Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 68
A participant in several of Ray‘s previous seminars and retreats who was injured in the
sweat lodge says she had gained a great deal from her earlier experiences. ―James had put
us through so many wonderful experiences that we‘d built up a great deal of trust in him.‖
But she had concerns about the lodge: ―The lack of emergency back-up, the intensity of the
heat, and not monitoring participants during the sweat, which all led to negligent behavior
that is disturbing.‖ Ray reportedly sat continuously at the entrance to the sweat lodge, as a
participant, in order to prevent others from leaving. He seemed elated at having completed
the test himself and unaware at first that some of the participants were dead or injured
Lawyers for defrocked Massachusetts priest Paul Shanley are challenging his 2005 rape
conviction on the grounds that repressed memory is ―junk science‖ and that prosecutors
should not have been allowed to present evidence that the victim repressed memories of
abuse for 20 years. They say they aren‘t trying to prove that repressed memory doesn‘t
exist, only that ―it‘s the burden of government and those who say it exists to demonstrate
that it does.‖ Nearly 100 psychiatrists, psychologists, and scientists have submitted a brief
claiming that repressed memory is ―one of the most pernicious bits of folklore ever to infect‖
the mental health field.
Santa Muerte (―Holy Death‖) is a female folk saint, popular among Mexico‘s ―poor and
―criminal classes‖ and linked to narcotics trafficking. But Santa Muerte in Southern
California, whose supplicants include a cross-section of the immigrant community, has a
mild New Age flavor and seems relatively benign. Followers, many of whom consider
themselves Catholics, talk less about death than about cleansing the spirit and developing
inner strength. ―It‘s sort of like the Virgin for people on the edge,‖ said Patricia A. Polk, a
folklorist and curator of UCLA‘s Fowler Museum. One preacher, who provides shamanistic
services in person or over the phone, says: ―Years ago, they used this for witchcraft to get
certain things ...Now it is more about religion ...health, prayer. ..People come for their
jobs, for good luck at the casinos, or for problems with a husband or wife. ..[and] because
they feel alone.‖
A French court in October convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it almost
$900,000, although the judges did not accede to the prosecution‘s demand to ban the
church. The court said that a change in the law prevented such an action based on a fraud
conviction. Former members who paid large sums for Scientology courses provided the
decisive evidence in the case. This was the first time the church itself, rather than individual
members, has been tried and convicted, and the first time it was indicted for some of the
ways it operates. The fines were levied against the Scientology Celebrity Center in Paris and
a bookstore there. Six group leaders were convicted of fraud, with four given suspended
sentences of 10 months to two years. One of them, the group‘s leader in France, Alain
Rosenberg, was given a two-year suspended sentence and fined $44,700. Two others were
given only fines, of $1,490 and $2,980.
The judges said they didn‘t mete out jail terms because the church has tried ―to change its
practices.‖ A plaintiffs‘ lawyer said the tribunal ―expressed its will to maintain the structure
of Scientology in order to make it easier to control. ..it gave this decision a national and
international dimension so that potential victims can be warned of the methods of
Scientology.‖ The head of a cult victims‘ assistance association said the verdict was ―subtle
and intelligent‖ and that it would help control Scientology. ―Scientology can no longer hide
behind freedom of conscience.‖ A Scientology spokeswoman called the decision ―an
inquisition for modern times.‖ ...
While the French convictions are unlikely to hamper Scientology recruitment and public
relations efforts, the defection of 35-year Scientologist and Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul
Haggis may be damaging because he was a credible and highly visible member. Haggis says
he left mainly because of the church‘s failure to keep a promise he alleges it made him to
A participant in several of Ray‘s previous seminars and retreats who was injured in the
sweat lodge says she had gained a great deal from her earlier experiences. ―James had put
us through so many wonderful experiences that we‘d built up a great deal of trust in him.‖
But she had concerns about the lodge: ―The lack of emergency back-up, the intensity of the
heat, and not monitoring participants during the sweat, which all led to negligent behavior
that is disturbing.‖ Ray reportedly sat continuously at the entrance to the sweat lodge, as a
participant, in order to prevent others from leaving. He seemed elated at having completed
the test himself and unaware at first that some of the participants were dead or injured
Lawyers for defrocked Massachusetts priest Paul Shanley are challenging his 2005 rape
conviction on the grounds that repressed memory is ―junk science‖ and that prosecutors
should not have been allowed to present evidence that the victim repressed memories of
abuse for 20 years. They say they aren‘t trying to prove that repressed memory doesn‘t
exist, only that ―it‘s the burden of government and those who say it exists to demonstrate
that it does.‖ Nearly 100 psychiatrists, psychologists, and scientists have submitted a brief
claiming that repressed memory is ―one of the most pernicious bits of folklore ever to infect‖
the mental health field.
Santa Muerte (―Holy Death‖) is a female folk saint, popular among Mexico‘s ―poor and
―criminal classes‖ and linked to narcotics trafficking. But Santa Muerte in Southern
California, whose supplicants include a cross-section of the immigrant community, has a
mild New Age flavor and seems relatively benign. Followers, many of whom consider
themselves Catholics, talk less about death than about cleansing the spirit and developing
inner strength. ―It‘s sort of like the Virgin for people on the edge,‖ said Patricia A. Polk, a
folklorist and curator of UCLA‘s Fowler Museum. One preacher, who provides shamanistic
services in person or over the phone, says: ―Years ago, they used this for witchcraft to get
certain things ...Now it is more about religion ...health, prayer. ..People come for their
jobs, for good luck at the casinos, or for problems with a husband or wife. ..[and] because
they feel alone.‖
A French court in October convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it almost
$900,000, although the judges did not accede to the prosecution‘s demand to ban the
church. The court said that a change in the law prevented such an action based on a fraud
conviction. Former members who paid large sums for Scientology courses provided the
decisive evidence in the case. This was the first time the church itself, rather than individual
members, has been tried and convicted, and the first time it was indicted for some of the
ways it operates. The fines were levied against the Scientology Celebrity Center in Paris and
a bookstore there. Six group leaders were convicted of fraud, with four given suspended
sentences of 10 months to two years. One of them, the group‘s leader in France, Alain
Rosenberg, was given a two-year suspended sentence and fined $44,700. Two others were
given only fines, of $1,490 and $2,980.
The judges said they didn‘t mete out jail terms because the church has tried ―to change its
practices.‖ A plaintiffs‘ lawyer said the tribunal ―expressed its will to maintain the structure
of Scientology in order to make it easier to control. ..it gave this decision a national and
international dimension so that potential victims can be warned of the methods of
Scientology.‖ The head of a cult victims‘ assistance association said the verdict was ―subtle
and intelligent‖ and that it would help control Scientology. ―Scientology can no longer hide
behind freedom of conscience.‖ A Scientology spokeswoman called the decision ―an
inquisition for modern times.‖ ...
While the French convictions are unlikely to hamper Scientology recruitment and public
relations efforts, the defection of 35-year Scientologist and Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul
Haggis may be damaging because he was a credible and highly visible member. Haggis says
he left mainly because of the church‘s failure to keep a promise he alleges it made him to
