------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- American Family Foundation News American Family Foundation committee members, and others who are vital to AFF's research, information, and education functions, will learn of one another's recent activities in this column. Of course, much more work occurs than is reported to us. We'll try to relate the news in the order we receive it. 1 Respected expert witness David Clark vindicated. [L.R. Davis, Christian Fellowship, Inc.; Temple University; Cult Hero; The Walk; Central Philadelphia Church of Christ; CROAS] David Clark has recently been savoring the pleasures of vindication after over a decade of efforts as a counselor and expert witness, as well as a media consultant, in the matter of the downfall of the self-styled "Reverend" L.R. Davis of Christian Fellowship, Inc., in Waukegan, Illinois. Mr. Clark was present in early September at the sentencing of Davis to thirty-one years in prison after he was convicted of sexual assault on minors, criminal sexual abuse, and child pornography. Mr. Clark says that the producers of "Prime Time Live" (ABC TV), who reported on the Davis conviction (Sept. 3), queried him extensively about the presence at the sentencing of various prorcult activists, one of whom referred to Mr. Clark as a "psychological terrorist." Earlier in the year, Mr. Clark gave a cult presentation at Temple University, and received a letter of thanks from the faculty. The Temple News (student newspaper) interviewed Mr. Clark in April, after a Scientologist attempting to start a local affiliate of the Cult Awareness Network said to the reporter that many "deprogrammers... kidnap, rape, and beat" people referred to them. Mr. Clark called this "cult propaganda" and said he knew of no counselors or deprogrammers who practiced such techniques. Applause, the magazine of the Philadelphia public broadcasting stations, interviewed him in June for a brief article, "Cult Hero," in which he told of his own disillusionment with and exit from "The Walk," a Pentecostal sect, and of his current work which takes him "all over the country." The NBC television station in Philadelphia has been doing a series of investigative reports on the Central Philadelphia Church of Christ (related to the Boston Church of Christ), also with Mr. Clark's assistance. He tells us that the researchers on this cult decided to go with the story based on their work with him. CBS TV's "48 Hours" has also been in touch with him for a program on cults, mind control, and deprogramming. The recent mass wedding of Moonies produced several calls to him from worried families. As for the future, Mr. Clark has accepted an invitation to participate in next April's international conference on cults sponsored by CROAS (Centro de Reha- bilitacion, Orientacion y Ayuda a Sectarios) the major Spanish professional education and counseling resource organization. (A number of AFF-connected professionals have been invited to attend, including AFF Executive Director Michael Langone). 2 Dr. Edward Lottick at First Hospital Wyoming Valley, PA Dr. Edward Lottick reports that he took part in a professional education series for Fall '92 presented by the First Hospital Wyoming Valley (PA), on October 6th, where he spoke on "Destructive Cults" to an audience of physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, addiction counselors, and teachers. The brochure announcing the series says it was "designed for the professional community... to cover a variety of relevant and current topics, providing an excellent opportunity for professional education and discussion. All presenters are leading specialists in their fields of concentration." In lieu of an honorarium, Dr. Lottick asked that subscriptions to publications of the American Family Foundation and the Cult Awareness Network be donated to the First Hospital Library in his name. A high compliment to our work, and kudos to Dr. Lottick for his excellent idea. 3 Dr. Margaret Singer and Dr. Richard Ofshe Sue Associations Congratulations are also in order to Dr. Margaret Singer and Dr. Richard Ofshe, both directors of the American Family Foundation, whose racketeering suit filed against the American Psychological and American Sociological Associations was announced on August 12th. (See the related stories on page 3 .) In an interview with the Cult Observer, Michael Flomenhaft, the attorney for Drs. Singer and Ofshe, said that after a full year's investigation of the charges, he felt that chances for success were very good. He said, "All the facts are there. It's a very insidious thing, and it' s hard to believe that such institutions could have engaged in this behavior. This case had to be brought very deliberately because the nature of the complaints causes skepticism." To go through a vast volume of documents alone required the most painstaking effort, not to mention the time and work involved in tracing all the relationships among the many defendants, some of which he referred to as "incestuous." He is convinced that every allegation is so fully documented that his clients can look forward to a happy outcome. 4 Marcia Rudin: ICEP lessons ready Marcia Rudin informs us that the International Cult Education Program (ICEP) lesson plan for middle schools and high schools, "Too Good to be True: Resisting Cults and Psychological Manipulation," is completed and ready for use. The separately available components consist of a thirty-page student text, an eleven- page teacher' s guide, a six-page handout for students entitled Cults & Mind Control, a thirteen-page pamphlet entitled Cults: Questions and Answers, and the twenty-nine minute videotape, Cults: Saying No Under Pressure, an ICEP co- production narrated by Charlton Heston. For further information, or to place orders, contact Marcia at ICEP, Box 1232, Gracie Station, New York, NY 10028. ( 212) 439-1550. ================================================================= 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: CO0892. DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: CO0892.TIF ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: OK SECURITY CODE: SCO DISTRIBUTION CODE: RO DESCRIPTION FOR BBS FILE LISTING: The Cult Observer, Vol. 9 No. 8, 1992. 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 Respected expert witness David Clark | vindicated. [L.R. Davis, Christian | Fellowship, Inc.; Temple University; | Cult Hero; The Walk; Central Phila- | delphia Church of Christ; CROAS] | 2 Dr. Edward Lottick at First Hospital | Wyoming Valley, PA | 3 Dr. Margaret Singer and Dr. Richard | Ofshe Sue Associations | 4 Marcia Rudin: ICEP lessons ready For additional verification see the contributor of the document. This text below was produced by scanning a printed copy of the Cult Observer. Hence a few errors may have been introducted inadvertently. Please consult the printed copy if there is any question about the text. UPDATED ON: 10/11/94 UPDATED BY: FrJMc =================================================================