Jun 8, 2023
Priests in Bolivia 'saints by day, demons by night': alleged victim
More than 100 people come forward to accuse Christian 'cult' leader of abuse
Allegations concern physical, emotional and spiritual abuse and some victims claim they do not trust the internal Church investigation
The Telegraph
By Gabriella Swerling, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS EDITOR7 June 2023
More than 100 people have come forward to accuse the Christian “cult” leader Mike Pilavachi of abuse, the Telegraph can reveal.
Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, 65, founded the Soul Survivor Watford church and its namesake youth festivals which ran from 1993 to 2019 and attracted tens of thousands of teenagers from around the world.
The vicar was first unmasked by this newspaper in April after being accused of giving “inappropriate massages” to young adults. Just weeks later, the Telegraph published interviews with victims and former staff members who spoke out for the first time detailing how he ran “a cult” in which a “conveyor belt” of attractive young men – usually around aged 18 to 21 – were encouraged to receive full-body oil massages on his bed, engage in vigorous wrestling matches and endure psychological torment and spiritual abuse.
Rev Canon Pilavachi is currently suspended from Soul Survivor Watford while the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and the Diocese of St Albans carry out an investigation into the allegations.
However, the scale of his alleged abuse can be revealed for the first time as it is understood that more than 100 people have come forward with information regarding the vicar and that the allegations are believed to concern physical, emotional and spiritual abuse.
Sources have also said that the complaints range from the 1980s to the present day.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one victim, who has reported to the investigation, said: “The number of responses speaks poignantly of the depth and breadth of Mike’s influence. It also goes to show the extent of the hurt caused by his actions and the negligence of those around him.
“Mike’s ministry, which took him all over the world for decades, targeted young people during some of their most vulnerable and formative years. In doing so, he had a real impact on the short, medium and long term trajectory of their lives - no doubt felt today by many, including myself.
“It would be sad, but no surprise, if the numbers were far greater. There are people across the world who will most likely have no idea this investigation is happening - I hope they will become aware and feel able to share their stories, too.”
The Soul Survivor movement spawned offshoots in South Africa, Holland, Canada, New Zealand and the US. Paul Martin, who founded Soul Survivor USA in 2000, has said that its leaders in the UK were aware of “allegations of some sort about Mike’s relationship with young interns” as early as 2002.
Some victims have also spoken out claiming that they do not trust the internal Church investigation into Rev Canon Pilavachi led by the NST and the Diocese of St Albans. As a result, they released a statement through Richard Scorer, head of abuse law and public inquiries at the law firm Slater and Gordon, calling for a separate, independent investigation and warning: “The days when churches could plausibly investigate themselves and mark their own homework are long gone.”
A Church of England spokesman said: “We can confirm that the National Safeguarding Team/St Albans diocese investigation into Mike Pilavachi continues to receive reports, some with third hand information and others with direct experience.
“We are aware of the courage it takes to come forward and everyone involved continues to be offered support.”
A spokesman for Soul Survivor Watford added: “We are continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation. We are assured that anyone affected will continue to be given the opportunity to contribute to the investigation and given the support they need. We are also committed to reviewing the culture of Soul Survivor Watford and are determined that lessons are learned to ensure a strong, healthy and supportive environment for anyone who calls this church their home.
“We recognise that there are currently many people who are feeling hurt and confused. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and we would encourage anyone who has concerns related to the investigation to report those to the NST or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.”
Jun 7, 2023
Kenya to convert cult massacre forest into memorial site
Nairobi (AFP) – Kenya will convert a vast coastal forest where the bodies of more than 250 people linked to a doomsday cult have been exhumed into a national memorial site, a minister has said.
France 24
07/06/2023
The discovery of mass graves in Shakahola forest, a 325-hectare (800-acre) bushland that lies inland from the Indian Ocean town of Malindi, has shocked Kenyans.
Cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie is facing various charges in the grisly case, accused of driving his followers to death by preaching that starvation was the only path to God.
The forest "where grave crimes have been committed will not remain as it was," Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said on Tuesday.
"The government will convert it into a national memorial, a place of remembrance so that Kenyans and the world do not forget what happened here," he said in a statement.
Investigators began a third phase of exhumation on Tuesday, unearthing nine more bodies to take the death toll to 251.
Kindiki said the cult's activities extended beyond Shakahola forest and that "comprehensive, methodical, and scientific" investigations had extended to a ranch in the area stretching over more than 14,980 hectares (37,000 acres).
