------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ===================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Philip Abramowitz's Letter to the New York Times Congratulations to Philip Abramowitz, whose letter to the New York Times, written in his capacity as Director of the Interfaith Coalition of Concern about Cults, was published on June 13 in response to an editorial, "Moonie U. in Bridgeport?" In his letter, headed "Moon Church a Stranger to Academic Freedom," he wrote, in part, "We are deeply concerned about the Unification Church's jurisdiction. The church has a history of breaking most, if not all, similar promises [about non-interference with academic or religious freedom]. The church's use of mind control and other tactics to gain social and political control is fundamental to Mr. Moon's philosophy as a self-proclaimed messiah." 2 Paul Martin testifies for annulment [Wellspring] Paul Martin testified in March at an annulment hearing for a former client of Wellspring, his residential treatment facility. The annulment was granted, based largely on Paul's testimony that the ex-client had been under mind control at the time of her marriage to a fellow cult member, and that the mind control had been continuously reinforced by the cult leader. Paul also reports that Wellspring is now completed and doing well. AFF continues to fund research using data and observations from Wellspring; Paul showed slides of the center at the AFF May conference. 3 Dr. Ralph Smith mans AFF booth at American Psychiatric Association's meeting We are told that Dr. Ralph Smith did "yeoman work" manning the AFF booth at the American Psychiatric Association's meeting, and that he helped introduce many APA members to AFF's work. Michael Langone estimates that about 150 psychiatrists signed up to receive our literature, and at least 750 attendees stopped to talk with people running our booth. 4 Dr. Edward Lottick, Sally Lottick on television Following his attendance at AFF's annual meeting, Dr. Edward Lottick, now President-elect of the Luzerne County (PA) Medical Society, was inspired to call a local newspaper, the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, to publicize his interest in educating the public about cults. He has recorded radio spots for "People's School Services" on cults in general, warning parents of "seven danger signals" to recognize if children appear to be joining such groups. He and his wife, Sally, were interviewed for a Dutch television program on Scientology by "two young reporters who traveled all over the U.S." They also interviewed AFF President Herbert Rosedale. The documentary, of which we have a copy, is very professionally done, and includes interviews with CAN President Patricia Ryan and English author (A Piece of Blue Sky) and ex-Scientologist Jon Atack. Excerpts will appear in a future issue. 5 Dr. Jolly West sued by Scientology [Editor's note: He must be doing very good work!] Dr. Jolly West (L. Jolyon West), whose major address at the APA convention has been mentioned in this space more than once, is now the subject of yet another lawsuit brought against him by Scientology. Dr. West is fond of the aphorism "No good deed goes unpunished." We have also heard him quote Winston Churchill from time to time, once to the effect that you can judge a man's character by the enemies he makes, and best of all, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." (Address at Harrow School, October 1941) 6 Arthur Dole and other experts work on New Age study Arthur Dole has been working long and hard on Phase II of his New Age study with Michael Langone and Steve Dubrow-Eichel, with analysis of data currently in progress. He has worked also with Dr. Edward Lottick and Michael Langone on a survey of Pennsylvania primary care physicians concerning their experiences with cultic groups. Dr. Dole has been actively consulting with cult victims, their parents, and reporters, as well. 7 Andrew Skolnick who exposed TM addresses AFF Andrew Skolnick, the associate editor who exposed TM and Ayur-veda misrepresentations in his by-now-famous article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), attended the AFF meeting as well as the APA convention. He addressed the meeting with words of thanks for AFF's help in his research. 8 Marcia Rudin working on anti-cult lessons for schools Marcia Rudin tells us that she is currently working on a new ICEP project, a lesson plan for middle and high schools on cults, occult ritual, and psychological manipulation. We look forward to reporting it in some detail when her work is completed. 9 Herbert Nieburg, forensic expert, appears on television Herbert Nieburg appeared on a "Geraldo" television show in early June, not as an expert on cultism per se, but in his capacity as a forensic expert to make cogent comments on the notorious New York case of an alleged teenaged attempted-murder suspect, a young woman under the possible undue influence of a much older man. Dr. Nieburg was an island of calm professionalism in a frequently disputatious and unseemly group. 10 Lady Daphne Vane receives flood of inquiries about cults Daphne Vane, long-time AFF advisor and link to the scene in Britain, reports that FAIR (the British cult education and referral organization with which she has been associated virtually since its inception 16 years ago), received 1700 letters of inquiry and 1200 telephone queries about cults during 1991. Lady Vane also reports that the new FAIR hotline received 250 additional calls. ================================================================= If this is a copyrighted work, you are acknowledging by receipt of this document from FACTNet that on the basis of reasonable investigation, you have not been to obtain a copy elsewhere at a fair price, and that you are and will abide by the following copyright warning. WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photo copies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified by law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. FACTNet reserves the right to refuse to accept an order for copying or other duplication, or delivery of copied or duplicated material if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD CATALOG ENTRY DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: E:\PCB\AFF\FILES\CO0592\CO0592AA.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: SECURITY CODE: DISTRIBUTION CODE: NAME FOR BBS: SORT TO: CONTRIBUTOR: American Family Foundation (AFF) LOC. OF ORIG: American Family Foundation (AFF) NOTES: Back issues and selected reprints of the Cultic Studies Journal are available from the American Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 33959-2265. For additional verification see image files contained in the file with same name and .ZIP extension. UPDATED ON: UPDATED BY: F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD CATALOG ENTRY DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: CO0592AA.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: none ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: OK SECURITY CODE: SCO DISTRIBUTION CODE: RO DESCRIPTION FOR BBS FILE LISTING: The Cult Observer March 1993 SORT TO: AFF CONTRIBUTOR: American Family Foundation (AFF) LOCATION OF ORIGINAL: American Family Foundation (AFF) NOTES: Back issues and selected reprints of the Cultic Studies Journal are available from the American Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 33959-2265. WHAT AFF COMMITTEE MEMBERS (AND OTHERS) ARE DOING | 1 Philip Abramowitz's Letter to the | New York Times | 2 Paul Martin testifies for annulment | [Wellspring] | 3 Dr. Ralph Smith mans AFF booth | at American Psychiatric | Association's meeting | 4 Dr. Edward Lottick, Sally Lottick | on television | 5 Dr. Jolly West sued by Scientology | [Editor's note: He must be doing | very good work!] | 6 Arthur Dole and other experts | work on New Age study | 7 Andrew Skolnick who exposed TM | addresses AFF | 8 Marcia Rudin working on anti-cult | lessons for schools | 9 Herbert Nieburg, forensic expert, | appears on television | 10 Lady Daphne Vane receives flood | of inquiries about cults For additional verification see the contributor of the document. UPDATED ON: 8/24/94 UPDATED BY: FrJMc =================================================================