Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image
Exclusive Brethren:

Sect drops legal bid on ex-member

The Sunday Times, Australia
Aug. 8, 2004
Jim Kelley
news.com.au

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 8238 • Posted: Sunday August 8, 2004  

Click here... More articles on this topic: Exclusive Brethren

A secretive religious sect has dropped legal action against a former member and paid him $25,000.

The Exclusive Brethren sued exiled member John Wallis for defamation over a letter alleging the church was dividing families.

The action was dropped on Friday, three days before it was due to be heard in court.

Mr Wallis said the Brethren had demanded $50,000 to settle the claim but instead walked away after paying him $25,000. The offending letter, which was highly critical of the church, was sent to several church elders.

“I do not back away from anything in the letter,” Mr Wallis said after the action against him was dropped.

“This has been a long and bitter dispute which the Brethren has chosen to pursue.

“The church needs to understand it no longer has control over what I do or say.”

A church spokesman said the members had agreed to a settlement rather than allowing Mr Wallis to publicly air misleading and damaging claims about the church.

In a separate action, senior church members are seeking a court injunction to stop Mr Wallis coming within 100m of them.

In a statement of claim lodged in the Supreme Court, lawyers acting for the Brethren claim Mr Wallis has harassed church members and made false statements about their religion.

It alleged the provocative acts included plans to produce a book or movie about the church.

Church members also alleged Mr Wallis had shown up uninvited at homes, businesses and places of worship.

Alan Clarkson, one of the Brethren involved in the action, said he would be happy if Mr Wallis got on with his life and left the Brethren to theirs.

“I do not see why John Wallis should have the right to make judgments against me just because I am a member of the Brethren,” he said.

“John has turned very bitter against the whole Brethren movement, which I think is completely unjustified.”

The Brethren, whose members live by a strict interpretation of the Bible as dictated by their Sydney-based world leader, have several hundred members in Perth and in Wheatbelt towns.

Members are born into the church and taught the outside world is corrupt.

Mr Wallis was first expelled for buying his family a set of encyclopedias.


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more cult news articlemore religion news Categories: Exclusive Brethren
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine