Agape Ministries cult leaders launch counter-accusations

The Agape empire has struck back against its detractors, accusing one of conning the controversial group out of $730,000.

Church leader Pastor Rocco Leo and two senior members of the group have launched a counter-claim against former follower Martin Penney.

District Court documents claim that in 2001 Mr Penney borrowed money to buy a property and reneged on his promise to repay it when he got “back on his feet”.

They further accuse him of masterminding a “scheme” in 2005 to use the church as his tax shelter by doctoring its financial records with bogus donations.
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Mr Penney is suing Mr Leo, Joe Veneziano and Mari Antoinette Veneziano for $1.2 million. He says he was duped into “donating” the money …
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In defence papers obtained by The Advertiser, Mr Leo admits Mr Penney attended Agape services “from about 1994″, but denies preaching doomsday.

“We deny specifically that Leo was preparing an island where Mr Penney or any person could be moved or be saved from damnation,” it says.

“If such representations were made – which is specifically denied – they are so fanciful that no reasonable person would be capable of mistaking them as truth.”

They ask the court to set aside Mr Penney’s lawsuit and instead award Agape damages for its $730,000 loss.
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