Cult News

By Rick Alan Ross

Introduction

I was asked to offer an opinion based upon the structure, dynamics and influence of Kathryn Krick and her “Five-Fold Church” (5F Church). Specifically, my analysis of how Ms. Krick’s teachings impact those involved within her ministry and their children. This analysis includes how the teachings of Kathryn Krick directly influence children and family relationships. This is not a religious perspective questioning what 5F Church members and Ms. Krick believe, but rather a perspective concerning Kathryn Krick’s influence and how her influence directly affects members of the group concerning their behavior and by extension their children. This is an examination and analysis of the 5F Church and its internal dynamics. Focusing on how its leader exercises her controlling authority in ways that negatively impact the lives of families and children.

I have reviewed material relevant to the 5F Church including videos of church services, which contain many public statements from both 5F members and Ms. Krick herself, looked through the official websites of the group and Ms. Krick’s social media, reviewed online critiques of 5F and Ms. Krick and read the book “The Secret of the Anointing,” by Kathryn Krick.

I am the founder and Executive Director of the Cult Education Institute (CEI). CEI is a nonprofit tax-exempted educational 501 (c) (3) institution devoted to the study of controversial groups and movements, some that have been called “cults.” CEI’s online library contains thousands of documents and hundreds of subsections about various groups and movements and is an institutional member of the American Library Association. CEI has maintained a historical archive within its database for more since 1996.

My work in the area of authoritarian groups, controversial organizations and movements began in 1982 as a community organizer concerned about the harm done by such groups and movements. I am a widely known expert and my opinions are often cited in news reports, broadcasts and documentaries. I have been a guest lecturer at universities and colleges across the United States including Rutgers, Dickinson College, the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Baylor University, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

I have also presented papers at international conferences concerning authoritarian and destructive groups in both Thailand and China, which have been published in peer reviewed journals.

I am the author of the book “Cults Inside Out: How People Get in and Can Get Out,” which has also been published in Chinese and Italian.

My professional work as a consultant has included helping hundreds of families, assisting mental health professionals, attorneys, clergy and law enforcement. Each year I typically respond to hundreds of inquiries.

I have worked with law enforcement both on the local and federal level in the United States, such as the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

My Curriculum Vitae is attached.

Expert Witness

I have been qualified and accepted as an expert witness across the United States in court proceedings. This has included expert testimony given in courts in the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. I have testified in United States Federal Court after being qualified and accepted through a Daubert Hearing. I have also been deposed, and/or submitted testimony by affidavit as an expert in Arkansas, Connecticut, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. I have also submitted an expert report in a judicial proceeding in Guatemala at the request of the Attorney General of Guatemala.

My court testimony has included divorce and child custody proceedings, criminal prosecutions, expert testimony before a grand jury and personal injury lawsuits. Typically, my testimony is centered upon the behavior of authoritarian groups and/or leaders that gain undue influence over people through deception and the use of coercive persuasion techniques and then use this influence to exploit and do damage to them. This undue influence can be seen when those affected act against their own best interest, but consistently in the best interest of the authoritarian leader and/or group.

Defining a potentially unsafe authoritarian group and/or leader

A charismatic individual may attract what can be seen as a “cult following.” That is, intensely devoted followers or fans that ardently embrace certain musicians, actors or artists. Certain products, companies and exercise or diet regimens might also have such a cult-like following.

But when most people use the word “cult” they are most often referring to something less benign than enthusiastic audiences or consumers.

There is an entire chapter within my book Cults Inside Out discussing various historical definitions of what constitutes a destructive so-called “cult” or authoritarian high demand and/or control group. Many of these definitions coalesce and/or intersect three basic core criteria. These three primary characteristics are described in a paper written by psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton titled “Cult Formation.” In my book I describe these three core criteria as the nucleus for a definition of a destructive authoritarian group or “cult.”

Lifton’s three criteria are as follows:

1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;

2. A process [Lifton calls] coercive persuasion or thought reform;

3. Economic, sexual and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.

A charismatic leader

Kathryn Krick was born January 1, 1991 in upstate New York. She graduated from Ithaca College in 2013 with a major in communication, management and design. Subsequently she relocated to Los Angeles to become an actor. She did commercials and briefly was seen in a reality show. Without much success as an actor, Ms. Krick then wrote and recorded Christian music under the name “Kat Krick.” She also worked as a waiter, nanny and drove for Lyft.

In 2016 Krick met a self-styled “prophet” GeorDavie Moses Kasambale, while the itinerant preacher from Tanzania was visiting the United States. Geordavie proclaimed her an “apostle.” He later publicly anointed her when she visited his church in Africa. At her anointment ceremony Krick stated, “We want to plant a seed at your feet. We want to be used to reach all the people of Los Angeles to bring them to you… And all of this joy you see in us and this transformation. It’s only because of you Baba. We would be nothing without you. We know and recognize that you hold the keys to America and only you. We surrender and submit to you.”

Krick acknowledges GeorDavie as her mentor and “spiritual father.” She wrote, “I saw the authority of Christ in my spiritual father like I had never seen demonstrated.” GeorDavie has otherwise been described as “a popular minister, entrepreneur, and self-styled prophet who founded his own church, travels in luxury, controls an impressive media empire back home in Tanzania.” He was reportedly looking to expand his empire when he met Krick.

Other than GeorDavie anointing her Krick has no formal training as a minister, ordination credential, official denominational status or affiliation and/or seminary degree.

Krick casts herself as someone with extraordinary power and special authority. She states, “I had been believing in a promise of God, a prophecy spoken to me more than four years prior, that He would do many miracles through me and that I was called to reach the nations as an apostle of Jesus Christ.”

She further explains her unique status, “There are different levels of authority/anointing in the Kingdom of God, just as there are different positions and levels of authority in an earthly kingdom…Those in the five-fold ministry operate in the highest level of anointing…In modern times anointing is rare. It can appear as though only a few ministers (in comparison to how many there are in the world) carry this unique anointing to walk in miracles.”

Krick sets herself in a special category of anointing as not only an “apostle,” but also as a “true anointed vessel.” She states, “These days most people want to hear God without a human vessel involved.” She questions, “How do you know if someone giving you a word is a true anointed vessel or not?” She explains, “If God chooses to speak something to you through a true anointed vessel, whether a word of direction, revelation or correction, you should humbly receive that word. You should not come with skepticism and an attitude, I’ve never heard of that before, so I don’t know…You should take the word of a true vessel as a true word of God.”

Krick claims that she is “allowing God to speak through me…”

Kathryn Krick places herself in a hierarchy of authority. She explains that through that hierarchy her followers can receive protection and anointing. Krick states, “God-appointed spiritual fathers and mothers, a receiver’s spiritual covering, leaders of the ministry where the receiving person is planted…the anointing flows from the head down to the rest of the body…God has created this system of the anointing’s flow…when we get in alignment with the proper order and flow of the anointing, there will be no misuse…He gives the head of a ministry a specific vision. God then releases special anointing on the leader to complete that vision. He then brings many more vessels to help the leader accomplish that vision.”

One follower calls Kathryn Krick “my spiritual mom, apostle and the greatest friend of my life.”

Another follower exclaims, “Just by positioning myself and planting myself where God’s power is moving at 5F Church, under Apostle Kathryn, I’ve seen the anointing move in my life.”

Krick frequently reiterates her special authority. She states, “I am an apostle, with apostolic and prophetic anointing. My spiritual father [Geordavie] is a prophet, and I received this assignment to carry revival and restore the five-fold ministry through impartation from him.” She also has stated, “There will come a time when God will lead me to anoint Five-Fold ministers here at Five-Fold Church (5F Church).” “Believers should not teach.” “Only those that the leader has appointed and anointed” Krick thus assumes the role of spiritual master and divinely mandated teacher. She explains, “It wasn’t that God wasn’t giving me enough ‘revelation.’ He was giving me exactly what He wanted these people to hear…They need anointed teaching that feeds their spirit, not their soul (their mind, will and emotions).

Krick dismisses other Christian ministries “that just preach to the soul, void of anointing. That kind of preaching doesn’t bring lasting change to a person, however, only temporary feeling. Anointed teaching feeds your spirit and makes your spirit grow and your carnal nature go down. Anointed teaching is what brings actual transformation.”

Krick claims, “There are different levels of authority anointing in the Kingdom of God, just as there are different positions and levels of authority in an earthly kingdom. The level of authority/anointing people receive is based on their specific calling and their heart…Those in the fivefold ministry operate in the highest level of anointing because they are the ones called to equip and impart to the Body of Christ.”

Krick goes further admonishing her followers not to share their views with potential members, but rather to point them to her. “It’s better not to advise them. What you should instead do is say go to subscribe to Apostle Kathryn and ask questions at the subscriber Q & A.” She concludes, “God gives this perfect wonderful wisdom to leaders. It’s a special grace and anointing” (21:45). “They’re not given the grace for it if they’re not the leader” (24:12).

As described by one member, “It is such an honor to serve you and honor you as your spiritual daughter I love you…You’re my favorite person. I love you…My desire is to see every one of your desires come to pass…You’re everything to me, you’re my spiritual mom, you’re my David…Happy Birthday mom.”
In a 5F church video people can be seen lined up to praise Krick and wish her happy birthday. They bow before her and she bestows a blessing placing her hand on each person’s head. They repeatedly call her “mom” and “spiritual mother.”

Based upon her special claims of anointing and authority and functioning as their “spiritual mother” and “spiritual covering” of protection, Krick has become an object of worship.

Kathryn Krick has more than a million subscribers on YouTube.

Kathryn Krick has more than 500,000 followers on Instagram.

Kathryn Krick has more than 270,000 followers on TikTok.

Thought Reform and Coercive Persuasion

“Thought Reform,” a term that describes activity that is more commonly referred to as “coercive persuasion” and, in popular culture, frequently labeled as “brainwashing,” is readily identifiable. Thought reform also includes other forms of coercive and intense indoctrination. Thought reform is employed by destructive authoritarian groups.

