mightychurch.com

Another day - another cult. Another day - another TV expose. I just noticed that last night’s “Four Corners” dealt with a follow-up to a programme they did last year about a guy who “claims to be the son of God”. This week’s episode is described as “a gripping follow-up as filmmaker Ben Anthony documents the story of Wayne Bent’s prosecution on charges of underage sex. The charges are serious and could see him jailed for over thirty years.”

Inside a Cult: Messiah on Trial
Reporter: National Geographic and Channel 4   Broadcast: 18/05/2009

Last year the program told the story of Michael Travesser, formerly Wayne Bent, who claims to be the son of God. This week a gripping follow-up as filmmaker Ben Anthony documents the story of Wayne Bent’s prosecution on charges of underage sex. The charges are serious and could see him jailed for over thirty years.

Ben Anthony is there for every moment of the trial, talking to Wayne Bent, his followers and the people who once revered “their messiah” only to later denounce him. His followers simply call him “Michael”. His real name is Wayne Bent. He says he is “divine” and he led a group of people into an isolated part of New Mexico, in the United States, to prepare them for the end of the world.

Two years ago this new age messiah allowed filmmaker Ben Anthony access to his compound called “Strong City”, and to speak to his followers. What Anthony documented shocked many viewers. Here was a man who wielded unfettered power over the people around him. Most of them had signed over their possessions to him. All offered utter obedience. But his demands were many. Using psychological manipulation Wayne Bent convinced the women in the group that they should sleep with him. Those men that objected were sent packing.

Intent on extending his influence, he then began a campaign to encourage the young girls in the group to come before him naked so they might fully know God. His actions began to concern some of the families involved. They also drew the attention of the local law enforcement agencies.

Last year Wayne Bent was tried for committing sex crimes against two of those girls. Once again filmaker Ben Anthony was there to record the proceedings and the results of his work are, “Inside a Cult: Messiah on Trial” - made with the assistance of the National Geographic Channel and Channel 4. 

It will be replayed on the 19th May at 11.35pm ( TONIGHT ).
link

or else you can even watch it now on iview :

iview link

Wayne/Michael should sue for equal opportunity ......why should the mainstream clergy get away with it and not your average joe.

At last .....

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25538891-5001028,00.html

Church of Scientology on trial

Article from: Agence France-Presse   From correspondents in Paris     May 25, 2009 11:00pm

THE Church of Scientology and seven of its French leaders went on trial on Monday on charges of organised fraud that could lead to an outright ban on the organisation in France.

Known for its Hollywood celebrity followers Tom Cruise and John Travolta, the Church is in the dock in Paris for the second time in six years, although French courts have prosecuted several individual Scientologists since 1978.

The Paris court was hearing the complaint of a woman who alleges she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros $A28,000 for costly Scientology products, such as an “electrometer’’ to measure mental energy.

The woman said she was approached in a Paris street by a Scientologist in late 1998 who offered a free personality test, at a time when she was feeling psychologically fragile.

After being told that her test results were poor, the woman was sold a series of “life-improvement courses’‘, vitamins and other costly products that landed her into debt.

A second complaint before the court came from a woman who alleged that she was forced by her Scientologist employer to undergo testing and enrol in courses. In the end, she was fired.

French defence lawyers argue that Scientology resorts to harassment and pressure to rein in victims who all show signs of vulnerability.

The Scientology Celebrity Centre in Paris, its director Alain Rosenberg and six other top officials are accused of preying on vulnerable would-be followers “with the goal of seizing their fortune by exerting a psychological hold,’’ they said.

What is up with Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott’s parties ? It is incredulous that a senate enquiry will not occur. Nick Xenophon says that he will continue to raise the topic every week in Parliament.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/xenophons-scientology-senate-iinquiry-bid-fails/story-e6freuyi-1225839546671

Xenophon’s Scientology senate inquiry bid fails

From:AAP     March 11, 2010  

INDEPENDENT senator Nick Xenophon’s bid to have an inquiry into the tax-free status of religious and charitable groups, including the Church of Scientology, has failed.

Senator Xenophon today moved a motion in the Senate calling for an inquiry into whether the organisations should be subjected to a public benefit test, like that in the UK.

He was prompted by complaints from former Church of Scientology members, and said he had received “hundreds” more allegations since first raising the issue.

Claims of forced abortions, imprisonment in boot camps and separation of families were also aired this week on the ABC’s Four Corners program, he said.

“This organisation operates in a way that seems an anathema to the basic standards of decency,” Senator Xenophon told parliament.

The Australian Greens supported the bid, with leader Bob Brown labelling Scientology a “dangerous cult”.

“It’s about entrapment of people by sects who take over people’s lives, their livelihoods, their families,” he said.

But both Labor and the Coalition voted against the motion.

Labor frontbencher Joe Ludwig said a Senate inquiry was unwarranted, as there were already two other inquiries looking into taxation matters, including the tax-free status of religious groups.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz said the inquiry would turn the Senate into a “de-facto criminal investigations bureau” and worried it would allow disaffected people from all types of groups to air their grievances.

On reports that the Church of Scientology stops its followers from accessing mental health treatment, Senator Abetz said he believed it was a “dangerous” practice, but it was a person’s right to refuse medical treatment.

