Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 6, 2006, Page 52
Jews for Jesus
Comedian Jackie Mason, who is also an ordained rabbi, is suing Jews for Jesus for putting
his image on a pamphlet aimed to convert Jews to Christianity. A Jews for Jesus spokesman
says, ―He‘s a public persona. It [the pamphlet] postulated that even someone as Jewish as
Jackie Mason could come to the faith of Jesus if he wanted to. It‘s humorous, hardly labeling
him a Jew for Jesus ...we thought it would be flattering to him.‖
JMS/Setsuri
JMS, also known as Setsuri, has followers in the office of the Korean president and more
than 700 inside the Korean military and police, according to former aids of JMS founder
Jung Myung Seok. They have founded Exodus, which has helped many escape the cult.
Kabbalah
Gilla Mogilevsky, the Kabbalah leader in Australia, was arrested in July for growing
cannabis inside three luxury apartments she owns on the Australian Gold Coast.
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Nigerian televangelist Matthew Ashimolowo, head off the Kingsway International
Christian Centre, in London, is planning to build an 8,000-seat, £35 million U.S.-style
mega church for his largely African congregation. Ashimolowo teaches his mostly poor
congregants that God wants people to be rich and healthy. The now defunct charity that
once operated KICC was found in 2002 to have made payments of almost £1 million to
companies Ashimolowo owned. The Commission eventually seized control of the charity
after the church spent £120,000 to celebrate his birthday, £80,000 to buy him a car, and let
him use a church Visa card to purchase a £13,000 timeshare apartment in Florida.
Knutby Sect
A member of the controversial Knutby sect in Sweden has been arrested following
allegations that he assaulted children under the age of five. Police have been investigating
similar charges against the group for some time.
Legion of Christ
Pope Benedict XVI has called clerical sex abuses ―egregious crimes‖ that have damaged the
Church and its clergy, and that in order ―to rebuild confidence and trust," it is necessary to
learn what had happened in the past and prevent it from happening again. In May, the Pope
asked Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ, to stop celebrating mass in public
and take on a life of ―prayer and penance.‖ The Vatican had investigated allegations that
Maciel sexually abused seminarians many years ago.
Life Church Worldwide
The Life Church Worldwide leader, Pastor Peter Van Rooyen, has been sent to prison
for three months and ordered to pay $2,800 for importing slave labor from South Africa to
his place on the Isle of Man. He invited workers to Britain and paid them ―slave wages‖ of
$2.50 per hour for laboring twelve-hours a day six days a week. The former financial
advisor to Barclays Bank has a congregation of about 100 that believes 102,000 unbelievers
go to hell daily.
Lord’s Resistance Army
Lord’s Resistance Army leaders, speaking from their base in eastern Congo — having
moved from southern Sudan — declared a cease-fire in their 20-year rebellion against the
Ugandan government. The cult-like LRA is accused of killing and mutilating thousands of
civilians.
Jews for Jesus
Comedian Jackie Mason, who is also an ordained rabbi, is suing Jews for Jesus for putting
his image on a pamphlet aimed to convert Jews to Christianity. A Jews for Jesus spokesman
says, ―He‘s a public persona. It [the pamphlet] postulated that even someone as Jewish as
Jackie Mason could come to the faith of Jesus if he wanted to. It‘s humorous, hardly labeling
him a Jew for Jesus ...we thought it would be flattering to him.‖
JMS/Setsuri
JMS, also known as Setsuri, has followers in the office of the Korean president and more
than 700 inside the Korean military and police, according to former aids of JMS founder
Jung Myung Seok. They have founded Exodus, which has helped many escape the cult.
Kabbalah
Gilla Mogilevsky, the Kabbalah leader in Australia, was arrested in July for growing
cannabis inside three luxury apartments she owns on the Australian Gold Coast.
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Nigerian televangelist Matthew Ashimolowo, head off the Kingsway International
Christian Centre, in London, is planning to build an 8,000-seat, £35 million U.S.-style
mega church for his largely African congregation. Ashimolowo teaches his mostly poor
congregants that God wants people to be rich and healthy. The now defunct charity that
once operated KICC was found in 2002 to have made payments of almost £1 million to
companies Ashimolowo owned. The Commission eventually seized control of the charity
after the church spent £120,000 to celebrate his birthday, £80,000 to buy him a car, and let
him use a church Visa card to purchase a £13,000 timeshare apartment in Florida.
Knutby Sect
A member of the controversial Knutby sect in Sweden has been arrested following
allegations that he assaulted children under the age of five. Police have been investigating
similar charges against the group for some time.
Legion of Christ
Pope Benedict XVI has called clerical sex abuses ―egregious crimes‖ that have damaged the
Church and its clergy, and that in order ―to rebuild confidence and trust," it is necessary to
learn what had happened in the past and prevent it from happening again. In May, the Pope
asked Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ, to stop celebrating mass in public
and take on a life of ―prayer and penance.‖ The Vatican had investigated allegations that
Maciel sexually abused seminarians many years ago.
Life Church Worldwide
The Life Church Worldwide leader, Pastor Peter Van Rooyen, has been sent to prison
for three months and ordered to pay $2,800 for importing slave labor from South Africa to
his place on the Isle of Man. He invited workers to Britain and paid them ―slave wages‖ of
$2.50 per hour for laboring twelve-hours a day six days a week. The former financial
advisor to Barclays Bank has a congregation of about 100 that believes 102,000 unbelievers
go to hell daily.
Lord’s Resistance Army
Lord’s Resistance Army leaders, speaking from their base in eastern Congo — having
moved from southern Sudan — declared a cease-fire in their 20-year rebellion against the
Ugandan government. The cult-like LRA is accused of killing and mutilating thousands of
civilians.