Thought Reform

The methods that I use to understand, analyze and interpret thought reform and the behavior of destructive authoritarian groups include, but are not limited to, criteria based upon the following academic literature.

“Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China,” by Robert Jay Lifton.

“Coercive Persuasion: A Social psychological Analysis of the Brainwashing of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists,” by Edgar H. Schein.

“Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace,” by Margret Thaler Singer.

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” by Robert B. Cialdini.

A thought reform program is generally identifiable based on the criteria (“Lifton’s Criteria”) provided in Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton’s seminal work “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism.”

Lifton states, “I wish to suggest a set of criteria against which any environment may be judged a basis for answering the ever-recurring question: ‘but isn’t this just like brainwashing?’” Lifton’s criteria to define thought reform consist of eight psychological themes which are predominant within the social field of the thought reform milieu. The Lifton criteria are as follows: (1) “Milieu Control”; (2) “Mystical Manipulation”; (3) “Demand for Purity”; (4) “Cult of Confession”; (5) “Sacred Science”; (6) “Loading the Language”; (7) “Doctrine over Person”; and (8) “Dispensing of Existence.”

“Milieu Control”

Involves the control of communication and information within a specific environment resulting in a significant degree of isolation from the surrounding society. It is the most basic feature of the thought reform environment. That is, the control of human communication and isolation from society at large. Milieu control can manifest in physical (i.e., confinement to a location) and/or social (i.e., estrangement from friends and family) form.

Kathryn Krick attacks and discredits anyone that challenges her authority. She has publicly rebuked followers. For example, she attacked one member during a church service at length concluding, “She {Pam Malone] has rebelled against leadership” (1:53) “The ways in which she has rebelled and is acting as a mentor and a leader…portraying herself as a leader.”

Krick attempts to control information by discrediting her critics. In this way she hopes to build a wall of separation between her followers and the outside world. She says, “In moments when people were spreading lies about the ministry and me, I had to trust in God like never before…I also told you earlier that as the anointing increases, so does the persecution. The more of a threat you are to the devil’s kingdom, the harder he tries to stop you…As my platform grew and I became more well-known, I started facing higher-level spiritual attacks and persecution than I ever had before. Videos full of false accusations were made to ‘expose me’ bring up my past, twisting my words and taking things out of context.” Krick characterizes this as “attacks” of “the devil…God took me through in the wilderness [and] prepared me for my greatest test yet of public persecution, slander and character assassination.

Krick instructs her followers to “Consistently watch 5F Church’s livestreams or attend in person so they are continually planting themselves under the flow of anointing.”

She insists that her devotees “Avoid watching negative videos other Jealous people have made to attack ministers.”

Krick seems to constantly reinforce resistance to any criticism directed towards her. She states, “When God begins to use you in power, you will definitely find yourself becoming the target of criticism from those with the religious spirit, just as what happened to Jesus. The devil hates the anointing because it is the power that destroys his works. The way he attacks the anointing is by sending the religious spirit to people, who then attack the anointing in others…The devil whispers lies…”

It seems to me that Krick reinforces this understanding of critics and criticism amongst her individual followers. She explains, “If you’re walking in the anointing, the religious spirit will attack. Be prepared for those attacks. Stay faithful to God, and don’t give an ear to the critics.”

In my opinion by creating an information vacuum around herself devoid of critical thinking and building a wall of separation between her followers and those outside of the 5F Church Krick has effectively created a milieu, which she controls.

“Mystical Manipulation”

Involves extensive personal manipulation that will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the environment but is, in fact, planned and calculated by those in control to demonstrate a special kind of mystique, power or authority. The pursuit of this type of manipulation often supersedes considerations of common decency and human welfare. The abused or controlled individual is also frequently required to actively participate in the manipulation of others.

Krick seemingly manipulates her followers by encouraging unreasonable fears. She states, “You are in a place where the anointing is, you have that protection, when you step out of that, that place where that demon sees oh, I can come back and come back with more. You lose protection…Unnecessarily bad things happening to them…Because they stepped out of their covering of protection.”

Krick explains, “When a curse is put upon someone…the way to break that curse is to give an offering to remove yourself from that curse, when there has been a sacrifice, that’s an example. Also, a seed [e.g. financial contribution] could be required if there has been a lot of witchcraft in your family or if you yourself have done witchcraft. A seed can be required if you find yourself needing so much deliverance again and again and again and again. That’s an indicator that you should give more to God including a seed. Maybe you’re not giving enough to God. Maybe there’s been more demonic influence in your life than you imagine, than you realized. Maybe the relationships in your life there was witchcraft happening more than you realized. That’s an indicator that you should sow a special offering to God for this deliverance.”

It seems to me that in this manner Krick often manipulates her followers for financial contributions.

Kathryn Krick can be seen in one video hovering over a small boy, perhaps seven or eight years old, who has collapsed on the ground. The little boy is shaking and Krick claims she can deliver him of demonic influence, which she claims is somehow linked to the mother’s visit to a psychic.

Krick explains, “There are different keys to receive complete freedom and what happens is the more that we entangle ourselves with witchcraft and psychics and things like that, it’s a more complex deliverance, sometimes it’s not just about commanding the demons, but there’s another key that needs to be unlocked. And one of them is to sow seeds…In the spiritual realm there’s laws. So, we need to specifically sow [e.g. make a financial contribution] for his deliverance.”

Krick then discusses how this must be more than simply tithing ten percent. Ultimately Krick performs deliverance saying, “I release this anointing to you to walk in the power of God. I declare with your seed every key to be unlocked and complete deliverance to him in Jesus’ name…he will be free completely I declare in Jesus’ name.”

There are many people in a crowd around Krick. Some have small children. She continues to declare deliverance. She reminds the woman with the small boy, “What you need to do is to renounce…You need to sow a seed online right now.” Using her smart phone the woman appears to make a donation online complying with Krick’s request.

Krick has suggested, “The idea of sowing into the Kingdom to cancel what she and her son were reaping from the enemy was a prophetic key.”

There is also supposedly power in her videos. Krick claims, “People who have received deliverance even by watching a one-minute video of another person being delivered or testifying about deliverance.”

Krick again suggests that she has special spiritual status to protect her followers. She states, “You couldn’t see demons leaving, but I was doing what God had called me to do—destroying the works of the devil in people’s lives…” “Would you be okay with God promoting that person higher than you in the spiritual realm, where he or she was walking in a high level of anointing?”

Demons from the past and present play a pivotal role in Kathryn Krick’s ministry and she uses this imagery to manipulate her followers. She states, “Sometimes you didn’t say yes to the devil’s will yourself, but your parents or grandparents opened a door to demons by saying yes to his will. This is how generational curses occur. When your ancestors engaged in witchcraft or served the enemy in some way, doors can be opened for demons to come into your life. Also, when abuse happens to you, another door can be opened for demons to come in.”

“Casting out demons” is largely the focus of Kathryn Krick.

But “higher level demons” require “higher level anointing.” Krick claims to possess such status. She states, “Another reason a demon might not go is because a higher level of anointing is required to cast out that higher level demon…find a church or ministry that has experience in deliverance and is anointed…It could be online…it is important that he or she is equipped and discipled to know how to maintain that freedom and how to be strong in the spirit and victorious over the enemy. This discipling and equipping must come from true anointed ministries. If a person is delivered and then continues only to receive from a church that doesn’t carry the anointing and provide ‘meaty’ teachings to equip believers for victory over the devil, the person will not be equipped to overcome the enemy’s schemes of trying to come with more demons.”

In this way Krick appears to engender dependency upon her for both deliverance and protection from mystical forces she supposedly has the special power to quell.

Krick’s seemingly indispensable role as a “vessel” is reiterated constantly reinforcing her authority. She states, “These days, most people want to hear God without a human vessel involved. They want to feel as though they have heard God personally, even though when He speaks through a vessel it is just as personal, and it is the same as god speaking directly to you.”

In this way Krick apparently places herself on and elevated level with God, by supposedly speaking as God’s vessel.

Krick states, “If God chooses to speak something to you through an anointed vessel, whether a word of direction, revelation or correction, you should humbly receive that word. You cannot come with skepticism and the attitude, I’ve never heard of that before, so I don’t know…You should take the word from a true vessel as a true word of God.”

In this way Krick not only reinforces her own authority, but also attacks her critics and seemingly solicits submission. Regarding those that that somehow resist that suthority Krick says, “it’s their pride speaking.”

Within 5F Church there seems to be an extraordinary need for ongoing “spiritual protection” through Kathryn Krick who provides a “spiritual covering” as a “spiritual mother.”

Krick explains, “You access spiritual protection when you stay under the covering. It’s like when a child is inside his or her parents’ house. No kidnapper can take that child because the child is safe inside the locked house. That’s the child’s covering. When you don’t have a covering, it’s like when a child is outside the parents’ house, on his or her own. A spiritual kidnaper could easily attack you when you’re outside the covering God has provided for you. That high-level anointing flowing from your spiritual father or mother brings protection. In the spiritual realm, demons know they cannot touch you when you are obeying the spiritual laws of staying under your covering, where God has led you to stay planted.”

Krick appears to mystically manipulates her followers by encouraging unreasonable fears and then supplanting herself as their means of protection.

“Demand for Purity”

Involves those in control painting the world in black and white, pure and the impure. Individuals under control are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for “perfection.” Guilt or shame is a powerful control mechanism that is used within this framework.

In one video a little girl cries as she is delivered by Krick. The small child responds, “I hope nothing is inside me.” She appears to have a disability. Krick tells her, “You’re going to walk well, without braces or anything.”

