Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 56
Leader Suffers Stroke
Rabbi Philip Berg, leader of the Beverly Hills Kabbalah Center and Madonna‘s personal
guru, has suffered a stroke and is now wheelchair bound. An assistant said: ―He‘s doing OK
right now, but we‘ll see in time.‖ (Marianne Garvey, New York Post, Internet, 10/17/04)
Madonna Proselytizing
Rapper Missy Elliott has reportedly refused her friend Madonna‘s invitation to become
involved in Kabbalah. ―I love Madonna,‖ said Elliott. ―We became friends after the Gap
advert. She introduced me to Kabbalah and gave me a red bracelet [of the kind worn by
some other Hollywood adepts of Kabbalah]. I‘m Christian, so I didn‘t join. But we‘re still
close.‖ (New Karela News [India], Internet, 10/22/04)
Kingston Clan/The Order
Father’s Visitation Privileges Revoked
A Salt Lake City juvenile court has revoked the visitation privileges of polygamous Kingston
Clan [The Order] leader John Daniel Kingston — who has some 100 children by 14
wives. The judge relied on the testimony of a social worker who said Kingston told the
children that their situation was like biblical persecution. She also said that he tried to
prejudice them against their foster parents and influence their testimony. The court
originally removed a number of his children from Kingston‘s custody after finding that he
abused them.
Court documents allege that Kingston‘s 4-year-old son soils himself before and after his
father‘s visits, and that a 9-year-old son wets his bed the night before his father is
scheduled to arrive. State officials say the visits serve Kingston‘s needs more than the
children‘s. (AP in the Casper Star-Tribune, Internet, 11/24/04)
Dispute with Miners
The mostly Mexican workforce of a Utah coal mine owned by the polygamous Kingston
Clan is fighting to unionize in order to improve what it describes as low wages and bad
safety conditions. But, they say, management fired dozens of workers just before the recent
election to authorize a union. They say that management has challenged all but seven of
142 votes cast, and that 101 votes cast by relatives of the Kingston clan should not be
counted. Management says the votes of the 34-fired workers should be thrown out. (John
Hollenhorst, KSL TV News, Internet, 12/20/04)
Death Threats Against Judge Alleged
Utah Third District Court Judge Andrew Valdez has been given police protection following
allegations by the 16-year-old estranged daughter of John Daniel Kingston, a leader of
the polygamous Kingston Clan, that she heard members of her family talk about killing the
judge as well as the Assistant Attorney General and the girl‘s state-appointed guardian.
(Linda Thompson, Deseret Morning News, Internet, 1/13/05)
Parental Rights
The Utah Guardian Ad Litem Office has ruled that John Daniel Kingston, a prominent
member of the polygamous Kingston Clan, has a ―residual parental right‖ to determine the
religious affiliation of his daughter, a 16-year-old placed in state custody last June who says
she wants to become a member of the mainline Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints.
The Guardian said Kingston is also responsible for supporting the girl, who was removed
from his home after authorities determined that he and his wife had abused her. In
Leader Suffers Stroke
Rabbi Philip Berg, leader of the Beverly Hills Kabbalah Center and Madonna‘s personal
guru, has suffered a stroke and is now wheelchair bound. An assistant said: ―He‘s doing OK
right now, but we‘ll see in time.‖ (Marianne Garvey, New York Post, Internet, 10/17/04)
Madonna Proselytizing
Rapper Missy Elliott has reportedly refused her friend Madonna‘s invitation to become
involved in Kabbalah. ―I love Madonna,‖ said Elliott. ―We became friends after the Gap
advert. She introduced me to Kabbalah and gave me a red bracelet [of the kind worn by
some other Hollywood adepts of Kabbalah]. I‘m Christian, so I didn‘t join. But we‘re still
close.‖ (New Karela News [India], Internet, 10/22/04)
Kingston Clan/The Order
Father’s Visitation Privileges Revoked
A Salt Lake City juvenile court has revoked the visitation privileges of polygamous Kingston
Clan [The Order] leader John Daniel Kingston — who has some 100 children by 14
wives. The judge relied on the testimony of a social worker who said Kingston told the
children that their situation was like biblical persecution. She also said that he tried to
prejudice them against their foster parents and influence their testimony. The court
originally removed a number of his children from Kingston‘s custody after finding that he
abused them.
Court documents allege that Kingston‘s 4-year-old son soils himself before and after his
father‘s visits, and that a 9-year-old son wets his bed the night before his father is
scheduled to arrive. State officials say the visits serve Kingston‘s needs more than the
children‘s. (AP in the Casper Star-Tribune, Internet, 11/24/04)
Dispute with Miners
The mostly Mexican workforce of a Utah coal mine owned by the polygamous Kingston
Clan is fighting to unionize in order to improve what it describes as low wages and bad
safety conditions. But, they say, management fired dozens of workers just before the recent
election to authorize a union. They say that management has challenged all but seven of
142 votes cast, and that 101 votes cast by relatives of the Kingston clan should not be
counted. Management says the votes of the 34-fired workers should be thrown out. (John
Hollenhorst, KSL TV News, Internet, 12/20/04)
Death Threats Against Judge Alleged
Utah Third District Court Judge Andrew Valdez has been given police protection following
allegations by the 16-year-old estranged daughter of John Daniel Kingston, a leader of
the polygamous Kingston Clan, that she heard members of her family talk about killing the
judge as well as the Assistant Attorney General and the girl‘s state-appointed guardian.
(Linda Thompson, Deseret Morning News, Internet, 1/13/05)
Parental Rights
The Utah Guardian Ad Litem Office has ruled that John Daniel Kingston, a prominent
member of the polygamous Kingston Clan, has a ―residual parental right‖ to determine the
religious affiliation of his daughter, a 16-year-old placed in state custody last June who says
she wants to become a member of the mainline Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints.
The Guardian said Kingston is also responsible for supporting the girl, who was removed
from his home after authorities determined that he and his wife had abused her. In
