Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2008, Page 7
Karen Robidoux and the Body
In yet another ‗cult‘ trial in the United States in February 2004, Karen Robidoux, who was
the mother of an infant who died from starvation, had a jury clear her of second-degree
murder while convicting her of misdemeanor assault and battery. Her husband, however,
received a first-degree murder conviction for the child‘s death. Karen Robidoux‘s lawyer
―had argued that [she] was brainwashed and tortured by her husband and other members
of the group‖ (Associated Press, 2004:1). Like the women under Winnfred Wright‘s control,
Robidoux went to a rehabilitation centre (in this case, Meadow Haven, in Massachusetts
[Ellement, 2004:2]). Once again, it is impossible to know for certain whether her enrollment
in a rehabilitation centre for ex-cult members had an impact on the jury‘s opinion of her,
but the jury‘s foreman determined that ―‘her intent was not to kill the baby‘‖ (foreman
Robert Bartolome, quoted in Ellement, 2004:1).
Jesus Christians
Brainwashing charges against another group, the Jesus Christians, appeared in the press
after ―Canada‘s largest organ transplant hospital has cancelled an operation that would have
allowed a young Australian man to demonstrate his deep Christian faith by donating one of
his kidneys to a desperately ill stranger in Toronto‖ (Boswell, 2007a:A1). According to the
article, ―More than half of the 30 members of the Jesus Christians—from Britain, Australia,
Kenya, and the United States—have provided a kidney to recipients around the world...‖
(Boswell, 2007a:A9).
The potential donor was twenty-two-year-old Ash Falkingham, and officials at the Toronto
General Hospital ―postponed the transplant after Falkingham‘s mother, Kate Croft, raised
alarms about her son‘s membership in the Jesus Christians and claimed that [the leader,
David McKay] had coerced Falkingham to make the donation‖ (Boswell, 2007a:A9). The
press labeled this alleged coercion ―brainwashing.‖ The expected recipient of the
Falkingham‘s kidney, Sandi Sabloff, however, and potential donor Ash Falkingham himself,
dismissed
the Crofts‘ brainwashing allegations…. ‗By implication, they [i.e., hospital
officials] are definitely hurting Ash, and the Jesus Christians, because they
refuse to also list the REAL reason [for the cancellation],‘ [Ash] wrote. ‗Which
is they also call off operations if they think adverse publicity will bring
criticism on them (in this case, from religious bigots).‘ (quoted in Hartley,
2007)
Apparently Ash initially had received permission to proceed with the kidney donation after
having passed a preliminary interview (conducted over the telephone) ―with an executive
committee from the hospital that included a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a bioethicist.‖
The hospital then determined that he had tissue compatibility with the potential recipient
(Sabloff). Ash even claimed that ―he was sent for an evaluation with a forensic psychiatrist
who specialized in the field of undue influence, or brainwashing,‖ and subsequently ―‗the
hospital told me I was cleared of any suspicion of undue influence‘‖ (quoted in Hartley,
2007).
For ethical reasons involving patient confidentiality, however, the hospital would not say
why it cancelled the surgery. Nor did the media articles provide any specific information
about the alleged brainwashing that went on in the group. Meanwhile, Sabloff held out hope
that Australian authorities might allow the transplant to go on in their country (Boswell,
2007b).
Karen Robidoux and the Body
In yet another ‗cult‘ trial in the United States in February 2004, Karen Robidoux, who was
the mother of an infant who died from starvation, had a jury clear her of second-degree
murder while convicting her of misdemeanor assault and battery. Her husband, however,
received a first-degree murder conviction for the child‘s death. Karen Robidoux‘s lawyer
―had argued that [she] was brainwashed and tortured by her husband and other members
of the group‖ (Associated Press, 2004:1). Like the women under Winnfred Wright‘s control,
Robidoux went to a rehabilitation centre (in this case, Meadow Haven, in Massachusetts
[Ellement, 2004:2]). Once again, it is impossible to know for certain whether her enrollment
in a rehabilitation centre for ex-cult members had an impact on the jury‘s opinion of her,
but the jury‘s foreman determined that ―‘her intent was not to kill the baby‘‖ (foreman
Robert Bartolome, quoted in Ellement, 2004:1).
Jesus Christians
Brainwashing charges against another group, the Jesus Christians, appeared in the press
after ―Canada‘s largest organ transplant hospital has cancelled an operation that would have
allowed a young Australian man to demonstrate his deep Christian faith by donating one of
his kidneys to a desperately ill stranger in Toronto‖ (Boswell, 2007a:A1). According to the
article, ―More than half of the 30 members of the Jesus Christians—from Britain, Australia,
Kenya, and the United States—have provided a kidney to recipients around the world...‖
(Boswell, 2007a:A9).
The potential donor was twenty-two-year-old Ash Falkingham, and officials at the Toronto
General Hospital ―postponed the transplant after Falkingham‘s mother, Kate Croft, raised
alarms about her son‘s membership in the Jesus Christians and claimed that [the leader,
David McKay] had coerced Falkingham to make the donation‖ (Boswell, 2007a:A9). The
press labeled this alleged coercion ―brainwashing.‖ The expected recipient of the
Falkingham‘s kidney, Sandi Sabloff, however, and potential donor Ash Falkingham himself,
dismissed
the Crofts‘ brainwashing allegations…. ‗By implication, they [i.e., hospital
officials] are definitely hurting Ash, and the Jesus Christians, because they
refuse to also list the REAL reason [for the cancellation],‘ [Ash] wrote. ‗Which
is they also call off operations if they think adverse publicity will bring
criticism on them (in this case, from religious bigots).‘ (quoted in Hartley,
2007)
Apparently Ash initially had received permission to proceed with the kidney donation after
having passed a preliminary interview (conducted over the telephone) ―with an executive
committee from the hospital that included a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a bioethicist.‖
The hospital then determined that he had tissue compatibility with the potential recipient
(Sabloff). Ash even claimed that ―he was sent for an evaluation with a forensic psychiatrist
who specialized in the field of undue influence, or brainwashing,‖ and subsequently ―‗the
hospital told me I was cleared of any suspicion of undue influence‘‖ (quoted in Hartley,
2007).
For ethical reasons involving patient confidentiality, however, the hospital would not say
why it cancelled the surgery. Nor did the media articles provide any specific information
about the alleged brainwashing that went on in the group. Meanwhile, Sabloff held out hope
that Australian authorities might allow the transplant to go on in their country (Boswell,
2007b).
