Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 136
Transcendental Meditation
Considered for Schools
The Ministry of Education in Trinidad and Tobago is considering Transcendental
Meditation to help underperforming students do better. A ministry official said a seminar
for teachers on TM aims ―to open up their eyes‖ to the benefits of meditation.
The featured presenter, Dr. Alarik Alexander, of Iowa‘s Brain Research Institute [a
department of Maharishi International University, the seat of the Transcendental Meditation
movement], said he has seen TM practice ―improving self-confidence, social interaction, and
academic performance.‖ The president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers
Association, although unaware of the consideration given to TM, has said: ―Anything dealing
with prayer and meditation‖ being implemented in the schools would be a positive thing.
(Trinidad and Tobago Express, Internet, 5/15/04)
Twelve Tribes
Arrest in Child Custody Dispute
Lynn Delozier, 48, a member of the Twelve Tribes commune near Brattleboro, VT, has
been arrested for keeping her daughter away from Michael Ossip, the now 24-year-old girl‘s
father, despite a 1988 court custody and visitation order. The group, which has been
involved in several child custody conflicts elsewhere — members have allegedly hidden
children from authorities — was fined for child labor violations in New York in 2001. There
have also been investigations of the deaths of newborns in the group due to lack of medical
care.
The Twelve Tribes, with settlements in a number of countries, and described by some
observers as a cult, is planning to open a storefront café in Plymouth, MA. (Mike Kalil,
Brattleboro Reformer, Internet, 4/17/04 Dave Wedge, Boston Herald, 5/8/04)
Group founder and leader Elbert Spriggs advocates corporal punishment of children who are
home schooled and not allowed toys, candy, or television. Adults must give up all their
assets to the group before they join. Former members, some of whom were deprogrammed,
say Spriggs is getting rich off members‘ labor and assets. (Dennis Tatz, Patriot Ledger,
Internet, 5/8/04)
Unification Church
Senator Says Moon Organization Deceived Him
Sen. John Warner says he was deceived by an organization associated with the Rev. Sun
Myung Moon’s Unification Church when his office arranged for a ceremony in the
Dirksen Senate Office Building at which Moon declared himself the Messiah. The request for
use of a room was made by the Washington Times Foundation and its government liaison,
Gary Jarmin, and by Christian Voice, which Jarmin chairs. The Moon organization owns the
Washington Times, and Christian Voice has long been linked to Moon. Jarmin said there was
never any attempt to deceive. (Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, Internet, 7/24/04)
Moon-style Marriage for Former Uganda President
Former president of Uganda Godfrey Binaisa, 84, has married a wife chosen by the
Unification Church whom he has never seen. He has, however, spoken a number of times
on the phone with the 58-year-old Korean woman, who lives in the U.S. (Anastasia Ivanova,
Cultology.blogspot.com, Internet, 8/5/04)

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 137
Orphan Assistance
The International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) [an arm of the Unification Church] has
established a ―long-distance adoption system‖ for Zambian orphans. The organization‘s
director in charge of HIV/AIDS prevention and ―character education‖ in Zambia, Adamson
Musonda, said the orphans would be placed with American families until they complete their
educations. He added that IIFWP has built a community school for orphans in Zambia.
(Times of Zambia, Internet, 4/29/04)
Chile Denies Legal Status
The Chilean government has denied legal status to the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s
Unification Church, saying the organization ―injures the political stability of the democratic
system that governs the nation‖ and promotes conflict among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches. In Chile for 28 years, the church has been accused of human rights
violations and questionable financial dealings. A government legal advisor said the church is
―profoundly anticommunist and xenophobic, with a marked Nazi inspiration.‖ (EFE News
Service via Country Watch, Internet, 6/7/04)
U.S. House Member Helps Crown Moon
Illinois Republican Congressman Danny K. Davis helped present a crown that was then
placed on the head of Unification Church leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon —
symbolizing that he and his wife are the ―true parents‖ of mankind — during a March
banquet mounted by the church at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.
Davis explained: ―I was attempting to provide an accolade to the Rev. Moon and his wife for
promoting visions of world peace,‖ as well as for their ―visions of family structure. ..It had
nothing to do with religion. I am a practicing Baptist.‖
The church claims that numerous House members and Senators were involved in the event,
but calls to their offices found that all but Davis want nothing further to do with the Rev.
Moon or his ―cult-like‖ church. A source says some legislators attended the banquet without
knowing its sponsorship. ―There was a mass exodus from the event as soon as folks realized
that it was a Rev. Moon event.‖ (Lee Penn, The Christian Challenge, Internet, 6/15/04)
Finally Accepted in Gloucester
After 25 years in Gloucester, MA, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church is
accepted. Now, few people talk about the church, its businesses, or its members. ―The fear
of recruitment of our kids never materialized, and members of the church seem to have
assimilated well into the community,‖ says Mayor John Bell. The church core in town
consists of 11 families, and half the adults work for the church-owned True World Foods,
which owns, among other businesses, two marinas and one of the areas largest lobster
wholesale plants.
Member Joseph Kelley, 42, says: ―We‘re not as close-knit as we should be. It‘s not as tight
as when everyone was single. Everybody‘s working we‘ve got families we‘re doing
different things.‖
Former member Steven Hassan, who has written widely on the Unification Church, believes
Moon did not recruit locally because of the bad publicity generated by his extensive property
purchases in town. (Steven Rosenberg, Boston Globe, Internet, 6/27/04)
United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors
Compound Quiet
With the conviction of United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors leader Malachi York, the
group‘s compound in Putnam County, GA, is quiet, the federal government having seized