Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 6, 2006, Page 55
Polygamy
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that, despite the state‘s anti-bigamy law,
Stanley M. Shepp may teach his 13-year-old daughter about polygamy because it is a
deeply held religious belief, unless doing so would harm the girl‘s physical or mental health
or safety or potentially create significant social burdens. Shepp, separated from his family,
and calling himself a fundamentalist Mormon since his excommunication from the mainline
Mormon Church because of his growing interest in polygamy, now lives in Utah. His ex-wife,
with whom he shares custody of the girl, says, ―My biggest fear is that she will be allowed to
go to Utah with her father and go to a polygamist camp ...and I‘ll never see her again.
Because by law, you only need one parent‘s signature to marry off one of your children.‖
Shepp does not have the right, however, to take his daughter to Utah. ..The overwhelming
majority of Canadians think polygamy should remain illegal and that the government should
more aggressively move to protect children in polygamous communities, according to a poll
conducted for the Institute of Canadian Values published in the Vancouver Sun. Institute
executive director Joseph Ben-Ami says his organization, which is against the state
regulating the structure of family relationships, says being in favor of polygamy, something
permitted by religion, is far different from approving of same-sex marriage, which is not
permitted by religion, and which the Institute opposes.
Pope Michael
From his farm northwest of Topeka, KS, David Bawden, head of a congregation of 100
persons scattered as far as India and Australia, claims to be Pope Michael and the
legitimate leader of the Catholic Church. His mother and father — who rejected the reforms
of Vatican II — and four others elected him in 1990. Bawden was dismissed from a Michigan
seminary in 1978 and refused readmission even after holding a job at a seminary-run
college for a year. He thought the successful employment would restore his standing.
Psychics
Tammy Mitchell, a psychic — and ―con-artist‖ according to police — who operates in
Cresskill, NJ, near New York City, told recent client Jackie Haughn that there was a curse on
Haughn and her family that could only be removed by performing a number of costly rituals.
Haughn, who eventually complied with Mitchell‘s request to buy her a $20,000 watch and
give over half her savings, says she felt the psychic had gained a certain control over her.
Pyramid Scheme
A Chinese security official says, in the wake of the breakup of an Internet-based ―cult-like‖
pyramid scheme involving as many as 500,000 people, ―Direct sales organizers, in order
to meet sales goals, are repeatedly brainwashing their sales representatives and using
illegal and distorted cult methods of mental control.‖
Renaissance Asset Fund/Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged the California-based
Renaissance Asset Fund with defrauding 190 investors, mostly ―aged‖ people solicited
through Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations via a classic Ponzi scheme. An SEC
representative said, ―Fraud against seniors and affinity groups is particularly egregious
because it is perpetrated through abuse of trust.‖
Sai Baba
Old allegations of pedophilia against guru Sathya Sai Baba, in Britain, have surfaced
following an announcement that 200 boys are to visit India for a month-long humanitarian
pilgrimage organized by the Sai Youth Movement. Former home office minister Tom
Sackville, who runs a cult victim support group, said, ―It is appallingly naïve for the award
Polygamy
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that, despite the state‘s anti-bigamy law,
Stanley M. Shepp may teach his 13-year-old daughter about polygamy because it is a
deeply held religious belief, unless doing so would harm the girl‘s physical or mental health
or safety or potentially create significant social burdens. Shepp, separated from his family,
and calling himself a fundamentalist Mormon since his excommunication from the mainline
Mormon Church because of his growing interest in polygamy, now lives in Utah. His ex-wife,
with whom he shares custody of the girl, says, ―My biggest fear is that she will be allowed to
go to Utah with her father and go to a polygamist camp ...and I‘ll never see her again.
Because by law, you only need one parent‘s signature to marry off one of your children.‖
Shepp does not have the right, however, to take his daughter to Utah. ..The overwhelming
majority of Canadians think polygamy should remain illegal and that the government should
more aggressively move to protect children in polygamous communities, according to a poll
conducted for the Institute of Canadian Values published in the Vancouver Sun. Institute
executive director Joseph Ben-Ami says his organization, which is against the state
regulating the structure of family relationships, says being in favor of polygamy, something
permitted by religion, is far different from approving of same-sex marriage, which is not
permitted by religion, and which the Institute opposes.
Pope Michael
From his farm northwest of Topeka, KS, David Bawden, head of a congregation of 100
persons scattered as far as India and Australia, claims to be Pope Michael and the
legitimate leader of the Catholic Church. His mother and father — who rejected the reforms
of Vatican II — and four others elected him in 1990. Bawden was dismissed from a Michigan
seminary in 1978 and refused readmission even after holding a job at a seminary-run
college for a year. He thought the successful employment would restore his standing.
Psychics
Tammy Mitchell, a psychic — and ―con-artist‖ according to police — who operates in
Cresskill, NJ, near New York City, told recent client Jackie Haughn that there was a curse on
Haughn and her family that could only be removed by performing a number of costly rituals.
Haughn, who eventually complied with Mitchell‘s request to buy her a $20,000 watch and
give over half her savings, says she felt the psychic had gained a certain control over her.
Pyramid Scheme
A Chinese security official says, in the wake of the breakup of an Internet-based ―cult-like‖
pyramid scheme involving as many as 500,000 people, ―Direct sales organizers, in order
to meet sales goals, are repeatedly brainwashing their sales representatives and using
illegal and distorted cult methods of mental control.‖
Renaissance Asset Fund/Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged the California-based
Renaissance Asset Fund with defrauding 190 investors, mostly ―aged‖ people solicited
through Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations via a classic Ponzi scheme. An SEC
representative said, ―Fraud against seniors and affinity groups is particularly egregious
because it is perpetrated through abuse of trust.‖
Sai Baba
Old allegations of pedophilia against guru Sathya Sai Baba, in Britain, have surfaced
following an announcement that 200 boys are to visit India for a month-long humanitarian
pilgrimage organized by the Sai Youth Movement. Former home office minister Tom
Sackville, who runs a cult victim support group, said, ―It is appallingly naïve for the award