Krick then states, “Yes, demons are even in children.” Krick speaks to a demon supposedly within a crying boy before her, “What do you think you are doing tormenting this child? You can no longer be in this child tormenting his mind. You must leave this child. I break every generational curse off of him now. Off of his mother, off of his father now, off of his grandparents now. Every single demonic spirit must leave him now.” While the boy cowers and cries on his knees Krick commands the demon to leave.

In this way Kathryn Krick supposedly purifies her followers by appearing to cast out impurities through the special power of her spiritual authority.
She admonishes her followers, “Keep your heart pure and free of offense…The devil has all these different schemes and tricks for trying to stop anointed ones…You have the victory every time, but the way you are victorious is by being prepared and being aware of the devil’s schemes…You are not here to see your dreams come true. You are not here to be popular and likeable. You are not here to fulfill your own desires.”

Krick often focuses on the impurities of her followers. She states, “If you accept the jealousy spirit, you will most likely try to ‘kill’ the ministry you are jealous of by speaking and acting against it. You also will not only be attacking an anointed vessel of God, you literally be an agent of Satan…Jealousy begins with the devil speaking lies and trying to make you think they are your own thoughts, that you are jealous. This is the devil’s scheme to steal, kill and destroy—to try to kill your future serving God and to try to kill an anointed vessel’s ministry through you.”

Krick not only makes the demand for purity, but she suggests that anyone who speaks or thinks negatively about her is guilty of impure thoughts and links this to the devil.

Krick’s demand for purity is never ending. And no one can be sure they will ever be good enough. In this way she creates dependency upon her and the 5F Church.

She states, “Once you have made it to the ‘promised land’ of walking in the anointing, there is no guarantee that you will be anointed forever. You have to continue to be obedient to God in order for the anointing to stay and for it to grow in you.”

And this obedience is predicated upon a follower’s submission to someone speaking for god and the spiritual covering they provide as an anointed vessel who has special authority at higher levels.

Krick wants her followers to purge and purify their minds in accordance with her formula.

She states, “The devil will try to bring stress in different ways. Make sure you are aware of your thoughts. If you are sensing many negative, fearful or stressful thoughts, make a decision to put a stop to this attack of the devil…You have to be like a police officer on duty, constantly policing your thoughts, or just like with disturbances in society there can be collateral damage.”

“Cult of Confession”

Requires that “sins” or “shortcomings,” as defined by the controlling authorities, must be confessed. This type of confession becomes a means of exploiting an individual’s vulnerabilities, when leaders can use the individual’s shame to further isolate the individual and increase their dependence upon the leadership.
Coupled with Kathryn Krick’s ongoing demands for purity is confession. Members must confess their failures in the pursuit of purity and receive “deliverance.” There seem to be no meaningful boundaries regarding such confessions in the 5F Church where members apparently are expected to share everything, no matter how personal. This includes their most grievous sins and shortcomings.

Krick encourages public testimonials, which are personal confessions, often done before her and her followers.

Krick also encourages her followers to report about others. She states, “If a person is gossiping, speaking against the leadership…this is not okay” (24:29). “This is the issue when you report it to leadership so it can be dealt with in the proper way.” (25:56).

In this way Kathryn Krick can control her church through essentially a network of informants.

“Sacred Science”

Involves the idea that the doctrine or ideology of the group or organization is the ultimate truth, beyond all question or dispute. Those in control are also above all criticism as the spokesperson for some higher power or purpose. Sacred science achieves a hold over an individual’s process of critical thinking. This may ultimately lead to a feeling of guilt or shame concerning doubts about the doctrine or ideology and/or any harboring of alternative ideas or explanations.

Within the 5F Church the pronouncements of Kathyrn Krick are considered “sacred” immutable and beyond questioning. No one can deviate from her proscribed process of attaining and sustaining “purity.”

Krick explains,” In the spiritual realm, yokes are demonic oppression (demons) that bind you. They cannot be removed through your own effort alone, such as getting counseling, taking medicine, praying, fasting or reading the Bible. Only the anointing can destroy these yokes.”

Krick repeatedly instructs her followers, “Many sicknesses actually have a demonic root. Some sicknesses are actually a spirit (demon) of infirmity. Since a demon is at the root of such sickness… For that sickness to leave, there needed to be a vessel who carried authority to command the spirit of infirmity to leave.”

One follower says that Krick can deliver people from “generational witchcraft, an orphan spirit, a spirit of infirmity and more.”

Kathryn Krick claims to know the “Kingdoms Secrets.” She writes, “The keys of the Kingdom are vital. You can’t go inside the house without the keys. You can’t access the secrets that unlock the fullness of God’s Kingdom without the Keys.”

In other words, within the sacred science of 5F Church Kathryn Krick is the key ingredient needed to access “God’s Kingdom.”

Krick teaches her followers that “anointing” comes “through impartation from another person.” And that “the number of Christians who experience healing and deliverance today without a vessel releasing the anointing would be a small percentage.”

Krick says that this “anointing” flows “through true appointed and anointed vessels (like Peter), vessels who carried high-level anointing to deal even with demonic principalities.” It is apostles like Krick claims to be today that now operate “in high level anointing and authority where even the highest-level demons [have] to obey.”

According to Krick God’s “main way of releasing miraculous power is through vessels.” And “this is God’s main system of releasing anointing to His people.”
Krick states, “God-appointed spiritual fathers or mothers, a receiver’s spiritual covering, leaders of the ministry where the receiving person is planted” are the key human elements supposedly needed to transmit the anointing.

Krick explains, “The anointing flows from the head down to the rest of the body. An anointed vessel may impart the anointing to others” This is what Krick calls “the proper order and flow of the anointing” That is, according to Krick, God “gives the head of a ministry a specific vision. God then releases special anointing on the leader to complete that vision. He then brings many more vessels to help the leader accomplish that vision.”

Krick states, “An apostle also carries the grace to anoint all five offices of ministry and to impart all the gifts and anointing that vessels will need to walk in those offices…an impartation to be in the office to evangelize can be released through me as an apostle. I can also import apostolic and prophetic anointings as secondary giftings. When your spiritual father or mother is an apostle or prophet, he or she carries the grace to impart to you whatever is needed in you calling…through the impartation of your spiritual father or mother who is an apostle or prophet, you will receive the anointing necessary to carry out your calling.”

In this way Kathryn Krick has positioned herself at the center of a sacred process, which relies upon her supposed special status as an “apostle” with a necessary higher level of anointing required to be God’s intermediary. Without her there can be no meaningful “impartation.”

Krick explains, “Just positioning yourself to receive (attending a true anointed church or ministry, whether online or in person), makes impartation come upon you when your heart is trustworthy to receive anointing…God will in most cases lead you to the vessel from which you will receive anointing.”

The “vessel,” which is the focus of 5F Church, is Kathryn Krick. And the key is to “get impartation from Apostle Kathryn.” Some have even “received impartation through a Zoom meeting.”

Krick also emphasizes a “spiritual covering” teaching concerning the continuing need for protection. She states, “One of the most important keys to maintaining the anointing is to have a spiritual covering and ‘stay under’ your covering. Your spiritual covering is your spiritual mother or father…Your pace of receiving anointing is under your spiritual mother or father. Staying planted under that covering is what makes the anointing flow into your life…Your anointing may be a lower-level anointing at first, but you are accessing at the high-level anointing from your covering for spiritual protection. When you leave your covering, you are entering a dangerous place spiritually, and you are proving untrustworthy.”

Kathryn Krick assumes the role of both spiritual “mother” and protector through the sacred science of her teachings, which cannot be meaningfully questioned or criticized.

“Loading the Language”

Involves the use of jargon, words and phrases that are unique and often unintelligible to outsiders. The jargon consists of “thought terminating cliches” that provide subscribers with answers to potentially disruptive questions and serve to alter one’s ability to critically think and objectively analyze the situation.

Here is some of the loaded language used by Kathryn Krick, which she encourages her followers to embrace as well.

It is suggested that people outside of 5F Church might be living a “lukewarm Christian life” Krick concludes, “When your eyes have opened up to see that God’s anointing is here and available, how can you go back to your lukewarm Christian life?”

“Soulish Christians” — Krick says, “Soulish Christians tend to push people away from God because they say they are Christian, but they instead look just like the world.”

Krick often dismisses alternative perspectives and ideas as “worldly solutions.”

She also says rather than suffering from depression, people may be plagued by a “suicidal spirit.”

Whenever anyone criticizes or questions Kathryn Krick, she often characterizes this as “persecution.”

Krick explains, “Persecution is inevitable. As Jesus said, you are blessed when you are persecuted. It’s a blessing to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. It’s a blessing to be that big of a threat to the devil, that he brings his most extreme attacks against you.”

She reiterates over and over the need for “a true anointed vessel.” This apparently is an allusion to her special status in spiritual terms.
Outside places of worship are often labeled as “dead churches.”

When someone visits or joins 5F Church, they may consider them permanently “planted.”

Kathryn Kricks sermons are “meaty teachings.” This infers that other religious leaders and churches may not have really substantial to share.

The word “religious” itself is used in a derogatory way to dismiss those who disagree with her revelation. She says that “the religious spirit screams…the spirit of religion demands…I have to remind myself not to be religious.”

Krick repeatedly uses the word “pride” to denote why people might resist her teachings. And it is repeatedly suggested that such pride is a sin that must be purged for purification.

There are also a litany of labels Kathryn Krick often uses to dismiss her critics such as “jealousy spirit,” “religious spirit,” “worldly people” and not “fully surrendered.”

Krick also uses language to elevate herself and her supposed special powers such as “under the flow of the anointing,” “anointed teaching” and “spiritual covering.”

“Doctrine over Person”

Involves the idea that the group members’ personal experiences must be subordinated to the sacred science and related interpretation by the leaders. Contrary notions or experiences must be denied or re-interpreted to fit the doctrine of the group. The underlying assumption is that the doctrine is always more important than the person.

