Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 54
Opus Dei
“Balanced Assessment” of Group
A forthcoming book on Opus Dei by the National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen will
challenge the view that the organization is cult-like and suggest that much of the negative
perception stems from hostility shown by the Jesuits during the 1930s and 1940s, when the
rise of Opus Dei allegedly drew Spanish recruits away from the older, more established
religious order. (Catholic News, Internet, 3/30/05)
Order of St. Charbel/Little Pebble
Leader Guilty of Sexual Abuse
William Kamm, also known as Little Pebble, has been found guilty in Sydney of
―indecently and sexually assaulting‖ a 15-year-old girl at his religious community, the
Order of St. Charbel, after she agreed to become one of his ―spiritual‖ wives. Kamm says
the sexually overt letters he wrote the girl after she accepted his marriage offer showed
only what he intended should happen, not that it actually took place. (ABC News [Australia],
Internet, 7/8/05)
Kamm believes that the Virgin Mary chose him to spawn a new race that would survive the
end of the world. He reportedly said he received messages directly from the Virgin on the
thirteenth day of every month. The victimized girl testified that Kamm told her the Virgin
Mary gave permission for him to have an ―intimate union‖ with her. She said her family was
pleased that she had been chosen as one of Kamm‘s queens and considered it a great
honor. (Rebecca Senescall, Ilawarra Mercury, Internet, 6/15/05 AAP in MSN 9 News,
Australia, Internet, 6/16/05)
Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO)
Suit Over “Pedophile Cult” Allegation
The Ordo Templi Orientis, a secretive international society, has sued Melbourne
psychologist Reina Michaelson, an anti-child abuse activist, over her internet assertion that
OTO is a pedophile cult that practices satanic rituals that included animal and child
sacrifices. An OTO spokesman said: ―What is contained on the website could incite hatred
and lead to violence against members of the OTO.‖ Michaelson says that OTO beliefs,
expressed in its Book of Laws, ―are not lawful religious beliefs.‖
OTO, founded in Germany in 1902 and devoted to the religion of Thalema as taught by the
[late] occultist and mystic Aleister Crowley, does not actively recruit or advertise. (Kate
Uebergang, Melbourne Herald Sun, Internet, 5/31/05)
Panawave/Chino Shohokai
Leader Wins Defamation Decision
Chino Shokokai, the parent organization of Panawave, and leader Yuko Chino, have
been awarded two million yen by a Tokyo District Court that ruled the weekly magazine
Shukan Bunshan had defamed Panawave by claiming the cult was to blame for a railway
disaster in 1998. The magazine said it was only reporting what authorities said at the time.
Panawave gained great attention when it traveled through central Japan last year ―covering
areas completely in white cloth as it crawled along.‖ (Mainichi Shimbun, Internet, 5/14/05)
Polygamy
Building Criminal Case
Opus Dei
“Balanced Assessment” of Group
A forthcoming book on Opus Dei by the National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen will
challenge the view that the organization is cult-like and suggest that much of the negative
perception stems from hostility shown by the Jesuits during the 1930s and 1940s, when the
rise of Opus Dei allegedly drew Spanish recruits away from the older, more established
religious order. (Catholic News, Internet, 3/30/05)
Order of St. Charbel/Little Pebble
Leader Guilty of Sexual Abuse
William Kamm, also known as Little Pebble, has been found guilty in Sydney of
―indecently and sexually assaulting‖ a 15-year-old girl at his religious community, the
Order of St. Charbel, after she agreed to become one of his ―spiritual‖ wives. Kamm says
the sexually overt letters he wrote the girl after she accepted his marriage offer showed
only what he intended should happen, not that it actually took place. (ABC News [Australia],
Internet, 7/8/05)
Kamm believes that the Virgin Mary chose him to spawn a new race that would survive the
end of the world. He reportedly said he received messages directly from the Virgin on the
thirteenth day of every month. The victimized girl testified that Kamm told her the Virgin
Mary gave permission for him to have an ―intimate union‖ with her. She said her family was
pleased that she had been chosen as one of Kamm‘s queens and considered it a great
honor. (Rebecca Senescall, Ilawarra Mercury, Internet, 6/15/05 AAP in MSN 9 News,
Australia, Internet, 6/16/05)
Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO)
Suit Over “Pedophile Cult” Allegation
The Ordo Templi Orientis, a secretive international society, has sued Melbourne
psychologist Reina Michaelson, an anti-child abuse activist, over her internet assertion that
OTO is a pedophile cult that practices satanic rituals that included animal and child
sacrifices. An OTO spokesman said: ―What is contained on the website could incite hatred
and lead to violence against members of the OTO.‖ Michaelson says that OTO beliefs,
expressed in its Book of Laws, ―are not lawful religious beliefs.‖
OTO, founded in Germany in 1902 and devoted to the religion of Thalema as taught by the
[late] occultist and mystic Aleister Crowley, does not actively recruit or advertise. (Kate
Uebergang, Melbourne Herald Sun, Internet, 5/31/05)
Panawave/Chino Shohokai
Leader Wins Defamation Decision
Chino Shokokai, the parent organization of Panawave, and leader Yuko Chino, have
been awarded two million yen by a Tokyo District Court that ruled the weekly magazine
Shukan Bunshan had defamed Panawave by claiming the cult was to blame for a railway
disaster in 1998. The magazine said it was only reporting what authorities said at the time.
Panawave gained great attention when it traveled through central Japan last year ―covering
areas completely in white cloth as it crawled along.‖ (Mainichi Shimbun, Internet, 5/14/05)
Polygamy
Building Criminal Case
