing the
crimes under her lover Fossmo‘s influence. She was sentenced to psychiatric care. (Dodi
Axelson, The Local [Sweden], Internet, 8/6/04)
Manipulative Minister Guilty
Pentecostal minister Helge Fossmo has been found guilty of manipulating one of his
mistresses, Sara Svensson, the family nanny, to murder his wife and attempt to murder the
husband of a second mistress. The verdict held that Fossmo ―ruthlessly made use of Sara
Svensson‘s love for him and her dependency on him as a religious leader.‖
According to testimony, the case developed in the context of a bizarre religious community
in the town of Knutby, controlled by a woman who became known as ―Christ‘s Bride‖ after
she was ceremonially engaged to Jesus. The religious community‘s ministers are accused of
controlling the lives of members, sometimes using modern technology — Svensson says she
received anonymous messages, sent as e-mail by Fossmo, urging her to murder the
victims. She believed the messages were from God. (Reuters on CNN News, Internet,
7/30/04)
control of the New Vrindaban Krishna community in Marshall County, WV. ―Krishnas aren‘t
very popular,‖ Bahktipada said when he pleaded guilty in 1996. The community, once 700
strong, was expelled from ISKCON in 1987.
The ISKCON governing body has forbidden Bhaktipada from participating in the
organization, and the manager of New Vrindaban, stressing that ISKCON has worked hard
to establish good relations with its West Virginia neighbors, said: ―There is no turning back
on our fresh start, and Kirtinananda has no part to play in our future.‖ (AP via Charleston
Daily Mail, Internet, 6/17/04 AP in Charlotte Observer, Internet, 6/18/04)
Paroled Swami Returns to Breakaway Faction
Kirtananda Swami Bhaktipada, recently paroled from prison after serving a term for
racketeering while head of the Hare Krishna community in West Virginia, has returned to
lead his splinter group, the Interfaith League of Devotees, in New York City. The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness has prohibited the 66-year-old swami
from visiting any of its temples. It earlier expelled him for ―numerous, serious illegal acts‖
as well as for deviating from its teachings and elevating himself above A.C. Bhaktivedanta,
the founder of ISKCON. (Peter Duffy, New York Times, Internet, 7/11/04)
Heartland Christian Academy
Agency Must Pay Reform School for Raid
A judge has ordered Missouri juvenile officer Michael Waddle to pay more than $800,000 in
attorneys‘ fees and expenses to Heartland Christian Academy, a private institution for
troubled youths, near Bethel. He was charged with removing 115 children from the school in
a 2001 raid following allegations that Heartland, based on strict Christian doctrine and
reliant on corporal punishment, abused students. No one at Heartland was convicted of
abuse. (AP in News Tribune [Jefferson City], Internet, 8/17/04)
Helge Fassmo/Knutby Church
Minister Gets Life in Prison
Pentecostal minister Helge Fossmo, of Knutby, Sweden, has been sentenced to life in
prison for instigating the murder of his second wife and the attempted murder of his lover‘s
husband. The family nanny, Sara Svennson, was found guilty of actually committing the
crimes under her lover Fossmo‘s influence. She was sentenced to psychiatric care. (Dodi
Axelson, The Local [Sweden], Internet, 8/6/04)
Manipulative Minister Guilty
Pentecostal minister Helge Fossmo has been found guilty of manipulating one of his
mistresses, Sara Svensson, the family nanny, to murder his wife and attempt to murder the
husband of a second mistress. The verdict held that Fossmo ―ruthlessly made use of Sara
Svensson‘s love for him and her dependency on him as a religious leader.‖
According to testimony, the case developed in the context of a bizarre religious community
in the town of Knutby, controlled by a woman who became known as ―Christ‘s Bride‖ after
she was ceremonially engaged to Jesus. The religious community‘s ministers are accused of
controlling the lives of members, sometimes using modern technology — Svensson says she
received anonymous messages, sent as e-mail by Fossmo, urging her to murder the
victims. She believed the messages were from God. (Reuters on CNN News, Internet,
7/30/04)