“In our free society, we actually allow people to hold silly, bizarre and even dangerous views,” he said.

“In our free society, we actually allow people to hold silly, bizarre and even dangerous views”—I don’t think people are accusing them (just) of holding bizarre views, they’re making specific allegations of abuse!

Maybe they’re concerned about the potential breadth of an inquiry into “religious and charitable groups” rather than Scientology, per se?

Maybe they’re worried Tom wont visit?

If the complaints are against the church of scientology, the inquiry should be into the church of scientology.  Why drag other religious and charitable groups into it? 
I think they should definitely be worried about the broader repercussions of this.  Copying the UK (as suggested, see below) would quite possibly lead to the kinds of shenanigans I outlined in the old, closed ‘Christians in the UK’ thread.
 

INDEPENDENT senator Nick Xenophon’s bid to have an inquiry into the tax-free status of religious and charitable groups, including the Church of Scientology, has failed.

Senator Xenophon today moved a motion in the Senate calling for an inquiry into whether the organisations should be subjected to a public benefit test, like that in the UK.
He was prompted by complaints from former Church of Scientology members, and said he had received “hundreds” more allegations since first raising the issue.

Xenophon to speak at anti-cult conference :

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/xenophon-to-speak-at-anti-cult-conference/story-e6freuz0-1225839956301

Xenophon to speak at anti-cult conference

From:AAP March 12, 2010 11:22AM

TWO days after the Senate blocked his proposed inquiry into Scientology, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon will address a conference in Brisbane to help people who have left cults.

Senator Xenophon yesterday failed to win sufficient support for an inquiry into the tax-free status of religious groups and whether they should be subjected to a public benefit test, like in the UK.

His move was prompted by complaints from former members of the Church of Scientology, and “hundreds” more allegations since first raising the issue.

Claims of forced abortions, imprisonment in boot camps and separation of families were also aired this week on the ABC’s Four Corners program.

The Cult Information and Family Support Group Queensland’s two-day conference at Parliament House kicks off today, with Senator Xenophon to speak at 8.30am (AEST) tomorrow.

The conference will discuss the best way to treat victims of coercive persuasion and mind control.

A spokesman for Senator Xenophon said he was invited to the conference because of his stance on Scientology. “It has become even more relevant now,” he said.

“He’ll be talking about the impact of cults on families and how families are often the forgotten victims in all of this.” The conference will also hear from American experts. [/quote

TONIGHT on Lateline ( ABCTV at 10.30pm ) :

The “lost” children of Scientology speak out - including the daughter of the Australian branch.

Another day, another cult. This time ... WITH ATTITUDE !

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-raid-agape-ministries-of-god-doomsday-cult-properties/story-e6freuyi-1225869205387

Police raid Agape Ministries of God ‘doomsday cult’ properties

By staff writers From:The Advertiser May 20, 2010 2:22PM

POLICE have seized an arsenal of weapons, high-powered ammunition and explosives from South Australian properties linked to a doomsday cult.

About 90 police have been involved in searches over the past two days of 12 properties owned by a religious sect known as the Agape Ministries of God, which allegedly believes the world is approaching the end.

Detectives today raided a property which was formerly part of the Hillcrest psychiatric hospital at Oakden, where they removed numerous boxes from three shipping containers, the Adelaide Advertiser said.

They also were at Mt Magnificent, where they were searching a dam.

Major Fraud detectives said they had arrested four men and charged them with firearms offences.

The searches have uncovered five unsecured firearms at four properties and ammunition, as well as detonators and explosive fuses.

“A substantial amount of high-powered ammunition was located secreted in the metal frames of bed heads located at one of the premises,” police said.

An Upper Sturt man, 46, a Mt Compass man, 49, an Oakden man, 38, and an Aberfoyle Park man, 48, will all face court on firearms offences.

The properties are owned by a religious sect known as Agape Ministries of God, members of which reportedly believe the world is coming to an end.

The sect and its Adelaide leader, “Pastor” Rocco Leo, have featured recently in a Today Tonight investigation.

For local updates on this story, visit the Adelaide Advertiser.

There are quite a few churches that use the name Agape - so I guess they’ll be busy doing PR to dis-associate themselves from these ‘nutters’.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/anonymous-member-brian-mettenbrink-jailed-over-church-of-scientology-cyber-attack/story-e6freuyi-1225870932736

Anonymous member Brian Mettenbrink jailed over Church of Scientology cyber attack

From correspondents in Nebraska             From   : AFP     May 25, 2010     10:19AM

A MAN who took part in a cyber attack against Church of Scientology websites two years ago has been sentenced to one year in prison by a judge in Los Angeles.

Brian Mettenbrink from Nebraska was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release after his jail sentence ends after pleading guilty to what Judge Gary Feess described as a “sense of hate crime.”

Mettenbrink had admitted a misdemeanor charge of unauthorised access of a protected computer.

According to court documents, Mettenbrink was part of the shadowy anti-Scientology group “Anonymous,” which has conducted several protests against the church in recent years.

In January 2008 the group announced a cyber offensive which disabled access to Scientology’s websites, prosecutors said.

So much for being ‘anonymous’!