Related
Translate
Get RNB via RSS
 |
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Get RNB via Email
 |
 Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Follow: Twitter
Most Popular
This Week:
- Guyana’s Jonestown suicide site gets plaque
- Gaddafi preaches Islam to Rome beauties
- Scientology practices ‘putting people at risk’
- Recession: Muslim schools in UK under threat of closure
- Muslim terrorist: Psychiatrist’s lap-dancing outings before massacre
- Australian senator tells Parliament of widespread criminal conduct within the Church of Scientology
- When a child dies, faith is no defense
- Muslim terrorists smuggle fatwas promoting Jihad out of secure UK prisons
- Techie Holy water and geeky bishops
- Israel Charges Extremist With Attempted Murder Of Messianic Family
Australian Prime Ministers allows talks with group he called ‘extremist cult’
More articles on this topic: Exclusive BrethrenKevin Rudd allows secret talks with Exclusive Brethren
Kevin Rudd appears to have made peace with the Exclusive Brethren, whom he publicly derided as an “extremist cult” in his run to The Lodge, by allowing for secret talks between church and government representatives.
In the lead-up to the election campaign, the Exclusive Brethren actively lobbied then prime minister John Howard but was given short shrift by Mr Rudd.
Exclusive Brethren: Abusive ChurchMany of the Exclusive Brethren movement’s teachings and practices are abusive to such an extent that this movement can rightly be labeled as an abusive church, and possibly even as a cult of Christianity. The movement certainly does not represent or demonstrate Biblical Christianity.While the group’s members were long not allowed to vote, the cult engaged in political smear campaigns and made financial donations to various politicians and political parties.• Smear campaign points to world-wide trend – academic• The power behind the Brethren• Behind closed doors• A glimpse inside Exclusive Brethren• The Brethren sent us to HellSee also: Abusive ChurchesSee also: Cult of ChristianityResearch resources on the Exlusive BrethrenComments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.comThe Labor leader publicly attacked the church, labelling it an extremist cult that “breaks up families”.
The ALP called on four federal agencies to investigate its activities and went to great lengths to avoid contact with the church.
The Exclusive Brethren, which two years ago hired PR firm Jackson Wells Morris to help counter bad press, still wanted a relationship with the new government and in March made representations to Mr Rudd’s then chief of staff, David Epstein.
In a letter obtained by The Australian using Freedom of Information laws, a senior church member complained to Mr Epstein about continuing “ill-informed comment” by the media and disaffected church members about the Exclusive Brethren.
“This has led, amongst other things, to the church being falsely labelled as ’shadowy’ and ’secretive’,” the letter states.
“Given this situation, and statements made last year by Mr Rudd that in his view we are ‘an extremist cult’, we understand that Labor Party ministers feel they cannot meet with us because of the political ramifications of doing so. This disappoints us a great deal but, as I say, we understand it.
“It is a sad outcome that these criticisms have led to our church being effectively cut off from meaningful representation at the political level.”
The name of the author was deleted.
The letter, which requested a meeting with a government representative, was delivered with a 14-page briefing note from church leader Bruce Hales.
Exclusive Brethren spokesman Daniel Hales yesterday confirmed Mr Epstein had replied in terms that were satisfactory to the church.
What You Can Do From Here
|
Read More Articles On These Topics
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
 Previous entry: Konstantin Rudnev, leader of major Russian sect detained in Siberia Next entry: In memoir, daughter of CUT leader comes to grips with where church went wrong
RNB Homepage with latest headlinesFind Related Information
Find Related Books
|
Share This Article
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:
