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Cult-Like Group Back In Court

KWWL, USA
Jan. 27, 2006
www.kwwl.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Saturday January 28, 2006

More legal pressure mounts against a cult-like group that’s believed to have preyed on hundreds of Iowans. Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission has hundreds of faithful followers in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. But opponents criticize the group’s secretiveness and the fact that many members disconnect from their families. On Friday, the group went back to court in Chicago to face zoning violations. People with loved ones in the group say it’s a step toward bringing the Mission down.

Activist Donna Backstrom says, “It’s life and death. There’s no question about that there are lives in danger.”

Tthis month, Backstrom began year three of doing everything she can to putting an end to Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission. “It’s a very slow moving process. The entire thing, the time when you work with church and government it’s going to move slowly but we have to stay on it, and we have a lot going, and I have high hopes,” she says.

For the second time in less than two months, the Mission was in court. The city of Chicago is suing the group over zoning violations. Members are not allowed to have mass or retreats inside their headquarters in Chicago. Last month, a court order allowed city inspectors to look the place over from top to bottom. And now the city wants to look even further.

Chicago City Attorney Chris Murray says, “We are seeking to amend the complaint. There are some additional building violations that we’re looking into.”

The Mission’s attorney, John Klytta, was not happy with how recent inspections went. “Those are issues that will hopefully be addressed next time we’re in court,” he says.

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Three members of Donna Backstrom’s family members are in the group, family members who have disappeared from her radar screen. “I have a niece who lives in Chicago thinking she’s becoming a nun in a convent that does not exist not only is it not a legitimate order. It’s not even in the process of becoming one and those are lies that are told to these innocent people,” she says.

Again, the group has not been recognized by the Catholic Church, and the Mission’s priest was suspended by Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George last month.

Another court date has now been set for April 7th, and both sides could reach a settlement, meaning the case would not go to trial.

KWWL’s calls to Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission were not returned.