Topic : 08/24 The Family Cult

Look out for what, leocon? More whitewashing and re-writing of our history? 

  

Perhaps, if you're going to be around for awhile, you could answer these questions for me. 

  

1) Why do you feel that when a former member of The Family -- your peers, no less -- say they were abused that they are attacking your faith or instigating religious persecution? 

  

2) Why is there such arrogance and sarcasm in the tone of your post? How do you think such an attitude makes a person feel who is trying to come to terms with an abusive past? How are people to believe that your concern for the poor, hungry and destitute is genuine, when you cannot extend a victim of abuse the same courtesy? 

  

3) Why do you think all the people who say they have been abused are lying? They aren't claiming the YOU were abused. They aren't saying YOU abused them. What proof do you have that they are lying? 

  

4) How do you explain the fact that your group has never officially renounced the teachings of David Berg in which he advocated racism (i.e. the Goddamn Jews, etc), severe punishment of children (i.e. The Last State) and child labor (postering, busking, etc.)? 

  

5) Why does the family excommunicate a member found guilty of child abuse if a current member accuses him/her of such, but fails to do the same when an ex-member accuses them (with corroberating evidence and testimony) of the same act? 

  

If you could do us the favour of at least answering those 5 questions before telling us how wonderful your life in the Family is, that would be great. 

  

By the way, that's great that you and many of your peers in The Family claim they have a wonderful life. All the power to ya! Perhaps, you didn't have to go through the same Victor Camps, silence restrictions, harsh beatings, organized public humiliations, and sexually inapproriate contact with adults that I and so many of my peers did. If you didn't, I am truly happy for you. 

  

Just, keep in mind that your account of the "wonderful life the Family has given you" has absolutely no bearing on the experiences that I and many of my friends went through -- experiences that people like you and Claire Borowik are attempting to claim never took place. 

  

Sincerely, 

  

Stephan 

To April of Mike. You addressed me. You asked me questions about what I am doing about Katrina. Does this mean you know want to have an online dialogue? If so, before I respond to you, I ask that you be so kind to respond to the two question I have already ask you on this board. The first is whether you agree with Berg’s pro-pedophilia statement below. The second is whether you subscribe to Berg’s anti-Semitic statements below. After you answer these questions we can dialogue about Katrina. I have done Family “relief work.” I know the scam you guys run quite well. So answer me and we can have at it. Coosa, MD. April, this was written by your founder David Berg. Attached is a link to a original scan of the document. It seems to suggest that pedophilia is understandable if men are not getting sex from adult women. Care to comment? http://www.xfamily.org/documents/fam/ml/ml-1270.pdf From Family publication ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!--NO.2 DO 1270 9/82 6. QUESTION: ALSO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ADULT BRETHREN LUSTING SEXUALLY AFTER CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OLD!--Francis & Summer Sonrise; USA (Note: We have received several letters from concerned parents re: "unapproved" sex with young children--without counsel or knowledge of parents, usually done by single brothers. Any comment? TY! Love, Sara D) ANSWER: I think we've said enough about this in the Letters. But it's sad if the poor single brothers have to resort to this because of obvious sexual deprivation by older sisters! David Berg April, the following statements from your leader David Berg are virulently anti-Semitic. Do you agree with these statements of Berg's, and if so, how does that square with your claim of missionary work? Do you also share the belief that God is racist and anti-Semitic? Spoken by David Berg: "May God damn the God-damned Jews! My God, I think if I could get over there and had a gun I think I'd shoot 'em myself! My God damn them in Jesus' name! In Jesus' name, strike! Strike! Strike! God damn the Jews! Those Anti-Christ, Christ-hating Jews, God damn them! O God, if I had a gun I'd shoot them myself! God damn the Jews! God damn them, God damn them, God damn them, in Jesus' name! Damn the anti-Christ Jews! Damn them O God! God damn them!" ("A Prayer for the Poor!", 681:23,25,33,34,35,76) "And yet the Jews condemn Hitler for killing Jews! Well, now you know why Hitler wanted to kill'm all! The World would have been a lot better off without'm a long time ago!" ("The Beirut Massacre!", 1284:38) "'Ah, he's not only an anti-Semite, he's a racist!'--Yes, I'm an anti-Semite, because God is! Yes, I'm a racist, because God is!" ("The Troublemakers!--And the Solution!", 1222:110) David Berg

In addition to what you cited, here is another quote from Berg on child-adult sex and incest.  I would like any Family member to please address these quotes in addition to the ones posted above. 