Krick states, “What may people don’t realize is that many sicknesses, disorders and oppression like addiction, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and night terrors are actually demonic, meaning a demonic spirit is causing these afflictions…Maybe the problem is numbed or medicated, but deep down it is still there, because the root of the symptom is a demonic spirit. To get rid of a demonic spirit, you must have authority over that spirit and execute that authority properly”

In this way Krick is encouraging her followers to subordinate their experience to the doctrine she proscribes.

Krick then prescribes their treatment. She states, “The correct order for walking authority and seeing the most effective miracles is this: Each believer is to walk in his or her own domain of authority.”

For example, Krick subordinates addiction to her doctrine for treatment. She states, “Many people don’t want to be addicted, but they have a demon of addiction and they are in bondage to it. Many people don’t want to have anger outbursts and be to others, but they have a demon of rage.”

Apparently rather than seek professional help the solution to virtually every personal problem is Kathryn Krick and her power of deliverance.

Krick also admonishes her followers to dismiss what others say and instead subscribe to her doctrine. She states, “When many Christians hear apostles, they think, There are no apostles left today…This is also a doctrine from the devil.” She explains, “I am an apostle, with apostolic and prophetic anointing. My spiritual father is a prophet, and I received this assignment to carry revival and restore the five-fold ministry through impartation from him.”

And for those that criticize her doctrine Krick says, “I have also faced more persecution than ever before in my life…I’m being persecuted and emotionally abused.”

“Dispensing of Existence”

Involves the idea that a leader or a group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. Those outside the group are considered “impure,” and if they are not converted to the ideas of the group or leader, they are lost. If those outside the group refuse to change and conform or are critical of the group, they must be rejected, even if they are family members. In conjunction, if any member disagrees and leaves the group, he or she must be rejected too.

Kathryn Krick frequently attacks her critics and dismisses their relevance, even insinuating that they may be demonic or under the influence of demons, thus dispensing their existence.

She states, “We cannot preach sermon after sermon while demons stay hiding in the we’re preaching to, laughing at us. Without the anointing, that’s precisely what is happening in churches all over. Demons comfortably remain, and people remain in bondage…much of the Church has been preaching only a partial Gospel…The demons have hidden in the Church for far too long. It’s time we stop trying to fix spiritual problems with worldly solutions. People have anxiety and their church sends them to a counselor or a doctor to give them medicine, when what they really need is deliverance from a spirit of anxiety.”

She also characterizes those that don’t embrace her doctrine negatively inferring that they are responsible for the bondage of others. She says, “Many Christians have not accessed the abundant life that Jesus paid a price for. Most are living in bondage because few in the Body of Christ actually have been given the keys to unlock other people’s freedom and release the keys to others.”

She uses negative labels to dismiss churches and their members. Krick states, “Soulish Christians tend to push people away from God because they say they are Christian, but they instead look just like the world.” She concludes that she is “done with dead churches bound by religion.”

Krick also tells her followers that they will be estranged from outsiders. She states, “When God speaks to you, ‘This is where I want you to be planted,’ He will ask you to be serious about it and to make room in your life to be planted. This will mean leaving some things behind and saying good-bye to some people who just were not called to be ones beside you for every season.”

Krick also seemingly tries to preempt the concerns of family and old friends that might potentially question the devotion of her followers. She explains, “There will be people who don’t understand what you’re doing and think you’re neglecting your own dreams as you spend time serving another.” She concludes, “Part of being a trustworthy vessel is that you are someone who walks with wisdom and honors his or her covering… It is wisdom to go only where God has led to receive prophecy, prayer and direction.”

She warns, “Remove from your life whatever causes negativity to build.”

The destructive nature of Kathryn Krick and the 5F Church

According to its critics online 5F church is a cult. These critics are most often coming from a Christian perspective regarding the “heretical” nature of her teachings, but they are also critical of the undue influence she exercises over her followers.

In my opinion Kathryn Krick exploits and abuses minor children.

One disabled child unable to walk without assistance was told by Krick that she could walk again due to deliverance. But who is to blame if Krick’s prophecy fails? Certainly, Krick won’t take responsibility. Typically, it must be a “generational curse” or some failing of faith, rather than admitting that this was not a reasonable expectation. This may cause the child emotional distress and possibly traumatize the child, through the “casting out of demons.”

In my opinion Kathryn Krick exploits her followers for free labor.

Krick expects her followers to provide volunteer labor. She says, “There is so much that goes into reaching people and putting on a service with excellence…who is inviting people…Who is making a flyer…God used graphics for an event…But someone had to step up and serve by doing the work…Who will record on camera…Who will edit the videos and post them…Who will help manage the crowd…Who will organize the revival service…These are just a few examples of all the different kinds of ‘works for God’…God wants you to serve. His servants because there is so much do and He needs you…you can serve…by sharing videos…Invite your friends, family and co-workers to watch online…Use social media to spread the Good News…We could hire worldly people to edit, run cameras and do all the work that needs doing in the Church, but God really wants you to be the one serving.”

This seems to be the apparent use of free labor exploited by Krick to fulfill the needs of her 5F Church, rather than pay people as staff. However, Kathryn Krick’s organization is generating millions of dollars in donations.

The 5F Church is an independent entity, which Krick apparently controls with little if any meaningful accountability. It received religious nonprofit status in 2012 (EIN: 90-07398100) and reported gross contributions of almost $4 million dollars in 2024. Its contributions have steadily grown from $800,000.00 in 2021 to more than $2 million in 2023. Almost all of the contributions to Krick’s church were consumed by expenses.

Im my opinion Kathryn Krick financially exploits her followers.

Krick frequently talks about donations, which she equates to the “seed” coupled with receiving anointing. She writes, “Here’s another key to receiving impartation: Sow into the anointing that you serve. God calls us all to sow in the work of God. Most Christians know this and many Christians tithe…To receive the precious anointing in your life to walk in God’s power, you need to sow into that anointing…Money is important to every human because we need it to live. When you give to God, you are truly making a sacrifice. And making sacrifices is necessary in order for your heart to be transformed into the image of Christ. You cannot be fully surrendered without sacrificing and sacrificing continually. God may ask you to give amounts that are a real sacrifice. The greater the anointing the greater the sacrifice.”

Kathryn Krick often pressures her followers to give her organization money and at times this seemingly may mean extreme personal sacrifice.

She says, “But when God blesses you financially so much, He will ask you to surrender the abundance of finances you now have. Giving $10 to God when that’s all you have is indeed giving God a lot and is definitely surrendering. But when God asks you to give $100,000 when $100,000 is what you have, this is a different level of surrender in your finances.”

Coercive Persuasion

MIT professor Edgar Schein first summarized the three basic stages of coercive persuasion as “unfreezing,” “changing” and “refreezing.”

Unfreezing is the process of breaking a person down and creating a sense of powerlessness, covert fear and dependence. In this phase of the coercive persuasion process much of the person’s old behavior and attitudes are suppressed. The following changing phase of coercive persuasion is devoted to instilling new behavior and attitudes. Refreezing is the final phase, which effectively locks in a closed system of logic that is resistant to any meaningful input or criticism.

This process of coercive persuasion can be seen within 5F Church through its relentless process of breaking down (unfreezing) individual members through its “deliverance” practices, relative social isolation, rules, relentless judgments and admonitions. Unable to escape such judgements and confined by rules individuals and families must change and conform to the norms as established and confirmed by Kathryn Krick. The change in response to demands is then accepted, stabilized and reinforced (refreezing) through 5F relative social isolation, peer reinforcement, the inculcation of unreasonable fears about the outside world and the restraint of its rules.

In my opinion Krick breaks people down in what can be seen as her unfreezing process by pushing them to “humility, childlikeness, and a selfless desire just to see God.” She explains, “You really must stay in that same childlike, teachable place that you began with, when God first saw that He could trust you with the anointing. You need to stay there your whole life and actually become more and more humble and teachable.”

Krick demeans people that question her as “religious” and questions those who rely on the Bible rather than her revelation. She states, “The whole Bible can either be read through a ‘religious’ lens or by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. When you are prideful and carnal, you will have a religious revelation of the Bible, and when you hear someone speaking actual revelation from the Holy Spirit, you will call it going against God’s Word.”

She reiterates the theme of pride as the root source of resistance to her unfreezing process and calls it “carnal.”

She harshly admonishes her followers, “We don’t get to choose how we will hear God’s voice. Many believers today are missing God’s voice because they pridefully discount the vessel God is speaking to them through.”

That is, not agreeing to follow Krick may apparently means “missing God.”

She says, “Humility is also giving God permission to completely wreck your theology…there is a whole lot of wrong theology that God wants to take out and replace with His truth.”

Here Krick is seemingly breaking down previously held beliefs and labeling them derisively.

She warns, “You cannot receive anointing if you don’t have a servant heart through and through…God will ask you to serve in many different ways, in uncomfortable ways…God will call you to deny yourself…He will call you to serve while you are fighting the enemy’s lies that say, you should focus on your dream…There will be many tests as you serve, testing whether you truly have a servant heart toward God and others.”

Again, it appears that Krick is breaking down her potential followers and calling upon them to submit to her plan rather than follow their own pursuits and/or thoughts. This is essentially the changing phase of her process of coercive persuasion.

Finally, in what I see as the third phase of Krick’s coercive persuasion process she refreezes her followers through her proscribed doctrine of “planting,” which means staying within her organization.

Krick states, “What does… being planted look like? For one thing, being planted means to be receiving consistently through the ministry God called you to be planted in…This is why it’s so important to be planted, to be continually receiving the equipping and the flow of the anointing.” She further says, “We are called to be planted in one place…When you are planted in a place where true anointing is, you’re not missing out…God wants you planted.” She reinforces compliance stating, “Revival could literally be delayed because of disobedience.” And further explains, “Obedience touches God’s heart the most because obeying is the only place where His will can fulfill your purpose of being His vessel.”

Apparently, there is therefore no legitimate reason to leave as Krick’s followers feel they have been permanently “planted” under her “anointing” and spiritual “covering.” And it could be dangerous and also disobedient to God to consider such an alternative.

Conclusions

1. It seems to me that Kathryn Kricks’ 5F Church fits well within the construct of what can be seen as a destructive personality cult. It parallels a typical authoritarian, personality-driven, high control group through its structure and behavior and matches the three core criteria, which form the nucleus of the definition of a destructive cult.

2. In my opinion Kathryn Krick uses identifiable techniques of coercive persuasion and coercive control to maintain undue influence over her followers.

3. It seems to me that undue influence within the 5F Church is evident through the consistent pattern of behavior of both parents and children, who appear to act against their own best interest (e.g. wellbeing and safety), but consistently in the best interest of Kathryn Krick and her 5F church.

4. It appears that parents in 5F Church cannot be completely trusted to act in the best interest of their children, unless they separate themselves from the group and are no longer influenced and controlled by Kathryn Krick. Otherwise, they will continue to see Ms. Krick as a necessary key ingredient (based upon her claims of special spiritual authority), in making value judgements, which will then negatively influence their parental decision making.

5. Given the history of similar groups and leaders much like 5F Church, which form exclusive communities apart from mainstream society such as the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones, the “Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments led by Joseph Kibwetere in Uganda and most recently the “Good News International Church, led by Paul Mackenzie in Kenya the consequences of such authoritarian control and its demands, can potentially lead to tragedy.

6. In my opinion Kathryn Krick has created a personality-driven group based upon mandated and systematic exploitation and abuse. There is no reasonable expectation that Ms. Krick will change and/or that her followers and their children will somehow experience a positive change in their treatment. Children within the 5F Church are instead substantially endangered by Ms. Krick’s authoritarian control. Exposure to Kathryn Krick and her teachings specifically puts children at risk, regarding their safety and wellbeing. Moreover, the children within 5F Church cannot consistently depend upon their parents, who are under the influence of Ms. Krick, to protect them and act in their best interest.

7. It seems to me that Kathryn Kricks influence can lead to social isolation, family estrangement and parental alienation, due to her disparagement and negative characterizations of people and organizations outside of the group. This would likely become increasingly evident when a spouse, family member or old friend disagrees with Krick’s prouncouncements and edicts, which can potentially lead to divorce and related issues with children, when one parent remains resistent to Krick’s supposed authority and process of indoctrination.

Recommendations

In my opinion it is potentially unsafe to be involved with 5F Church or influenced by the teachings of Kathryn Krick. This would mean speficially the potential problems posed by attending any function, meeting or activity of the group in person, online or through one of her social media platforms.

In my opinion it is also potentially unsafe for minor children to be exposed to any 5F group indoctrination and/or training. This would include following and viewing Kathryn Krick through social media, watching Ms. Krick’s online streaming, reading her written literature and/or visiting her websites.

My opinions are offered to a reasonable degree of professional validity and probability based upon the materials I have reviewed and cited.

Notes

Santi Elijah Holley, “L.A.’s TikTok Apostle,” Alta December 18, 2024
Truth Exposed, Kathryn Krick Exposed, YouTube 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLz2nOOF2Tg&t=510s 10:57.
Kathryn Krick, The Secret of the Anointing, Chosen Books 2023
“Inside the Worst Cult in Los Angeles” (3:39), All Things Theology, YouTube April 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImbBjH9laSE
Abednego Lufile, “Kathryn Krick runs a CULT and her church members bow down to her!”, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crnIekYYtRI (00:45).
Apostle Kathryn Krick, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC47753MdlT_J-5Gw8ARqa8Q .
Kathryn Krick, Instagram apostlekathrynkrick https://www.instagram.com/apostlekathrynkrick/?hl=en .
Kathryn Krick TikTok apostlekathrynkrick https://www.tiktok.com/@apostlekathrynk?lang=en .
Robert Jay Lifton, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2012).
Edgar H. Schein, Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the Brainwashing of American Civilians by the Chinese Communists (New York: W.W. Norton, 1971).
Margaret Singer, Cults in Our Midst, (San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 1996).
Robert B. Cialdini, Influence: Science and Practice (Needham Heights, MA, Allyn & Bacon, 2001).
Inside Kathryn Krick’s Cult-Like Church (1:53), All Things Theology, YouTube October 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImbBjH9laSE
You’re Cursed If You Leave Kathryn Krick’s Church? (17:21—24:34), Abednego Lufile, YouTube Marcg 2025 https://www.youtube.com/live/1mGPsvItClA?t=875s .
The Connection Between Sowing & Deliverance (30:37-31:40), Apostle Kathryn Krick , YouTube 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd98L_nGGAI&t=1830s .
Kathryn Krick exposed: Pay money for a deliverance!, Gregory, YouTube 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyvZVLUrQ3Y
LITTLE GIRL DELIVERED THEN GETS OUT OF HER WHEELCHAIR! Apostle Kathryn Krick, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJb5mzUB1c 2022.
Young Boy Set Free of Demons, Apostle Kathryn Krick, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEZ1llqSKxc
“Inside the Worst Cult in Los Angeles” (24:29-25:56), All Things Theology, YouTube April 2025 https://www.youtube.com/live/1mGPsvItClA?t=875s .
5 F Church Beverly Hills, California, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/900739810
How to Stay in God’s Will – 5f Church Sunday Service, Apostle Kathryn Krick, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/SpXOlx9Vb-k?t=4110s 2023.
Andrea Tode Jimenez, “’Let The Children Die First’: African Cult Leader ‘Convinced’ Over 400 People To Starve Themselves To Death For End Of The World,” International Business Times October 18, 2024.

Author Steven Hassan, who writes and speaks about groups called “cults,” has a personal history of cult involvement. Hassan was in the Unification Church (“Moonies”) founded by Sun Myung Moon for two years in the 1970s. And his origin story includes a dramatic “deprogramming” intervention arranged by his parents.

However, it seems some of that story has been obscured or may have been somewhat changed over the years.

According to James and Marcia Rudin, authors of the book “Prison or Paradise: The New Religious Cults” (1980 Fortress Press page 37), “Steve [was] bitter when he [remembered] how quickly the church deserted him after an automobile accident.” The authors recount how “Steve fully expected the ‘Family’ to assist him in his recovery, but instead the Unification Church leaders contacted Steve’s sister and parents and informed them of the accident.” Hassan stated, “The Moonies couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.” And it was “during the long period of recuperation he was deprogrammed.”

So, it appears that at the time of his deprogramming Steven Hassan was no longer a member of the Unification Church and was already apparently disillusioned with the organization.

Hassan who once studied creative writing seems to have embellished, exaggerated and/or spun his deprogramming story over the years.

For example, Slate reported (2021) that Hassan had supposedly dark and violent thoughts during his deprogramming that reflected his fanatical commitment. They quote Hassan stating, “While it might seem hard to believe, my first impulse was to kill my father by reaching over and snapping his neck,” Hassan reportedly wrote, “As a member, I had been told many times that it was better to die or kill than to leave the church.”

But these expressions of extreme and violent commitment don’t exactly line up with the sentiments expressed within the book by the Rudins published in 1980. Rather, it seems that Hassan was predisposed to leave the church after it dumped him and he became bitterly disillusioned.

Another interesting contradiction is that Hassan apparently told the Rudins that he was “a former Unification Church high official who was a national leader at CARP” (Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles).

But the Rudins also write that “he rammed his car into the back of a truck on the Baltimore Beltway after seventy-two continuous hours of fund raising” (“Prison or Paradise: The New Religious Cults” page 38).

Why was a “high official” and “national leader” within the Unification Church relegated to such menial work? Grueling hours of fund raising is most often delegated to regular members within fund raising teams and not prominent national leaders.

CultNews has reported in the past concerning Steven Hassan’s penchant for embellishing his personal and professional history, such as falsely claiming to be an instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Law School.

Hassan has also claimed to be the recipient of the “Jerusalem Medal” presented to him by the State of Israel. However, no such award exists and he was simply give a token souvenir by an Israeli official, which anyone could buy easily at a gift shop in Israel or pick up on eBay.

By the way, CultNews was given the same gift by the same Israeli official, originally described by Hassan as the “Jerusalem Gold Medal” it is bronze not gold, and was never considered an “award.” Yet Hassan still makes the bogus claim of receiving this souvenir gift under the heading “Honors & awards” at his LinkedIn account and his curriculum vitae (CV).

Another interesting, but somewhat bizarre aspect of Steven Hassan’s self-portrayal, is his use of filters for his online videos. Such filtering is often done by celebrities like Madonna, but has been criticized as inauthentic. Hassan, who is certainly not a celebrity like Madonna and wants to be regarded seriously as an expert, nevertheless masks himself through filtering technology. Here he is unfiltered, which is rarely seen, and here he is in a more common filtered image.

In this age of creative histories, contrived facades, masks and lying political figures like George Santos, it’s important to check if the claims being made are real or imagined.

It must be noted that Steven Hassan was admonished for unethical conduct by his licensing board according to court records. Hassan’s licensing board specifically cited the ACA (American Counseling Association) ethical code violation of “failing to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients.”

Some people seem to think that bringing up such discrepancies and exaggerations is “petty” and/or not relevant. Hassan fans have periodically contacted CultNews and expressed such sentiments. Often saying, “What difference does it make” or “Why raise questions about such small details”? They say because Steven Hassan is fighting destructive cults, he must therefore be given some sort of pass and/or special consideration.

However, one of the primary issues concerning destructive cults is deceptive practices. That such groups and movements are inherently dishonest and trick people through deliberate lies and misrepresentations to become involved and stay. That destructive cults are unethical.

If we are to objectively define destructive cults by such behavioral criteria that same criterion must be applied to everyone equally on both sides of the issue, even those who say they are endeavoring to expose destructive cults and help cult victims.