"Once the ongoing exercise is concluded, a congregation of believers from all faiths and the national leadership shall convene for a commemoration service," Kindiki said.
While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims -- including children -- were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to autopsies carried by the government.
Regulating religion
Mackenzie -- a taxi driver-turned-preacher -- has not yet been required to enter a plea, with the prosecution seeking for more days to detain him pending further investigations.
The 50-year-old founder of the Good News International Church turned himself in on April 14 after police acting on a tip-off first entered Shakahola forest.
Police say at least 35 people have been arrested.
Some 95 people have been rescued from the forest while the number of those reported missing was 613, according to police records.
Questions have been raised about how Mackenzie, a father of seven, managed to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal cases.
The horrific saga led President William Ruto to set up a commission of inquiry into the deaths and a task force to review regulations governing religious bodies.
Efforts to regulate religion in the majority-Christian country have been fiercely opposed in the past as attempts to undermine constitutional guarantees for the division of church and state.
OneTaste Founder and Former Head of Sales Indicted for Forced Labor Conspiracy
Heads of ‘orgasmic meditation’ group, OneTaste, charged with forced labor and sex abuse of followers
Survey: 70% of religious groups welcome new law on donations
June 6, 2023
About 70 percent of religious corporations said legal changes to prevent them from conducting dubious donation collections were appropriate or somewhat appropriate, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey.
Even the Unification Church, formally called the Federation for World Peace and Unification, whose actions led to the legal revisions, said the changes were appropriate.
The penal provisions that went into effect from April ban the collection of donations from followers and others who are in a “state of confusion.”
The health ministry in December also approved guidelines on what constitutes abuse by parents who force their religious practices on their children.
The Asahi Shimbun sent out questionnaires to 63 religious corporations and received responses from 33.
Twenty-four, including the Unification Church, said the new ban on questionable donations was appropriate or somewhat appropriate.
Twenty-two religious corporations, including the Unification Church, said the health ministry guidelines were appropriate or somewhat appropriate.
One religious corporation said that children should decide--based on their free will--whether to base their actions on a religious belief. Words and deeds that are threatening or stimulate worries and could affect such decisions should be restrained, the group said.
Another religious corporation said the donation ban was appropriate because of the need to eliminate scams hidden behind the guise of religion. Another said all victims of such large donations should be provided help.
But some religious corporations said the definition in the new law about using spiritual sales and other practices to confuse believers was too vague and could be used by government authorities to arbitrarily target certain religious groups.
Three corporations said the legal changes were somewhat inappropriate, citing the difficulty of finding evidence to determine illegal donation practices and the lack of clear definitions of what actions are meant to confuse believers.
Happy Science was the only religious corporation to say the change was inappropriate because it violated the constitutional principle of separation of politics and religion.
The group said it was a “bad law” that placed religions under state control.
Two religious corporations said the health ministry guidelines about parental abuse were inappropriate, and one called them somewhat inappropriate.
The Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism said the guidelines were inappropriate because the offensive acts applied to all actions by parents regarding their children and should not have been limited to religious practices.
Jehovah’s Witness, which has been accused of abuse by second-generation believers and their lawyers, did not respond to the question about the health ministry guidelines, but said it did not condone child abuse.
(This article was written by Amane Shimazaki, Taishi Sasayama and Ryujiro Komatsu.)
https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14926213
They Promised 'Orgasm Meditation.' They Delivered a Sex Cult, Feds Say.
Jun 6, 2023
Scientology spotlight: Danny Masterson, Tom Cruise and Leah Remini illuminate Hollywood church drama
Remini has denounced Scientology practices after leaving the religion
Tracy Wright
Fox News
June 6, 2023
Danny Masterson’s recent rape trial and convictions shined a new light on Scientology, the somewhat secretive religion favored by a few of the biggest and brightest stars in Tinseltown.
Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the ultimate goal of Scientology is "true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for the individual" through the realization of spiritual salvation and brotherhood with the universe, per the organization.
Masterson and his actress wife, Bijou Phillips, belong to the church, in addition to his actor brother, Christopher Masterson and half-siblings, Alanna Masterson and Jordan Masterson.
Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Jenna Elfman and the late Kirstie Alley have been staunch allies of the controversial religion through the years.
No other church members aside from Danny Masterson were implicated or charged with criminal conduct in connection with the victims' rape allegations.