  

 

22….The whole idea that sex is so wicked & sinful, so vile & horrible, so awful & the worst of all sins, & so the worst of all sexual sins is with children. "How could you besmirch & defile & violate your own child?—An under-age minor!" 23 I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL AGE HAS GOT TO DO WITH IT when God made’m able to enjoy it practically from the time they’re born! But though God didn’t count them as under age to have sexual feelings & sexual responses & sexual nerves & sexual orgasms from the time they’re born, the System prohibits them from having them until they’re 18 to 21 years of age! 69 [...] There's nothing in the world at all wrong with sex as long as it's practiced in love, whatever it is or whoever it's with, no matter who or what age or what relative or what manner!...110 I'M TALKING ABOUT NATURAL NORMAL GODLY LOVE AS MANIFESTED IN SEX, as far as I'm concerned for whomever! There are no relationship restrictions or age limitations in His law of love. But system laws make it all against the law, and if I'd tell you what I think, I'd probably break the law publishing it! Whew! Wow! The system really stinks! It is a pit of lies and deceit and fiendish propaganda against the laws of God and the love of God and the sex of God! It's almost totally against nature!

  

 

  

The Devil Hates Sex!—But God Loves It! (DFO 999), 5/20/1980 

 

In 1990, the Family published "GN 429" titled "Informing Our Children of the System’s Dangers & Perversions!" which was   and was authored "By Sara Davidito in counsel with Maria." For those who do not know the saga of the Family, these women are, "Sara Davidito" is the long-time principal nanny for "Davidito" and Family childcare authority.  "Maria" is the pseudonym of the cult's maximum leader queen and prophet.  Collectively they are responsible for much childhood misery.
 

In paragraph 33 of that publication, they advise Family members:

“Our teens & preteens should also definitely be aware
of the fact that even the slightest inadvertent or
unintentional indication from them that they have had
any kind of sexual experience at all with their
parents or any other adults in the Family, could
possibly mean their permanent separation from the
Family, & them being institutionalised!” (33)
 

Dr Phil, I was so supprised when you aired this show!! Back in the mid to late 70's my father married a woman with 2 children about my age. I didnt get to know my step brother because he joined the army and was stationed in Hawaii, where he joined this "religion" called the Children of God!! I would get long rambling letters about God that made no sense at all. 

He was soon discharged from the army and went to live in the Phillipines, where he married someon also in the cult. They came to the U.S. shortly after their first baby was born. One night while staying at his sisters home. The wife offered herself to my stepsisters husband. I thought that my step sister was exaggerating but I see I was wrong. I do not know if he is still in the cult, but to this day he spends very little time in the U.S. although his older children live in Hawaii. BTW he is no longer with his wife. 

Julia, no one is questioning home schooling. We are aware that many, many people home schood their kids. This is not an issue. 

I think you are confusing the cult in Colorado city with the Family. When they spoke of not being able to write a check, they meant the Colorado city cult, that does not believe in educating women. 

Personally, I don't want to get into a tit for tat argument over what has been said. I don't want to get into detail the accounts that took place in my life when my parents decided to place me and later my brother in public elementary school. I do not need to harp on the fact that my daughter is loved and cared for, and is in a perfectly safe environment. I also know and still know how much my sister, China, loves my daughter—and how much it would pain her to see my daughter get hurt or even taken away from us, she has told me this so many times. I also don't want to get into the fact that China told our uncle that she did not believe it was premeditated suicide that took my brother's life. We all know how much he loved us, and how he would never do anything to hurt us or our parents. How many times Mom had helped China through her difficult times of her marriage is uncountable.