Cult News has learned that noted scholar, sociologist and cult expert Dr. Ronald M. Enroth passed away in early February. He was 84 and retired living in Volcano, Hawaii.

Dr. Enroth was born in 1938 in New Jersey and graduated from Houghton College in New York before attending the University of Kentucky, Lexington earning his M.A. in Anthropology and his Ph.D. in the new field of Medical Sociology.

Dr. Enroth is survived by his wife Ruth-Anne whom he married in June of 1960, his daughters, Kara Bettencourt (Jerome), Rebecca Coons (Kevin) and his two grandchildren, Nicolas Coons (Debra) and Taylor Coons (Kent) and his great-grandsons; Isaac, Elliot, and Atlas Coons.

Dr. Enroth moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California in 1965 where he joined the faculty of Westmont College as a professor of Sociology and Anthropology, where he worked for forty-seven years.

A respected scholar in the field of Sociology of Religion and “New Religious Movements,” often called “cults,” he was a popular speaker throughout the United States.

Dr. Enroth was the author of ten books:

The Jesus People with Edward E. Ericson & Calvin B. Peters (Eerdmans, 1972)
The Gay Church with Gerald Jamison (Eerdmans, 1974)
Youth, Brainwashing and the Extremist Cults (Zondervan Publishing House, 1977)
A Guide to Cults & New Religions (editor) (InterVarsity Press, 1983)
Why Cults Succeed Where The Church Fails with J. Gordon Melton (Brethren Press, 1985)
The Lure of the Cults & New Religions (Christian Herald Books, 1979)
Evangelizing the Cults (editor) (Servant Publications, 1990)
Churches That Abuse (Zondervan Publishing House, 1992)
Recovering From Churches That Abuse (Zondervan Publishing House, 1994)
A Guide to New Religious Movements (editor) (InterVarsity Press, 2005)

Some controversy surrounded the publication of his book “Recovering from Churches That Abuse” due to the inclusion of a chapter about “Jesus People USA” (JPUSA) of Chicago. Dr. Enroth exposed abuses within the organization, which many once saw as a seemingly benign ministry.

Dr. Enroth’s willingness to expose abuse wherever he found it was deeply appreciated by many. His diligent research and published writings helped countless cult victims and affected families.

cult research, cults, Dr. Ronald Enroth, noted sociologist, obituary, Westmont College

The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly called the Hare Krishna movement, founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is embroiled in yet another scandal concerning the sexual abuse of hundreds of children at its schools in the movement’s Myapur headquarters, located in West Bengal, India.

Historically, ISKCON in the United States was sought refuge in bankruptcy after a class action lawsuit was filed against it by adult children of its devotees that had been sexually abused as minor children within its ashram communities and schools. The matter was then settled through bankruptcy court.

In October, ISKCON’s Child Protection Office (CPO) released a damning report regarding the abuse perpetrated by the ex-headmaster of the school, Anirdesya Vapu (aka Alan Ross Wexler), formerly known as Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami (BVPS).

Excerpted quotations from the CPO report as follows:

“This decision pertains to new allegations that between 2005 and 2010 BVPS perpetrated the sexual abuse, (sexual) harassment and psychological abuse of a minor.”

“This panel recommends the GBC examine the culture of enabling child abusers that is prevalent amongst some senior ISKCON leadership and management. BVPS had previous CPO restrictions that prohibited him from managing schools, yet he was allowed to continue doing so, either directly at the girls’ school, or indirectly at the boys’ school via his proxies and disciples.”

“Despite there being at least two previous CPO cases highlighting BVPS’ abusive/harmful behavior, other sannyasis, gurus, senior devotees, and yatras, continued to support, protect, and defend him, as well as give him a high-profile. For example, his senior godbrothers invited him to their temples, encouraged their disciples to send their children to his school, disregarding serious complaints of abuse dating back to the 1990s, and visibly supported him and his schools by visiting them.”

“The support and endorsement that BVPS received from his seniors and peers enabled him to become the child abuser with the longest span of activity in the history of ISKCON. Their public support of him was in essence a seal-of-approval of BVPS. There is a need for a massive culture shift amongst senior leaders in ISKCON aimed at preventing and discouraging further abuse of children.”

“ISKCON needs to stop defending known child abusers because of ‘how much service they have done.’ The panel believes that if ISKCON’s senior leadership had been more mindful of, and prioritized child protection, BVPS would not have been able to continue abusing children for so many years and the lives of many children would have been spared the unnecessary abuse he perpetrated.”

BVPS/Anirdesya Vapu (aka Alan Ross Wexler) has now been stripped of his sannyasa status and exiled from Mayapur. But as of yet, no criminal charges have been brought against him. But before the dust settled, one of the former students, Vedasara, now an adult and leader in ISKCON Atlanta, reported horrific levels of abuse of young children by the former Swami, other students and teaching staff.

The report sent shock waves through the Hare Krishna movement. But ISKCON leaders seem to be conspicuously quiet, perhaps under legal advice. They haven’t even revealed the outcomes of an investigation that they commissioned about the movement’s schools in India — a report that was submitted to them some time ago.

ISKCON leaders are being criticized by the Society’s members for not doing enough to keep the movement’s children safe –- in fact, turning a blind eye for decades whilst this monster wreaked havoc in so many young lives. Red flags were everywhere. His abuse of children was an open secret. There were three CPO investigations.

Certain leaders, known to be friendly associates of BVPS, have released messages trying to distance themselves. But many of their disciples are not buying this. There is a massive crisis of faith. Many previously faithful disciples are now openly challenging their gurus.

Another leader embroiled in scandal

Most recently, yet another ISKCON leader is embroiled in scandal. Lokanath Swami has initiated a defamation lawsuit against two whistle blowers that have raised awareness of all of this and its mishandling over the last 30 years.

In 1990, whilst staying in a family home in New Jersey recuperating from an injury incurred, he sexually abused an eleven-year-old girl. She reported this to her mother. But the family only shared this with ISKCON’s leaders three years later. The ISKCON did not report this to the New Jersey authorities –- and also dissuaded the family from reporting it, promising that Lokanath would be severely punished. But in the end, they only gave him 2.5 years restrictions on initiating disciples and allowed him to remain a guru. And everything was kept hidden from the general devotee population.

Despite instructing Lokanath to inform prospective disciples of what happened, he stopped doing so and later contested the authenticity of an admission letter.

Details of the matter came to public attention in 1998. But the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) sought to play down the gravity of the crime. However, details surfaced again in 2010 when the victim, in her thirties, publicly spoke out about the specifics of the crime.

But each time the matter came to public attention, the GBC nevertheless allowed Lokanath to remain in a leading position, most likely because of his high profile status within ISKCON India.

The whistle blowers social media campaign in April 2021 once again brought this matter back into the public consciousness, which apparently increased public pressure.

In May ISKCON leaders publicly promised to give the case to the CPO, which is in line with their espoused policies regarding such matters. However, days later, they secretly withdrew the case and in August announced that they would set up a special designated panel to review the facts and prior handling. This became their preferred approach as opposed to the previous policy of giving the case to the CPO. The panel was composed of five members, two were former CPO Directors, but two others were loyal Lokanath supporters, though that bias was disputed.

It seems like no surprise that this panel concluded that no further action was needed and the GBC considered the matter closed.

The publicly released panel report officially documents the abuse that took place, along with all of the mishandling. The report included a co-authored letter of admission by Lokanath.

The European and North American temples indicated that Lokanath would not be welcomed in their jurisdictions.

Despite widespread circulation of these documents, significant community awareness and the restrictions imposed upon him, Lokanath decided to sue the social media whistle blowers, which now draws more attention to the scandal.

By Rick Alan Ross

Cult expert turned political pundit Steven Hassan has a penchant for conflating his CV and at times just plain lying about his past status. And he seems to have an obsession about Harvard.

Again, and again Hassan claims to have taught at “Harvard Medical School.”

Steven Hassan[/caption]This misleading claim was repeated recently by Michael Shermer at his “Skeptic” website by way of introducing Hassan on the “Michael Shermer Show.” It seems that there wasn’t any meaningful examination and ultimately skepticism, concerning Hassan’s career claims.

According to the iconic “Ivy League” university Steven Hassan has never been employed there.

Hassan offers a letter posted at his website, seemingly in response to a past report at CultNews, which supposedly supports his misleading professional claims.

The letter is from John R. Peteet, M.D. Dr. Peteet is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In the letter sent to Hassan in 2019 Dr. Peteet states that Hassan “has served as a valued presenter in the course I co-teach, Spirituality, Religion and Psychiatry.” Dr. Peteet teaches this class at Harvard Longwood, which is a hospital associated with Harvard.

Steven Hassan’s CV repeatedly lists the title of “presenter” under the subheading “Professional Activities,” but does not make the distinction explicitly, that this was volunteer work.

CultNews sees this as potentially misleading the reader to conclude that Hassan worked for Harvard as a paid professional.

CultNews reached out to Dr. Peteet to better clarify and specifically understand the exact status of Steven Hassan at Harvard Longwood.

In response to an email (January 25, 2023) concerning Hassan Dr. Peteet explained, “Yes, he was a guest presenter for a few years, once a semester, in a course for Harvard Longwood Psychiatry residents, Spirituality, Religion and Psychiatry. I believe he also offered and taught an ongoing elective ‘Helping people influenced by Undue Influence: Hypnosis, Destructive Cults, and Traffickers’, which was taken by interested residents, but I was not directly involved in that course. Presenters in the course were unpaid, except for the first few years of the course when a grant was in effect.”

Again, Hassan does not make the distinction that he was only a “guest” and “unpaid.”

But Dr. Peteet later clarified specifically in a subsequent email (January 25, 2023), “Since I was not part of setting up his elective course, I’m afraid I don’t know what the payment arrangements were, if any. He did volunteer his time for us once per year during the semester the course ran. We did not pay him for this.”

