CultNEWS101 Articles: 1/16/2018

Scientology, Spiritual Abuse, Ram Rahim, India, Legal, Jim and Tammy Bakker, Ponzi Sceme, Jehovah's Witnesses, Sexual Abuse, Legal

Hollywood Reporter: Kirstie Alley Criticizes Journalist's "Bigoted" Views of Scientology

"Kirstie Alley took to Twitter on Saturday to critique journalist Yashar Ali after he charged that she had treated two Hollywood professionals accused of sexual misconduct — one a current Scientologist and the other a lapsed Scientologist — differently due to their faith."

Church Times: Two-thirds of Christians in new survey say they have been spiritually abused

"The study also acknowledges that definitions of spiritual abuse are not clear cut, and suggests this lack of clarity may be a significant barrier to responding appropriately to its victims within the Church."

“'Existing work around this experience (which is characterised by a systematic pattern of controlling and coercive behaviour in a religious context) is still in its infancy, to the extent that there is not currently universal agreement about this as a term,' it says."

Outlook: Ram Rahim's Close Aide And Doctor Arrested, Was Involved In Castration Of 300 Followers

"Months after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Special Investigation Team(SIT) has arrested a doctor who was allegedly involved in the castration of 300 followers."

"Dr Mahinder Pal Singh alias Mahender Insan in Sirsa, a surgeon who has been associated with sect from 1995, is said to have involved in the castration of 300 people ordered by Ram Rahim."

Post-Gazette: How Jim and Tammy Bakker's religious Ponzi scheme collapsed

"The late 1980s offered many great scandals, but for sheer carnivalesque spectacle, nothing beat the televangelists: Oral Roberts (that name!) citing divine extortion, demanded $7 million from his followers so God wouldn’t “call [him] home.” Jimmy Swaggart (Jerry Lee Lewis’ cousin) cruised rural Louisiana for prostitutes."

"But Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker are certainly the most indelible of these holy hypocrites."

San Diego Reader: Jehovah's Witnesses to settle sex-abuse case

"A lawsuit is now settled between a former victim of sexual abuse and Jehovah's Witnesses. According to the court's website, the case is under a "conditional settlement." The terms and conditions of the settlement are not public."

"José Lopez filed the lawsuit back in 2012, nearly 20 years after church elder Gonzalo Campos molested him and several other young children who were members of the Linda Vista congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses."

"As reported by the Reader, Campos, who fled to Mexico to escape criminal charges, admitted to committing the acts to Lopez’s and another victim's attorney, Devin Storey, while giving testimony in one of the cases."