NXIVM, Podcast, Legal, LGBTQ, Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana
Literary Hub: Here come the sex cult books!
"People like sex (I've been told) and people like (to read about) cults. Which is why two impending sex cult tell-alls could yield seven-figure publishing deals.The cult in question, Nxivm—which I refuse to even attempt to pronounce—came to national attention a a little over a year ago when Smallville star Allison Mack (pictured above) was accused of recruiting young women to join cult leader Keith Raniere's Albany-based "self-help group" (the two were charged sex trafficking, forced labor, extortion, and more).One of the women recruited was India Oxenberg (daughter of actress Catherine, who's already written about the experience), who's memoir is being shopped by Foundry Literary + Media. Another account of the cult is being written by the mother of Raniere's child, an as-yet unnamed woman who escaped to Florida following threats from Nxivm, and who is represented by Eileen Cope at Mark Creative Management."
The publishing industry is about to enjoy something of a Nxivm boom, it seems.Page Six has learned that — with evil leader Keith Raniere now convicted — two blockbuster books about the upstate sex cult are in the works: one by a woman who had a baby with Raniere, and one by India Oxenberg, the Hollywood scion who was allegedly recruited by "Smallville" star Allison Mack.The first book is by Raniere's one-time girlfriend — who has never been publicly named, in order to protect her from the vengeful sect — who, we're told, was one of the "primary witnesses" in the criminal case against Raniere.Sources close to the book tell us that the author has a school-age son with Raniere and that she had a "front-row seat" while he was building the cult, gaining a unique understanding "of the process by which he was able to do it."We're told the woman eventually escaped the terrifying Albany-based organization and fled to Florida, where she changed her identity and that of her son in an attempt to evade Nxivm spies. But we're told Raniere allegedly sank about a million dollars into hunting her down and eventually found her working as a waitress in a cafe."
"They hold me down, pin me down, and I'm crying, and the Holy Spirit just comes through me, and they keep speaking in tongues," the alleged victim said."They hold me down, pin me down, and I'm crying, and the Holy Spirit just comes through me, and they keep speaking in tongues," the alleged victim said.A church is under investigation after a gay man said he was ambushed and held down by congregants who tried to pray away his sexuality.Sean Cormie, 23, told KFOR-TV, NBC's Oklahoma City affiliate, that his family had been urging him and his partner, Gary Garner, to attend services at First Assembly of God Church in Blackwell, Oklahoma, ever since Cormie came out as gay last spring. After months of persuasion, the pair attended services on Sept. 8."I wanted to go to church and make my mom proud," Cormie said.After the service, the pastor, Bill McKissick, began preaching about homosexuality and approximately 12 congregants gathered around the couple, according to Cormie."They hold me down, pin me down, and I'm crying, and the Holy Spirit just comes through me, and they keep speaking in tongues, praying over me," Cormie said. "I was just crying, 'Mercy, mercy.'"Cormie said that Garner was pushed out of the church, but as Cormie attempted to leave, he was punched in the face and held down by the congregation. After leaving the church, Cormie filed a police report with the Blackwell Police Department. Police Chief Dwayne Wood confirmed to NBC News that the investigation is ongoing."
Mercury News: Appeals court upholds $900,000 judgment for granddaughter who said she was berated by televangelist after being raped
"A state appeals court has upheld a $900,000 judgment awarded to the granddaughter of late televangelist Jan Crouch, who alleged that when she was 13-years-old the minister blamed and berated her for being raped by a church employee.A panel of appellate judges in a written ruling released Thursday disregarded arguments by attorneys for Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana that Jan Crouch's conduct constituted "grandmotherly scolding or irascible behavior" and that Carra Crouch "endured nothing more than insults, petty indignities and annoyances.""We conclude that Jan Crouch's behavior toward Carra was sufficiently extreme and outrageous to impose liability for (infliction of emotional distress)," the judges wrote in their ruling. 'Yelling at a 13-year-old girl who had been drugged and raped that she was stupid and she was at fault exceeds all possible bounds of decency. By telling Carra that she was at fault, Jan Crouch displayed a reckless disregard for the almost certain emotional distress Carra would, and did, suffer.'"
News, Education, Intervention, Recovery
Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.
CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources.
Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.
Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.