So consistent with previous reports Hassan has apparently only been a volunteer speaker at a hospital associated with Harvard for a particular class invited as a guest by the class teacher. He has never been employed as an instructor by Harvard Medical School.

It is nice that Hassan does volunteer work, but within his CV and for the purpose of self-promotion, he does not make the necessary distinction that has he has never been employed directly by Harvard and has never held any professional teaching status at “Harvard Medical School.” In fact, it appears that Hassan has never been invited to lecture at Harvard as a paid professional.

It seems that Hassan has deliberately conflated his CV specifically to infer that he has somehow been part of the teaching staff at Harvard, which would be a false claim.

Some may say that these are “petty” distinctions, but given the cachet that claiming teaching status at Harvard Medical School confers upon someone, any effort to mislead or conflate cannot be ignored. And Hassan’s repeated efforts to make such conflated claims based upon past unpaid volunteer work as a classroom teacher’s guest does not equal the rather ridiculous claim that he “has taught at Harvard Medical School,” or for that matter at “Brigham and Women’s Hospital.”

We are living at a time that no less than a Unites States Congressman, George Santos, has been exposed for lying about his past employment. It seems like Steven Hassan is following in the footsteps of George Santos. He may not be a spectacular liar like Santos, but he has chosen to conflate his CV in a way that is misleading and dishonest.

Truth, honesty and professional integrity matter. Certainly there are people that have abandoned these principles. But proven and established historical facts must be the basis for defining objective reality, not misinformation and/or lies. This report may be upsetting to Steven Hassan’s fans, but given a choice between confirmation bias and the virtues of honesty and genuine transparency, the later remains a meaningful focus for measuring professional conduct.

cult expert, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Steve Hassan, Steven Alan Hassan

By Brian Birmingham

Matt Walsh of “The Daily Wire” made the documentary “What Is A Woman?” He also spearheaded the “End of Child Mutilation Rally” in Nashville last fall, and he was part of an investigation which closed the transgender clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Walsh is host of his own conservative political commentary show, “The Matt Walsh Show,” which is streamed online almost every day, and he has written four books, including one children’s book.

Matt Walsh is an important and very influential voice in the American conservative movement, especially among the Millennial generation.

Matt Walsh is also identifying himself as a Christian, specifically as a Roman Catholic. But he’s said on his show that a Catholic church is the last place that somebody should go, if they want to learn about Catholicism. Walsh has called Pope Francis a disgrace and has expressed his appreciation for church history and church tradition. He talks a lot about bringing back “chivalry” and traditional displays of masculinity. Walsh also talks about traditional marriage, traditional nuclear families, the need for “sexual purity” and the cultivation of wisdom. He speaks in very conservative Catholic terms. However, noting the things he says about the contemporary Catholic church itself leads one to think that Matt Walsh is not really a part of mainstream American Catholicism.

So, what kind of Catholic and which church or organization does Matt Walsh support?

The Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) organization was founded in 1960 in Brazil, by a Catholic priest named Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. TFP was organized, and its mission was directed, according to the principles outlined in Oliveira’s 1959 book, “Revolution and Counter-Revolution” which argued from a position of far-right, pre-Vatican 2 Catholic traditionalism. TFP is a little-known and very obscure group which the general public knows little about, since its numbers are small. According to the TFP website, there are less that one hundred members of TFP, all of whom are volunteers, and many thousands of affiliates and supporters who support the goals of the TFP through its campaign known as “America Needs Fatima.”

“Chivalry,” “purity,” and “wisdom” are three virtues promoted by a traditionalist Catholic organization known as the American Society for the Defense of Truth, Family, and Property, or the American TFP. These three words are TFP buzzwords, and they are also words and concepts that Matt Walsh uses and promotes on his show, in different forms, very frequently.

Walsh has also endorsed “America Needs Fatima,” in his public speaking engagements.

What conclusion does this lead to regarding Matt Walsh?

Matt Walsh apparently is somehow connected to the American TFP and uses his various platforms to support and promote its agenda.

CultNews reached out to Matt Walsh via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms and asked him directly if he is connected to, or affiliated with, TFP and all those queries were ignored.

To date, Mr. Walsh has chosen not reply or respond about the strangely coincidental parallels between what he says and the TFP organization principles, which some have called a type of political “cult” with a religious front.

“The TFP has nearly 75 full-time members or volunteers. It also has a large supporters network. The TFP and its affiliate America Needs Fatima campaign lists some 120,000 supporting members who contribute to its efforts.”

Watch the video on YouTube to get a better idea of what the TFP is like.

Matt Walsh has made a career out of seeking transparency and accountability from others with whom he disagrees (especially those in the media), and Matt Walsh frequently says on his show that he seeks to hold people in power to their own standards.

But what about accountability from Matt Walsh? Does he consistently abide by his own standards?

Here are the simple easy to answer questions that Mr. Walsh seems to have difficulty answering:

1. Are you now, or have you ever been, involved in any way, shape, or form with the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP)?

2. If you are not involved with, or connected somehow to TFP, then what Catholic church or organization are you affiliated with now?

3. Are you actively involved with and/or a supporter of “America Needs Fatima”?

The general public, and especially social conservatives, deserve to know whose agenda Matt Walsh is supporting and promoting.

Walsh must be as transparent and accountable, as he expects others to be. And if he is not willing to be accountable and transparent, then both he and his associates are hypocrites that are every bit as dishonest as the Leftists they denounce and seek to expose.

Note: Brian Birmingham is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Boston with a BA in Psychology and Sociology. He is a native of Dallas.

By Rick Alan Ross

People often ask what makes cult leaders tick?

What motivates them to become cult leaders?

One answer to that question is cold cash.

Many cult leaders have learned that they can become rich while ruining people’s lives.

For example, the notorious NXIVM “sex cult” leader Keith Raniere, who reportedly bilked a billionaire’s daughters out of more than $100 million.

But long before Raniere began his scam another purported “cult leader” left South Dakota and moved to a warmer climate in Florida. His name was Charles Meade and he once led a church that many considered a “cult” called “End Times Ministries.”

Meade lived behind the walls of his Lake City, Florida compound in relative seclusion very privately. Not only was his house gated and secured, so too was the church he built in Lake City, with its guarded entrance and barbed wire.

Meade died more than a decade ago.

Meade’s residence sold a few months after his death for only $94,000 and then again in March 2012 for $200,000. Very little considering its current list price.

The Meade compound is now on the market listed at $2.5 million, though Zillow says it is worth less than half of the asking price, pegging its market value at $740,700.00.

It is interesting to see the online photos and realize what an opulent lifestyle Meade enjoyed within his gated private compound.

Realtor.com calls Meade’s home a “Hidden gem! Great neighborhood located 2 Miles from I-75 in Lake City, FL. This is a great investment opportunity. Entire ranch estate sits on 22.43 acres. There are a total of 27 Buildings, including 14 residences! Residences can be used as income properties or guest facilities. The main house (976 SW Hamlet Cir) is a 4/4 with 2 kitchens and has a total of 6700 SF. The property also features a 1750sf greenhouse, 100kw generator, 2990sf 2 story guest barn w/3BR cottage & office, 3200 sf glass enclosure with swimming pool, Outdoor Kitchen, 1170sf guest cottage, special Creekside Cabana beside the manmade creek & waterfall. This would make a great wedding venue or retreat!”

See the photos and you might just think that being a cult leader can really pay off. It certainly did for Charles Meade.

By Brian Birmingham

There is a new development in the child abuse case at the Hare Krishna TKG Academy in Dallas, Texas.

Documents obtained by CultNews reveal that the parents of the abused child did not immediately report the abuse when they were questioned by hospital staff and authorities.

ISKCON’s Child Protection Office did complete a report confirming the abuse, but it is not clear if that written report was copied to Child Protective Services (CPS) in Dallas.

See the official report by ISKCON’s Child Protection Office.

See this detailed narrative compiled by the family of the abused child.

But both parents of the abused child failed to explain what happened when questioned by child protective services and medical personnel. Sadly, they lied to CPS and the hospital staff, in order to protect the school and the Hare Krishna community in Dallas.

Failure to pursue the child abuse may have occurred at multiple levels.

First, and foremost, ISKCON CPO, which was created to protect children, had a responsibility to share their report with the authorities in Texas, and to demand definitive action be taken by the temple in Dallas.

It must be noted that at the end of the ISKCON CPO report it states, “Case was reported to local Dallas child protective services (CPS). No further action was taken by CPS once they determined that Rasakeli was no longer teaching at TKG Academy, and Ramananda was no longer under Rasakeli’s care.”

But what does “case reported” mean?

CultNews cannot confirm that ISKCON’s final report was sent directly to CPS.

Someone may have reported something to CPS, but Dallas CPS would not confirm who reported the abuse. Only that there is a record.

CultNews has made a record request, which is now pending, to determine the details.

The family claims that they offered to share medical records related to the abuse with the Dallas temple.

Here is what the father stated online:

“Jan[uary] late Jan[uary] – Social services/social worker calls our home asking about abuse, if our child was being abused and questioning if he had access to the restroom, and when was he potty trained, etc. They said that such frequent UTI’s [urinary tract infections] are not normal in a boy and is also a common sign of a child being in a situation of where they are being abused. Doctors had also expressed concern about the dangerous bacteria that had been found in his urine. We do not, at that time, provide any information about the school and Rasakeli [the abusuive teacher] not letting Ramananda use the bathroom in fear of causing trouble with the school. We did speak with the school and started mentioning the concerns from doctors and how they had social workers call us asking questions. We also asked both school principal and school board if they needed to see the hospital papers or speak with the doctors, they never reply.”

