OCR Text |
Show 981 ‘Black Lightning’ Mulls Method oats s na havetee { lives and feared $ Saints by to ignore s ly. F sial work this new class als who call ogrammers St in San Fran. priest in roughly 2,000 successful depro grammings — was his own 14 year-old son, Michael. a brief convert to the Children of God Deprogramming is opening up a person's mind so that something other than the programmingof the cult can go in,” past relig: - in a few dis- turbing values ani the de ment political s The cor e upon which ming establish- rests is the concept of brainwashing,” a term coined by Yale University psychiatrist Robert Lifton in the 1950sto explain propaganda techniques used on American prisoners of war. Brainwashing is, Lifton and his colleagues contend, a new and subtle formof mental illness induced by techniques of “thought reform.” Those techniques include the manipulative use of language food and sleep deprivation, minimalization of outside influences and manipulation of emotions. In extreme cases_techniques for inducing hypnoticstates are employed or so the theory “mental illness some argue, has now emergedin this countrywith the proliferation of religious and political ‘‘cults, andits presence justifies the use of similar techniques to eradicateit Ted Calif., Patrick, of San Diego was probably the first deprogrammer. The term was coined to describe his work of ‘rescuing’ cultists from the clutches of various offbeat religious groups Patrick, now 51, was born into a poor Chattanooga, Tenn.. fami- ly. He dropped out of school in the tenth grade, but went on to become a community relations representative for then- California governor Ronald Reaganbefore giving uphis post to make a career — some would ce - crusade of pursuing the aSfirst subject — thefirst of ement agencies fai es Sheret} after 31 days but Patrick whoprides himself on ing subjects law religious cults are directlyor in directly inspired by comThey can live their own about r abducti however, She did ticipating the affai there.” she told repor He was She declined ping charges against her mother calling Mrs. Wirth “thevictim of rescuing. He claims to achieve his end by“just talk the twisted way peoplelive in Although misdemeanor unlawful detention is the charge most often leveled against him mother and her love and her money People used my she said. Although her claim against Patrick cannot be and while he has successfully in- substantiated, voked the law of justification in has by his own admission used his skills upon members of the US. Labor Party which he calls Patrick is now serving a one-year jail term in San Diegofor kidnapping a Tucson, Ariz.. woman believed to belong to an obscure religious group known as the Wesley Thomas Family A San Diego County jury found Patrick guiity in August, 1980. of kidnapping and conspiracyin the March. 1980, abduction of Roberta McElfish. Ms. McElfish 25 who contended she never belonged to the group,told the court she wasabducted by her parents. but was on her wayto Patrick’s ChulaVista, Calif. headquarters when she escaped from them Patrick given a suspended sentence forthe earlier kidnapping of Scientologist Paula Dain has spent time in Fullerton, Calif., and Denver Colo., jails for his activities. Although few will deny the threat posed by some new religious organizations. some theologians and lawyers regard deprogramming as the greater threat. The religious and constitutional rights of cultists are not their abiding concern. The real worry is that deprogramming techniques may soon be used upon members of mainstream religions. political groups and any other group or ideology upon which the professional mindchangers agree to exercise their skills, In June, 1980, Susan Wirth. a left-wing political activist and community college teacher, was dragged struggling into a van in San Francisco andspirited out of the state by a group of eek n Francisco talk accuse Patrick of par. this country Black Lightning a “political cult Fringe groups are not the only ones subject to deprogramming tactics. Members of evangelical Christian groups especially Jews for Jesus and other groups of Christianized Jews report a high incidence of deprogramm ing abductions. Robert Taylor an Old Catholic priest living in an OklahomaCity monastery was 22 when he was kidnapped by a team led by Tucson Ariz., attorneydeprogrammer Michael Trauscht. Trauscht director of the Freedom of Thought Foundalion, orchestrates 4 sophisicated team effort in which adult cultists are frequently made the subject of temporary court con- servatorshipsplacing them in the custody of parents on the basis of “expert’’ testimony from psychiatrists. His job, then is often performed under a veneer of legality “The law is about 5 percent of it,”” says Trauscht’ associate and Phoenix attorney Wayne Howard. “The other 95 percentis having the conviction to be able Kidnapping £ Columbia University psychia trist Thomas Szasz put the problem very simply Parents wai believe in dly because otherwise they have to admit to themselves that the kid they devoted 15 or 20 years to has re jected themand their values,’ he said Andrew Gunn, executive di rector of Americans