Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 121
request of doctors to transfuse, said the hospital had a compelling interest in preserving the
child‘s life that outweighed the parents‘ right to exercise their religious beliefs. (Fox30
News, Internet, 5/12/04)
Judge Says Transfusion Violated Rights
Court of Queen‘s Bench Justice Adele Kent said, in Calgary, BC, that physicians violated the
rights of a Jehovah’s Witnesses couple when they insisted on giving a religiously
proscribed blood transfusion to a new born when the parents requested antibiotics, instead.
The parents‘ lawyer argued before the judge that the social services department, which
approved the transfusions, denied the couple the right to bring in two expert neonatologists
who felt that the child did not need a transfusion. The baby is now a healthy 3-year-old.
(CBC Edmonton, Internet, 7/1/04)
Jesus Christians
Kidneys as “Living Sacrifices” to God
Members of the Jesus Christians, in Australia, have donated their kidneys as ―living
sacrifices‖ to people needing transplants who were unrelated to the donors, thus breaking a
law that prohibits such donations by any but family members, friends, or those with an
emotional connection to the recipient. The law aims to prevent the development of a black
market in organs.
Jesus Christians leader Dave McKay, who said the group wanted to relieve the suffering of
people with kidney disease, cited the Apostle Paul‘s urging Romans to present their bodies
as ―living sacrifices.‖ He added that the Jesus Christians had arranged two kidney donations
in Australia, one in Israel, and nine in the U.S.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike worries that vulnerable cult members might be pressured to
provide kidneys without fully understanding the consequences. (Tanya Giles, Herald Sun,
Internet, 7/6/04)
Official Approval Likely
The state of New South Wales Health Department has drafted a policy that would allow
kidney donations to any person if the donor‘s motives are ―genuine‖ and he or she has not
been coerced. The agency said it would investigate any suspicious donations in light of the
existence of a ―small but significant‖ group of potential donors who have personality
disorders. (AAP in The Age, Australia, Internet, 7/7/04)
Kabbalah
Madonna Studying with “Sinister Cult”
Madonna, who credits study of Kabbalah with changing her life, has become a mouthpiece,
recruiter, and financial backer for an international ―cult‖ promoting the Jewish mystic
teachings, according to Rick Ross, head of the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of
Destructive Cults.
Ross says Madonna and other celebrities — including Elizabeth Taylor, Roseanne Barr,
Goldie Hawn, Naomi Campbell, and Madonna‘s husband, Guy Ritchie — are ―cocooned‖ by
the organization because ―their money and fame is useful to the leaders.‖ But many
ordinary adepts, he adds, have been brainwashed and financially exploited.
Jewish scholars and leaders call the group‘s use of Kabbalah a perversion, and Britain‘s chief
rabbi has publicly disassociated Judaism from the London Kabbalah Center because of
claims of abuse and profiteering against it.
request of doctors to transfuse, said the hospital had a compelling interest in preserving the
child‘s life that outweighed the parents‘ right to exercise their religious beliefs. (Fox30
News, Internet, 5/12/04)
Judge Says Transfusion Violated Rights
Court of Queen‘s Bench Justice Adele Kent said, in Calgary, BC, that physicians violated the
rights of a Jehovah’s Witnesses couple when they insisted on giving a religiously
proscribed blood transfusion to a new born when the parents requested antibiotics, instead.
The parents‘ lawyer argued before the judge that the social services department, which
approved the transfusions, denied the couple the right to bring in two expert neonatologists
who felt that the child did not need a transfusion. The baby is now a healthy 3-year-old.
(CBC Edmonton, Internet, 7/1/04)
Jesus Christians
Kidneys as “Living Sacrifices” to God
Members of the Jesus Christians, in Australia, have donated their kidneys as ―living
sacrifices‖ to people needing transplants who were unrelated to the donors, thus breaking a
law that prohibits such donations by any but family members, friends, or those with an
emotional connection to the recipient. The law aims to prevent the development of a black
market in organs.
Jesus Christians leader Dave McKay, who said the group wanted to relieve the suffering of
people with kidney disease, cited the Apostle Paul‘s urging Romans to present their bodies
as ―living sacrifices.‖ He added that the Jesus Christians had arranged two kidney donations
in Australia, one in Israel, and nine in the U.S.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike worries that vulnerable cult members might be pressured to
provide kidneys without fully understanding the consequences. (Tanya Giles, Herald Sun,
Internet, 7/6/04)
Official Approval Likely
The state of New South Wales Health Department has drafted a policy that would allow
kidney donations to any person if the donor‘s motives are ―genuine‖ and he or she has not
been coerced. The agency said it would investigate any suspicious donations in light of the
existence of a ―small but significant‖ group of potential donors who have personality
disorders. (AAP in The Age, Australia, Internet, 7/7/04)
Kabbalah
Madonna Studying with “Sinister Cult”
Madonna, who credits study of Kabbalah with changing her life, has become a mouthpiece,
recruiter, and financial backer for an international ―cult‖ promoting the Jewish mystic
teachings, according to Rick Ross, head of the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of
Destructive Cults.
Ross says Madonna and other celebrities — including Elizabeth Taylor, Roseanne Barr,
Goldie Hawn, Naomi Campbell, and Madonna‘s husband, Guy Ritchie — are ―cocooned‖ by
the organization because ―their money and fame is useful to the leaders.‖ But many
ordinary adepts, he adds, have been brainwashed and financially exploited.
Jewish scholars and leaders call the group‘s use of Kabbalah a perversion, and Britain‘s chief
rabbi has publicly disassociated Judaism from the London Kabbalah Center because of
claims of abuse and profiteering against it.