Here is the mission statement of the CPO according to its website:

“Our mission is to protect the children of Srila Prabhupada’s Movement from child abuse and neglect. By doing so, we strengthen the future of the Movement —the children—while providing an example to the world of a spiritual society that practices compassionate caring and protection.”

See ISKCON Child Protection Office

However, it appears that ISKCON’s CPO failed to take decisive direct action by actively encouraging and insisting upon a criminal investigation regarding child abuse as no criminal charges are evident.

And apparently the Dallas Hare Krishna Temple has done little to punish the teacher that abused the minor child, who remains within the Dallas Hare Krishna community.

So, how effective is the ISKCON Child Protection Office?

Is it adequately protecting the children of ISKCON from child abuse and neglect, or is its purpose rather public relations through investigations that accomplish nothing definitive?

ISKCON seems to be more concerned about lawsuits than protecting its children.

The abusive teacher at the Dallas Hare Krishna school was found guilty of child abuse by the ISKCON CPO. So why isn’t she being criminally charged and/or purged from the community?

It must be noted that according to sources inside the Dallas Hare Krishna community the Dallas temple leaders sought to have the CPO report findings reversed.

Is the Dallas temple more concerned with protecting its children from abuse or protecting its teacher and silencing criticism?

The safety of children must come first, or so ISKCON has publicly stated.

Have the leaders of the Dallas Hare Krishna Temple learned nothing from their past mistakes?

Has ISKCON learned anything from the personal injury lawsuits that forced the organization into bankruptcy?

It seems that neither ISKCON nor the local temple in Dallas have genuinely learned much from the past mistakes, which hurt so many people. And apparently these religious institutions plagued in the past by child abuse scandals, may continue to have the same problems in the future.

Does ISKCON mandate reporting to the CPS and local police when a child is abused?

Or instead simply paper over such abuse by producing a report from its CPO, with no specific policy of mandated reporting to authorities by its affiliated temples?

What is the meaningful outcome and consequence of child abuse within ISKCON?

Will there be criminal charges far all of those found guilty of child abuse?

How does ISKCON’s CPO and its affiliated temples actually protect Krishna kids?

CultNews has updated this report based upon the latest disclosures from Dallas CPS and will continue to do so as records are delivered and further scrutinized.

Note: Brian Birmingham is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Boston with a BA in Psychology and Sociology. He is a native of Dallas.

child abuse, Dallas Hare Krishna Temple, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishnas, International Society of Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, ISKON, Texas

By Brian Birmingham

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (also known as ISKCON, or colloquially as “the Hare Krishnas”) was founded in New York City in 1966, by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In its heyday in the late 1960s and early 1970s, ISKCON was one of the most recognized new religious movements introduced to the United States. ISKCON enjoyed some positive attention in the media. George Harrison of the Beatles was one of the most noteworthy of the celebrities who helped to promote ISKCON.

History of scandal

As it grew in the US, ISKCON became increasingly controversial and was one of most notorious groups called “cults” drawing increasing attention based upon the behavior of its leadership and devotees. At times families tried to rescue their loved ones through interventions with cult deprogrammers.

ISKCON was likewise plagued by scandal. This included its most influential leader in the 1980s. Ultimately that leader Swami Bhaktipada (aka Keith Gordon Ham) was criminally charged. Ham was one of the first Hare Krishna disciples in the United States and he ruled over the largest Hare Krishna community in the country near Moundsville, West Virginia. Ham eventually pleaded guilty to racketeering, fraud and conspiracy to commit murder. But he ended up only serving 8 years in prison.

ISKCON moved on to more scandal, which involved child abuse that took place within ISKCON boarding schools in the United States and India.

The reportedly horrific physicals and sexual abuse began in the 1970s and continued through the 1980s. A class-action lawsuit was filed in Dallas, Texas on behalf of the victims in 2001. ISKCON subsequently sought refuge in Federal Bankruptcy Court, which ultimately forced the adult children to accept a greatly reduced settlement.

ISKCON claimed it would implement sweeping changes to ensure that no such abuse would ever occur again.

Changes

One of the most important changes is that ISKCON temples became independent and autonomous legal entities. This insulated ISKCON regarding legal liability. So certain temples today are not officially “ISKCON” temples, but rather only ISKCON-affiliated. Under this arrangement, if a temple is sued for misconduct or abuse, the larger organization ISKCON itself theoretically cannot be held liable, leaving liable only the local temple and its leadership.

In Dallas, Texas the local leadership does business as the “Texas Krishnas, Inc.” This supposedly means that Dallas temple is wholly independent and not an ISKCON temple at all.

ISKCON has made a tremendous effort at public relations to burnish its tainted image. In the past twenty years, the organization has become adept at PR. Anuttama das, is now ISKCON’s “Minister of Communications” and he has done his best to soften the media perception of ISKCON and persuade the general public that ISKCON has changed, and for the better.

ISKCON has apparently curtailed most of its questionable activities.

But has it essentially changed, at least at the local level in Dallas, Texas?

Recent events prove that the answer to this question is “no.”

Abuse in Dallas

It has come to light the families of several students in the Dallas Hare Krishna school were interviewed by ISKCON’s “Child Protection Office,” which revealed that their children were being abused by a certain teacher there.

The mother of one abused boy has written about abuses in the school on her Facebook page. She describes physical, psychological, and emotional abuse that her son endured. The boy was forced to urinate and defecate on himself, and was humiliated by the teacher in front of his classmates. The teacher would ridicule the boy, denigrating him and encouraging his classmates to do the same.

Investigation

Quotes from an ISKCON mother’s Facebook page as follows:

“The ISKCON Child Protection Office investigated this abusive teacher, and found her guilty of child abuse. She was removed from her position and is not teaching in the school today. However, at every step of the investigation the Dallas temple management, headed by the temple president, blocked the investigation by telling school administrators and others to lie, and by threatening families in various ways. After the Child Protection Office made their decision regarding the abusive teacher, the Dallas temple management further tried to undermine their judgment by threatening legal action against that office, in an effort to have their judgment and decision reversed.”

The only way that this family found resolution in their situation, was to physically move and leave Dallas entirely.

They’d been banned from the Dallas temple, and told that their services at the Dallas temple were no longer required.

Accountability

The leadership of the Dallas Hare Krishna temple is no more accountable or transparent than they were in 1972. And the abuse within the local Hare Krishna school in Dallas is still apparently going on as the hierarchy of this temple chose to side with the teacher, not the students and their families.

Despite all of the public relations efforts of Anuttama das and whatever he might say to sway the media, the Hare Krishnas, at least in Dallas, have not substantially changed, it seems, very much at all.

Note: Brian Birmingham is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Boston with a BA in Psychology and Sociology. He is a native of Dallas.

child abuse, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishnas, International Society of Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON

By Rick Alan Ross

ABC GMA3 hosted leaders of a purported “cult” and asked them to dispense marital advice on what a show segment called “Faith Friday.”

Michael and Monica Berg, leaders of the so-called “Kabbalah Centre” were touted as “spiritual thought leader[s]” by ABC News presenters Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. The Kabbalah Centre couple were even asked, “What is the key to a loving and lasting relationship”?

But Michael Berg’s background is hardly the basis for marriage counseling.

The Kabbalah Centre, which was founded by Michael Berg’s father insurance salesman/rabbi Philip Berg (aka Fievel Gruberger) and his mother Karen Berg, has no meaningful history as part of the organized Jewish community. And credible Kabbalah scholars both in the US and Israel have sharply criticized its unorthodox practices, such as selling supposedly miraculous Kabbalah Water and claiming that somehow scanning the pages of the Zohar without being able to read the text imbues the believer with special energy, protection and/or power.

CultNews has received complaints about Michael Berg’s parents (now deceased), the Kabbalah Centre, its teachers and specifically concerning both Michael Berg and his brother Yehuda, found guilty of sexual misconduct with a Kabbalah Centre student, a scandal that pushed Yehuda Berg into the background, behind his brother Michael.

The Kabbalah Centre is essentially the Berg family business and with wealthy patrons like Madonna and Donna Karan the Bergs became rich, despite the fact that the Kabbalah Centre is a tax-exempted religious nonprofit, which was investigated by the IRS. Nevertheless the Berg family greatly benefitted from the enterprise and now Michael Berg and his wife Monica run the organization from New York, though it has many other branches, such as Boca Raton, Los Angeles and London, seemingly targeting wealthy enclaves where people have more money to spend.

This video explains how the Kabbalah Centre and the Bergs manipulate their students and followers.

CultNews has received very specific complaints about how the Bergs and their teachers influence students/followers regarding their personal relationships, discouraging them from marrying or staying with someone that they see as an impediment and/or threat to their control. So rather than being a source of credible advice to couples the Kabbalah Centre has historically torn people apart, including estranging family members, if they ask too many critical questions.

How is it that ABC News did not know this and allowed the Bergs to use the GMA3 program platform to promote themselves, their podcast and teachings?

Is there someone associated with this news show that is a fan of the Bergs and the Kabbalah Centre?

Or is it possible that the GMA3 staff just didn’t bother to do an online search for more information about the controversial couple?

If someone at GMA3 had done some meaningful research they would have found that the Kabbalah Centre has a deeply troubled history of bad press, complaints, scandals and personal injury lawsuits. A number of news organizations have released very critical reports about the Bergs and their business.

Did GMA3 somehow miss that?

The Cult Education Institute has a historical archive that reflects criticism of the Bergs and the Kabbalah Centre within the United States and internationally, including Israel.

Michael Berg was asked by one of his GMA3 hosts to offer closing remarks to inspire us all. Berg then ruminated about the importance of realizing your potential and that the possibilities are “limitless.”

Well, Michael Berg certainly does seem to have limitless possibilities for self-promotion, paid for and supported through the spiritual empire he inherited.

But when a news program hosts purported “cult” leaders it’s more likely that those leaders will conspire rather than inspire, and that’s why it’s best to ask tougher questions, rather than pitching them flattering softballs.