42 ICSA TODAY 40
man had been ordered not to be around children for 3 years
unless accompanied by a preapproved adult. After his release,
he moved to Winnipeg to join the Twelve Tribes. Mr. Hawkins
provided sworn affidavits from witnesses who said they had
seen the man in the presence of children and other affidavits
attesting to corporal punishment.
Child-welfare officials confirmed they had launched an
investigation into allegations of corporal punishment. CBC
learned that discipline sometimes involves a balloon stick,
which is a “thin, reed-like rod.” Twelve Tribes says that the man
convicted of possessing child pornography no longer lives
with them. (CBC News, 3/18/15)
Twelve Tribes accused of beating children in France
The French chapter of The Twelve Tribes Christian
fundamentalist sect was closed down in June after members
were accused of “abusing children in a climate of violent and
racist extremism.” Police raided the group chateau in the
Pyrenees, arrested 10 adults, and placed four children in foster
care. Doctors found evidence of bruises on the children. Maitre
Jean-Francois Blanco, attorney for a former member of the
group, alleges that “children were beaten from the age of two
by adults for even the slightest infraction or hint of defiance.”
Blanco’s client, who has sued the group, said, “I was beaten
until I gushed blood. Once, I couldn’t get out of bed for two
weeks.” (International Business Times–UK, 6/20/15)
Unification Church couples wed in mass ceremony
On March 3, 2015, 3,800 Unification Church members
took part in a mass wedding ceremony at the South Korean
headquarters of the church in Gapyeong, outside Seoul.
This mass wedding is the most recent of the many that the
Unification Church has performed since the 1960s, many in
sports stadiums. About 800 of the participants were newly
married, and the rest renewed their vows. In past years, Sun
Myung Moon, founder of the church, had matched the
couples. Since Moon’s death, parents have performed much
of the matchmaking. Participants must swear under oath that
they are virgins and must not have sexual relations for the first
40 days of marriage. (Economic Times, 3/3/15)
Westboro Baptist Church continues “hater” tradition
After the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, Fred
Philips, passed away on March 19, 2014, in Topeka, Kansas,
many people were hoping the church would stop its extreme
activities such as protesting at funerals and dooming everyone
who isn’t part of the church to hell. But even though Fred
Philips may have passed on, his spirit still hates on through his
children and congregation.
The followers of the Westboro Baptist Church believe that
homosexuality is a sin and hate anything and anyone they
consider supportive of the “homosexual agenda.” This
perspective includes gay and lesbian events, churches,
organizations, and the funerals of soldiers (who fought in a
war they say was caused because of America’s tolerance for
homosexuality) that they feel do not follow their beliefs. And
still, Westboro’s website (godhatesfags.com) listed several
protests that were scheduled for the month of April. The
protests were to be held at The White House and several
different schools and churches in the area. (The Daily Star
Journal, 4/2/15)
Televangelist asks followers to buy him $65 million jet
Pastor Creflo Dollar of the World Changers Church
International in College Park, Georgia preaches that the more
you give, the more you receive. Dollar owns a multimillion-
dollar mansion and condo. The finances of his 30,000-member
church are under close examination after he posted a plea
on his website asking his followers to buy him a $65 million
private jet. After receiving a lot of criticism from his church, he
took down the posting. (CBS News, 5/21/15) n
man had been ordered not to be around children for 3 years
unless accompanied by a preapproved adult. After his release,
he moved to Winnipeg to join the Twelve Tribes. Mr. Hawkins
provided sworn affidavits from witnesses who said they had
seen the man in the presence of children and other affidavits
attesting to corporal punishment.
Child-welfare officials confirmed they had launched an
investigation into allegations of corporal punishment. CBC
learned that discipline sometimes involves a balloon stick,
which is a “thin, reed-like rod.” Twelve Tribes says that the man
convicted of possessing child pornography no longer lives
with them. (CBC News, 3/18/15)
Twelve Tribes accused of beating children in France
The French chapter of The Twelve Tribes Christian
fundamentalist sect was closed down in June after members
were accused of “abusing children in a climate of violent and
racist extremism.” Police raided the group chateau in the
Pyrenees, arrested 10 adults, and placed four children in foster
care. Doctors found evidence of bruises on the children. Maitre
Jean-Francois Blanco, attorney for a former member of the
group, alleges that “children were beaten from the age of two
by adults for even the slightest infraction or hint of defiance.”
Blanco’s client, who has sued the group, said, “I was beaten
until I gushed blood. Once, I couldn’t get out of bed for two
weeks.” (International Business Times–UK, 6/20/15)
Unification Church couples wed in mass ceremony
On March 3, 2015, 3,800 Unification Church members
took part in a mass wedding ceremony at the South Korean
headquarters of the church in Gapyeong, outside Seoul.
This mass wedding is the most recent of the many that the
Unification Church has performed since the 1960s, many in
sports stadiums. About 800 of the participants were newly
married, and the rest renewed their vows. In past years, Sun
Myung Moon, founder of the church, had matched the
couples. Since Moon’s death, parents have performed much
of the matchmaking. Participants must swear under oath that
they are virgins and must not have sexual relations for the first
40 days of marriage. (Economic Times, 3/3/15)
Westboro Baptist Church continues “hater” tradition
After the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, Fred
Philips, passed away on March 19, 2014, in Topeka, Kansas,
many people were hoping the church would stop its extreme
activities such as protesting at funerals and dooming everyone
who isn’t part of the church to hell. But even though Fred
Philips may have passed on, his spirit still hates on through his
children and congregation.
The followers of the Westboro Baptist Church believe that
homosexuality is a sin and hate anything and anyone they
consider supportive of the “homosexual agenda.” This
perspective includes gay and lesbian events, churches,
organizations, and the funerals of soldiers (who fought in a
war they say was caused because of America’s tolerance for
homosexuality) that they feel do not follow their beliefs. And
still, Westboro’s website (godhatesfags.com) listed several
protests that were scheduled for the month of April. The
protests were to be held at The White House and several
different schools and churches in the area. (The Daily Star
Journal, 4/2/15)
Televangelist asks followers to buy him $65 million jet
Pastor Creflo Dollar of the World Changers Church
International in College Park, Georgia preaches that the more
you give, the more you receive. Dollar owns a multimillion-
dollar mansion and condo. The finances of his 30,000-member
church are under close examination after he posted a plea
on his website asking his followers to buy him a $65 million
private jet. After receiving a lot of criticism from his church, he
took down the posting. (CBS News, 5/21/15) n