DANNY MASTERSON'S GUILTY VERDICT: CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY ADAMANT RAPE RETRIAL VIOLATED FIRST AMENDEMENT
The church of Scientology was highlighted in the rape retrial of Danny Masterson, and that inclusion was slammed by the organization after the actor was found guilty Wednesday.
Masterson, 47, was found guilty on two counts of forcible rape. The jury was hung on a third charge. A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for eight days before reaching the verdicts.
The former "That 70s Show" star was accused of drugging the victims' drinks in order to rape them.
The accusers claimed they were hesitant to file charges due to the church's alleged strict protocols against public involvement with member issues; all three women were members at the time.
DANNY MASTERSON GUILTY IN RAPE RETRIAL
"The church taught his victims, ‘Rape isn’t rape, you caused this, and above all, you are never allowed to go to law enforcement,’" Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson told the jury during the trial. "In Scientology, the defendant is a celebrity, and he is untouchable."
However, the Church of Scientology criticized the involvement of the organization in the trial by the prosecution, saying testimony and descriptions regarding the church's "beliefs" and "practices" were false.
"The prosecution's introduction of religion into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and affects the due process rights of every American," the Church of Scientology told Fox News Digital in a statement. "The Church was not a party to this case and religion did not belong in this proceeding as Supreme Court precedent has maintained for centuries."
"The District Attorney unconscionably centered his prosecution on the defendant's religion and fabrications about the Church to introduce prejudice and inflame bigotry," the statement continued. "The DA elicited testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs and practices which were uniformly FALSE."
The church denied discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct to law enforcement, saying, "Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land. All allegations to the contrary are totally FALSE. There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers. Every single instance of supposed harassment by the Church is FALSE, and has been debunked."
Leah Remini, a former Scientologist and the organization's most outspoken defector, called the women who survived Masterson's alleged attacks "heroes."
Remini has often discussed Cruise as the top of the Scientology chain. The "Top Gun" actor became a member of the church in 1986 through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. In 1992, he publicly disclosed his affiliation with the religion.
Cruise married his second wife, Nicole Kidman, in 1990 just months after meeting on set of "Days of Thunder." She reportedly took Scientology classes while they were together, but has never spoken about her relationship with the church or Cruise.
The couple adopted two children, Isabelle and Connor, while they were married. When they divorced in 2001, the kids chose to continue practicing the religion. In a 2018 interview with Australia's WHO magazine, Kidman, who was raised Catholic, said she loves her kids "unconditionally."
"They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and, as a mother, it’s my job to love them," she explained. "And I am an example of that tolerance and that’s what I believe — that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love, and I’m open here."
"I think that’s so important because if that is taken away from a child, to sever that in any child, in any relationship, in any family — I believe it’s wrong. So that’s our job as a parent, to always offer unconditional love."
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY GOT TOM CRUISE A DIVORCE, HELPED HIM MARRY NICOLE KIDMAN, BOOK ALLEGES
Kidman's exit paved the way for Cruise's next wife to enter stage right: Katie Holmes. The former "Dawson's Creek" actress married Cruise in 2006 after welcoming a daughter together named Suri.
Six years later, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise, and also sought sole custody of their little girl.
A joint statement released at the time alluded to conflict between their belief systems. "We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri’s best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each others' commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other’s roles as parents," the statement said.
Remini claimed that the religion played a part in the demise of their relationship.
"Scientology considers Katie a suppressive person which is an enemy," she told the New York Post in 2020. "I knew Katie when she was in [Scientology] and she seemed very indoctrinated into Tom’s world, but as time went on, I understood why she did what she did to protect her daughter."
Remini, who left the church in 2013, has since hosted a documentary series about Scientology, which earned her two Emmy Awards for outstanding nonfiction series or special.
LEAH REMINI DISAGREES WITH HOW LAURA PREPON LEFT SCIENTOLOGY: ‘NOT EVERYBODY WHO HAS A VOICE USES IT’
She penned a memoir about her time within the church and discusses the religion on her podcast with fellow church whistleblower, Mike Rinder, titled, "Scientology: Fair Game."
The organization has consistently denied Remini's claims, and in a statement posted on their site, said she "knows the truth she conveniently rewrites in her revisionist history."
The group added, "She needs to move on with her life instead of pathetically exploiting her former religion, her former friends and other celebrities for money and attention to appear relevant again."
Alley flourished in the lifestyle Scientology provided her after she joined the group in the '70s.