I do not and will not mud-sling my sister China whom I love dearly—in spite of the recent things that have been said about my personal family, my parents, and all of us in The Family International. After the tears, the hurt that this show has caused, I cannot help but say how much I still love China, and hope that one day she will be able to find peace in her heart.

I believe in what I do, I am determined to go on despite opposition from in-laws of my personal family. I believe Christ had faced similar incidents and more—eventual death to accomplish his purpose for all of us. How much more must I do for him! I also know Christ set an example and precedence by saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. I also must, and have, forgiven China for her actions. I still pray for her daily and wish her the best of luck.

Philly, 

  

You say your sister's appearence on the show caused hurt and tears. Have you even stopped to think that the only reason she was on the show in the first place is because of the hurt that was caused her during her time in The Family? Or do you not believe her story? Do you believe she's lying? 

  

Philly, this cycle of pain will only come to an end when your sister finds closure. You know that. 

  

I'm sure you also know that you play a major part in that role. Only once you learn to understand why your sister feels the hurt that she does; only once you learn to acknowledge the pain she has been caused instead of piously and selfishly offering her little more than forgiveness; only once you acknowledge that the people whom you support with your hard-earned money every month played a major role in the abuses your sister experienced -- then and only then can your sister's healing process begin to be fully completed. 

  

To forgive and forget is entirely optional and is not yours to demand of her. But I'm sure an intelligent guy like you knew that already. 

  

BTW, have you ever considered that you might be the one who needs your sister's forgiveness because you "know not what you do"? 

  

I would like some answers to those questions. I don't imagine you're the type to make a comment such as the one above and then disappear before you are called on it. 

  

If you don't want to post your reply here, you can send it to me at stephan_schmidt AT usa DOT com. 

  

Sincerely, 

  

Stephan 

I'm sorry - but that was just too sanctimonious for me.  You equate this to Christ's sufferings? I don't think so - how arrogant.  Once again, you are not going through any of this because of being a Christian. There are real Christians who really do die for their faith and that is not what this about.  That's a lie put in place by your group's founders to keep you following no matter what.  Hello????  You are suffering these things because of your group's poor actions in the lives of their own members.  Many of us suffered incredible damage at the  hands of your leaders and because of your doctrines and then you sit there and preach at us that you are on the same plane as Christ so it's all good?  Might I remind you of the verse from Jesus himself about "what you have done to these little ones you have done to me" - you are not above the law and the law specifically requires that perpetrators be brought to justice and that would include your veritable Queen Maria.  Her sexual actions with Ricky and her abusive punishments to Mene are enough proof right there, let alone what the permissive doctrines and victor camps did to the rest of the kids.  Bring her to justice and then I will believe you that you are truly following Christ. Otherwise, it is all just hot air and guess what? God doesn't listen to hot air.

 If John & China knew the Family was such an abusive cult then why would they place their son under the care of one of the Family homes several years ago?  

  If I am not mistaken it was for a duration of 3 to 4 weeks, correct me if I'm wrong.  

  Ask China's son if he suffered any abuse while he was with us, was he beaten, sexually molested, brainwashed?  

  I am sure that he will tell you that none of this happened and that we did all that we could to take care of him to the best of our ability.  

  

  We believe that our children are a gift from God and we would never think of harming them in any way!  

 It makes me angry to hear allegations that our homes are not safe enviroments for our children!  

   Our communities are free from substance abuse, bullying, sexual abuse, neglect and all other forms of abuse.  

  The allegations that there was widespread abuse is ridiculous!!!!! Of course there were a few individuals in the past who were abusive and did some very wrong things.  

   

  However we shouldn't judge the entire population of the Family just by these few individuals. Should we consider all Catholic Priests pedophile homosexuals based on a handful of  convictions?  

 It would be ridiculous to now start judging every priest as a pedophile wouldn't it?  

  Or maybe we should think that the whole catholic church is a perverted twisted cult that abuses children all the time.!!? 

    This would be an ignorant and biased way of thinking wouldn't you say?  

    

   From an SGA male