for Separa tion of Church and State, has expressed concern “about the at. titudes courts are taking’ towaid deprogramming “There will be a case that Teaches the Supreme Court,”’ “cults” are several US Nin that member Will Cooper, he sued the teamfor $1 ion Cooper's parents and the Oakland Police De ent are also namedin thesuit, which comestotrial on March 5 1982 depri Noah Ross director of the Moonies northern California operations, sees deprogramming as part of ‘‘an historical phenomenon of religious called the rapport establ police “‘a real breakthrough motivated and distri imprisoned Unification Church police take and the church persi It’s nothing new,” he told UPI noting that St. Francis of Assisi was thought to be “crazy” after his religious conversion and that St the San Francisec Brenna Steinberg into a van on townstreet he said w enforcement officia de closely with churc together the indictmen Cooper, who said his experience with deprogrammers was “a completely wildsituation right out of a B-movie or English film comedy.” said Oakland police “laughed at our complaint wheninformedof the January. 1980. ab duction. WEEKDAYS 10 TO 6:30 SATURDAY 9 TO 6 predicted. {The religious rights of everyone are imperiled if Manyarealso concerned with the support the so-called ‘‘antireligion movement’ has re- ceived from law enforcement andjustice agencies Few will publicly condone deprogramming, but many local law enforcement agencies often look the other way. The kidnapping of children by parents, many say privately. falls in the same category as wife beating — ‘domestic squabble’ — andis not a fit subject for police work What is more disturbing, Tyee eatery SMILE eh LINUIVAT UH; critics say is the tendency of some courts and legislative bodies to try to enforce religious conformity. A case in Queens County. N.Y., represents the first time a legal body has charged a religious group with “imprisoning” its own members. In this case. two members of the International Society for was taken away from in| he said cos decision in wh judge inthe US of Appeals nu parents does not make to act against the deprogramm ing team that allegedly abducted and deprogramming is allowed to continue the wayit has been.” have the district attorney bring “T was harassed for 13 hours or ake deprogramming an he Taylor described his experience in a swornaffidavit: “I was taken to Akron Ohio. by plane whereI waskeptin a motel by a gcon squad My monastic clothes were ripped off me while four persons held me down. My me. in adult offspring legal add fuel to the When Oakland, Calif police and the fight against deprogramming Ross Alameda County district attorney saidIt was this ruling and others like i states brainwashing so ding ofitable venture where police and attorneys insistit ts a legal one dis heinous indeed compel r equally crir to persuade the Judge that what you're doing is right.” cross ... and ncert, stepping in members but prefers to call it Washington and New York — Thomas Aquinas’ pa prisonedin a t s elicited some a wide spectrum that fee! threatened Project and the Solidarity lives."" forsake their sdowne Patrick said in a recent his nickname, ‘‘Black Lightning’ admits to abducting cult ‘0 SAN FRANCSICO (UPI The so: “ant religi movement of are said to be called Magazine interview again. are pers| ‘Deprogramming’ Suits deprogran cluding F T don’t tall anyone what to believe in” said Patrick who has argued thal Americas munists. “I get the mind working THE HERALD. Prov Religious Groups File cA Krishna Consciousness sought to chargesofillegal imprisonment against several family members and deprogrammers In a surprising turnabout. the grand jury hearing the case decided to investigate the Krishnas. Two leaders were subsequently indicted for imprisoning the two members y 7 o BUDGET STORE ZCcMI ed Budget Buys for Back-to-School Reg. to $10 girls’ sundresses in fun summerstyles, 2-12. ENT! GALS FiGHiON SWIMWEAR MENS "ALL- aye His Knit Tops 3/7 Famous shirts 7.99 Reg. $12 long sleevesin rich fall solids and plaids; brand name. 8-20. Budget Boys. Reg. to $60 famouslabel Irregulars and closeouts. Many styles, colors. BudgetBoys. Boys’ Levi's’ Reg. $12 denims plus other brand cords and twills. Reg. 8-18, slims 8-16. Budget Boys. Reg. $15 saddieman cut Jeans in poly/cotton for long wear. Reg. 8-12, slim 8-14, Budget Boys. Girls’ Tops 3.99-8.99 Reg. to $8 famous label knits in long and short sleeve. Manycolors, 4-7. Budget Children. Reg. to $18 veiours, crew and turtlenecksin stripes and solids. 4-14. Budget Boys’ Pants 6.99-7.99 Girls’ Pants Reg. to $12 jeans and cordsin denim,twill, corduroy. Reg and slim, 4-7. Budget Children Outerwear Children. 3.99-7.99 Reg. to $12 a variety of pants and jeans for school. Reg. and slim 4-14. see GROUP SELECT GROUP BudgetChildren Her Dresses 26-30” oft 20” off Reg. to $68 entire stock of jackets and coats. Layaway now andsave. Bud- Reg. to $20 dressy laces, preppies and more. A wide selection for 4-14. get Children. Budget Children Ask about our 90-Day or convenient layaway plans and save now for school. ...MANY Mone.VAUES THROUGHOUT THE GRE IN PROVOC250 N. University SALT LAKEeROYeOGDEN ALSO |