Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 63
prosecuting a religion rather than simply protecting teenage girls. ―This is basically a case of
inherent fear and distrust of an unpopular religion,‖ the defense said. ―This is holy war
waged by the state.‖
Polygamy charges against leaders of opposed factions led by Winston Blackmore and
James Oler within the FLDS community in Bountiful, British Columbia, were thrown out in
September when a judge ruled that the appointment of the case prosecutor was ―unlawful.‖
Many experts had warned that the charges would not hold up in the face of the defendants‘
rights and freedoms claims. The judge cited several previous legal opinions that Canada‘s
polygamy law is unconstitutional. She also noted that experts had advised the province to
ask a senior court to rule on the relevant legislation without reference to a particular case. .
.
The Global Community Communications Alliance (GCCA) community in Tubac, AZ,
practices a blend of New Age theology, old-style Christianity, Buddhism, American Indian
religion, environmentalism, and business. Led by Gabriel (Anthony Joseph Devlin), the
son of a Pittsburgh steelworker, GCCA requires members—including a lawyer, a doctor, a
psychologist, and school teachers, who have come from all over the world—to renounce
their given names and give up many of their possessions for the security they say they find
with the insular group. GCCA, founded in 1989 as Aquarian Concepts Community, has come
under public scrutiny since the Sedona sweat lodge deaths earlier this year because GCCA
also practices a Native American purification rite. Former members and clients have
criticized GCCF leaders for their aggressive leadership styles and ―inflated egos.‖
Responding to the threat of bad publicity, a GCCA spokeswoman wrote: "Our only
consolation, if this attempt of yellow journalism continues, is that we definitely will ...put
you high on the list along with others of those who misrepresent Divine Administration and
Gabriel of Urantia when Jesus Christ returns to set up His planetary governmet. That's a
promise."
Gabriel calls himself the ―planetary prince‖ who will reign after devastating war and
catastrophe. Gabriel‘s autobiography—he attended Duquesne University and has channeled
many great people—is entitled, ―The Divine New Order.‖ Dateline NBC produced an expose
of the group in 1998. Although Gabriel says that anyone who doesn‘t heed his word risks
disease and death, ―I don‘t like the word ‗cult.‘ I‘m the leader of a divine administration.
Cult observer Rick Ross says: ―This is a guy who has a lot of money, and it‘s been
accumulated through the surrender of assets.‖ A former member says that everyone is
watched and controlled, and that those who leave are shunned by family members who
remain.
Rifqa Bary, who ran from her Ohio family because she was afraid they‘d kill her for
converting from Islam to Christianity, was back in Ohio in December, in a foster home.
Rivqa stayed in Florida for a time with Beverly and Blake Lorenze, founders of Global
Revolution Church, whom she‘d met through an online prayer group. A former
administrator at the church told investigators that lawyers warned the Lorenzes they were
breaking the law by taking Rivqa in. He said Blake Lorenz went to the Orlando bus station
and bought Rivqa a ticket under a false name, and refused to call the Department of
Children and Families when he was advised by police to report that Rivqa was living with
him and his wife. Florida authorities are considering prosecution of the couple, who have
renamed their church in the wake of the considerable notoriety the case has occasioned. A
plan filed with the Franklin County Juvenile Court, in Ohio, asks Rifqa and her parents to
meet and talk about their respective religions and work toward living together again. But
Rivqa doesn‘t want to see them—she‘s concerned they don‘t understand her Christianity
(just as they feel she doesn‘t understand their Islamic faith).
prosecuting a religion rather than simply protecting teenage girls. ―This is basically a case of
inherent fear and distrust of an unpopular religion,‖ the defense said. ―This is holy war
waged by the state.‖
Polygamy charges against leaders of opposed factions led by Winston Blackmore and
James Oler within the FLDS community in Bountiful, British Columbia, were thrown out in
September when a judge ruled that the appointment of the case prosecutor was ―unlawful.‖
Many experts had warned that the charges would not hold up in the face of the defendants‘
rights and freedoms claims. The judge cited several previous legal opinions that Canada‘s
polygamy law is unconstitutional. She also noted that experts had advised the province to
ask a senior court to rule on the relevant legislation without reference to a particular case. .
.
The Global Community Communications Alliance (GCCA) community in Tubac, AZ,
practices a blend of New Age theology, old-style Christianity, Buddhism, American Indian
religion, environmentalism, and business. Led by Gabriel (Anthony Joseph Devlin), the
son of a Pittsburgh steelworker, GCCA requires members—including a lawyer, a doctor, a
psychologist, and school teachers, who have come from all over the world—to renounce
their given names and give up many of their possessions for the security they say they find
with the insular group. GCCA, founded in 1989 as Aquarian Concepts Community, has come
under public scrutiny since the Sedona sweat lodge deaths earlier this year because GCCA
also practices a Native American purification rite. Former members and clients have
criticized GCCF leaders for their aggressive leadership styles and ―inflated egos.‖
Responding to the threat of bad publicity, a GCCA spokeswoman wrote: "Our only
consolation, if this attempt of yellow journalism continues, is that we definitely will ...put
you high on the list along with others of those who misrepresent Divine Administration and
Gabriel of Urantia when Jesus Christ returns to set up His planetary governmet. That's a
promise."
Gabriel calls himself the ―planetary prince‖ who will reign after devastating war and
catastrophe. Gabriel‘s autobiography—he attended Duquesne University and has channeled
many great people—is entitled, ―The Divine New Order.‖ Dateline NBC produced an expose
of the group in 1998. Although Gabriel says that anyone who doesn‘t heed his word risks
disease and death, ―I don‘t like the word ‗cult.‘ I‘m the leader of a divine administration.
Cult observer Rick Ross says: ―This is a guy who has a lot of money, and it‘s been
accumulated through the surrender of assets.‖ A former member says that everyone is
watched and controlled, and that those who leave are shunned by family members who
remain.
Rifqa Bary, who ran from her Ohio family because she was afraid they‘d kill her for
converting from Islam to Christianity, was back in Ohio in December, in a foster home.
Rivqa stayed in Florida for a time with Beverly and Blake Lorenze, founders of Global
Revolution Church, whom she‘d met through an online prayer group. A former
administrator at the church told investigators that lawyers warned the Lorenzes they were
breaking the law by taking Rivqa in. He said Blake Lorenz went to the Orlando bus station
and bought Rivqa a ticket under a false name, and refused to call the Department of
Children and Families when he was advised by police to report that Rivqa was living with
him and his wife. Florida authorities are considering prosecution of the couple, who have
renamed their church in the wake of the considerable notoriety the case has occasioned. A
plan filed with the Franklin County Juvenile Court, in Ohio, asks Rifqa and her parents to
meet and talk about their respective religions and work toward living together again. But
Rivqa doesn‘t want to see them—she‘s concerned they don‘t understand her Christianity
(just as they feel she doesn‘t understand their Islamic faith).