The "Cheers" actress, who died on Dec. 8 at the age of 71 after a short battle with colon cancer, remained a Scientologist throughout her life and was dedicated to her religion, which she credited with helping her overcome a cocaine addiction.
KIRSTIE ALLEY REMEMBERED BY CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY AS ‘BELOVED MEMBER’ AND ‘CHAMPION FOR DRUG REHABILIATION’
"Kirstie Alley was a beloved member of our Church, a champion for drug rehabilitation and a passionate advocate for human rights," the church said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Kirstie was known the world over for her generosity, charisma and irresistible sense of humor. She will be deeply missed and long remembered by the countless many whose lives she changed. Our hearts are with her family."
Alley credited the church with helping her stay clean and wrote about her battle with addiction in her 2012 memoir, "The Art of Men."
"Now on to demonstrating how L. Ron Hubbard influenced my life directly," she wrote. "He taught me that I could change. He taught me that other people could change. He taught me humanity and responsibility."
She continued, "When I began doing Scientology, I was a drugged-out mess. I understood hell—depression, anxiety, addiction, failure, and loss. Well, at least, I understood that I'd experienced a fair quantity of each. Through the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard I gained a different point of view of these age-old problems. Depression, anxiety, loss, addiction, sadness, hate, self-loathing are not new subjects."
The "Drop Dead Gorgeous" star was also reportedly ranked at one of the highest levels in the organization, according to an interview she gave to the church publication "Freewinds" in 2018.
Elfman, who has practiced Scientology teachings for decades, once said debates over the religion were simply lacking any substance.
"The controversy is boring," the "Fear the Walking Dead" actress told Us Weekly in 2020.
"It's nothing to me. I know what I know, and how much it helps me."
The "Dharma & Greg" star credited Scientology as the secret behind her 28-year marriage with actor Bodhi Elfman.
She told People magazine in 2018, "Well, I’ve been a Scientologist for 28 years and that’s a huge part of what helps us keep our communication going and our relationship."
"We’ve never cheated on each other, we’ve never broken up. We hang in there."
Elfman added of the religious practice, "I use it every single day of my life and it keeps me energized and vivacious and happy."
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
Why Rastafari smoke marijuana for sacramental reasons and the faith's other beliefs
The Associated Press
June 2, 2023
Members of the Rastafari religion and political movement have for decades been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic use of marijuana. But the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda recently became one of the first Caribbean nations to grant Rastafari official sacramental authorization to grow and smoke the herb that they deem sacred.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told The Associated Press in an interview that his government took this step to try to end the persecution and bring respect to the Rastafari faith.
Rastafari elsewhere are pushing for similar religious protections. Experts and stakeholders think the Antigua and Barbuda law could give a boost to these efforts worldwide at a time when public opinion and policy are continuing to shift in favor of medical and recreational marijuana use.
Here is a quick look at the faith’s beliefs and history:
ORIGINS
The Rastafari faith is rooted in 1930s Jamaica, growing as a response by Black people to white colonial oppression. The beliefs are a melding of Old Testament teachings and a desire to return to Africa. Its message was spread across the world in the 1970s by Jamaican music icons Bob Marley and Peter Tosh — two of the faith’s most famous exponents.
A Rastafari’s personal relationship with “Jah,” or God, is considered central to the faith.
SACRAMENTAL MARIJUANA
Rastafari followers believe the use of marijuana is directed in biblical passages and that the “holy herb” induces a meditative state and brings them closer to the divine. The faithful smoke it as a sacrament in chalice pipes or cigarettes called “spliffs,” add it to plant-based organic stews and place it in fires as a burnt offering.
But adherents, many of them Black, have endured both racial and religious profiling due to their ritualistic use of cannabis.
GANJA
“Ganja,” as marijuana is known in the Caribbean, has a long history in Jamaica, and its arrival predates the Rastafari faith. Indentured servants from India brought the cannabis plant to the island in the 19th century, and it gained popularity as a medicinal herb.
HAILE SELASSIE
Most of its many sects worship the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. This is rooted in Jamaican Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey’s 1920s prediction that a “Black king shall be crowned” in Africa, ushering in a “day of deliverance.” When an Ethiopian prince named Ras Tafari, who took the name Haile Selassie I, became emperor in 1930, the descendants of slaves in Jamaica took it as proof that Garvey’s prophecy was being fulfilled. When Haile Selassie visited Jamaica in 1966, he was greeted by adoring crowds, and some Rastafari insisted miracles and other mystical occurrences took place during his visit to the island.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.