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The '''Cult Awareness Network''' (CAN) was founded in the wake of the [[November 18]], [[1978]] deaths of members of the group [[Peoples Temple]] and [[assassination]] of [[Leo Ryan|Congressman Leo J. Ryan]] in [[Jonestown]], [[Guyana]]. CAN is now owned and operated by associates of the [[Church of Scientology]], an organization that the original founders of CAN strongly opposed. Prior to its hostile takeover,<ref name="goodstein">{{cite web | first = Laurie | last = Goodstein | title = It's A Hostile Takeover Of A Nonprofit | url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2362655&date=19961201 | work = [[Washington Post]] | publisher = [[Seattle Times]] | date = [[1996-12-01]] | accessdate = 2008-05-10 }}</ref> CAN provided information on groups that it considered to be cults, as well as support and referrals to [[exit counselor]]s and [[deprogrammer]]s. Supporters and detractors alike use the terms "Old CAN" and "New CAN" to refer to the two periods of the organization's existence.<ref>{{cite news | last = Keller | first = Rod | title = CAN | work = alt.religion.scientology, Week In Review | pages = Volume 3, Issue 17 | publisher = [[Operation Clambake]] | date = 1998-08-02 | url = http://www.xenu.net/archive/WIR/wir3-17.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Ross | first =Rick | authorlink =Rick Ross (consultant) | title =Cult Awareness Network | work =Rick A. Ross Institute | date = | url =http://rickross.com/groups/newcan.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28}}"The so-called "reformed Cult Awareness Network" is "operated by the Foundation for Religious Freedom." According to the IRS/Scientology agreement this foundation is a "Scientology-related" entity."</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =From the Editor | work = New CAN: Cult Awareness Network | pages = Volume I, Issue 2| year =2001 | url = http://www.cultawarenessnetwork.org/update/001.002.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Goodman | first =Leisa, Human Rights Director, [[Church of Scientology|Church of Scientology International]] | title =A Letter from the Church of Scientology | work =Marburg Journal of Religion: Responses From Religions | pages =Volume 6, No. 2, 4 pages | year =2001 | url =http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/goodman.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28 }}</ref>
The '''Cult Awareness Network''' (CAN) was founded in the wake of the [[November 18]], [[1978]] deaths of members of the group [[Peoples Temple]] and [[assassination]] of [[Leo Ryan|Congressman Leo J. Ryan]] in [[Jonestown]], [[Guyana]]. CAN is now owned and operated by associates of the [[Church of Scientology]], an organization that the original founders of CAN strongly opposed. Prior to its hostile takeover,<ref name="goodstein">{{cite web | first = Laurie | last = Goodstein | title = It's A Hostile Takeover Of A Nonprofit | url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2362655&date=19961201 | work = [[Washington Post]] | publisher = [[Seattle Times]] | date = [[1996-12-01]] | accessdate = 2008-05-10 }}</ref> CAN provided information on groups that it considered to be cults, as well as support and referrals to [[exit counselor]]s and [[deprogrammer]]s. Supporters and detractors alike use the terms "Old CAN" and "New CAN" to refer to the two periods of the organization's existence.<ref>{{cite news | last = Keller | first = Rod | title = CAN | work = alt.religion.scientology, Week In Review | pages = Volume 3, Issue 17 | publisher = [[Operation Clambake]] | date = 1998-08-02 | url = http://www.xenu.net/archive/WIR/wir3-17.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Ross | first =Rick | authorlink =Rick Ross (consultant) | title =Cult Awareness Network | work =Rick A. Ross Institute | date = | url =http://rickross.com/groups/newcan.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28}}"The so-called "reformed Cult Awareness Network" is "operated by the Foundation for Religious Freedom." According to the IRS/Scientology agreement this foundation is a "Scientology-related" entity."</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =From the Editor | work = New CAN: Cult Awareness Network | pages = Volume I, Issue 2| year =2001 | url = http://www.cultawarenessnetwork.org/update/001.002.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Goodman | first =Leisa, Human Rights Director, [[Church of Scientology|Church of Scientology International]] | title =A Letter from the Church of Scientology | work =Marburg Journal of Religion: Responses From Religions | pages =Volume 6, No. 2, 4 pages | year =2001 | url =http://web.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/mjr/goodman.html | accessdate = 2007-10-28 }}</ref>


From 1978 until 1996 when the Cult Awareness Network was bought out by associates of the Church of Scientology in [[United States bankruptcy court]], CAN and its representatives were highly critical of Scientology, [[Landmark Education]], and other groups and new religious movements that it considered to have potentially harmful tendencies. The Cult Awareness Network referred to some of these groups as "[[destructive cult]]s." Cynthia Kisser, the then executive director of CAN, was quoted in the controversial 1991 ''[[TIME]]'' article, "[[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power]]." These comments and other forms of criticism from CAN garnered the attention of the Church of Scientology and Landmark Education, and both separately began aggressive litigation proceedings against the organization. CAN was later driven into [[bankruptcy]] due to mounting legal expenses, and the organization was bought out in bankruptcy court by Church of Scientology attorney Steven Hayes in 1996. As a result of a legal settlement with Landmark Education, CAN agreed not to sell copies of ''[[Outrageous Betrayal]]'', a book critical of [[Werner Erhard]], for five years after it emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. Following its bankruptcy, the files of the "Old CAN" were made available to scholars for study and transferred to a university library.{{fact}} Since then, academics who published a joint paper with [[Church of Scientology]] attorney [[Kendrick Moxon]] and later others referencing their work have stated that the "Old CAN" covertly continued to make and derive income from referrals to coercive [[deprogrammer]]s, while publicly distancing itself from the practice.{{fact}}
From 1978 until 1996 when the Cult Awareness Network was bought out by associates of the Church of Scientology in [[United States bankruptcy court]], CAN and its representatives were highly critical of Scientology, [[Landmark Education]], and other groups and new religious movements that it considered to have potentially harmful tendencies. The Cult Awareness Network referred to some of these groups as "[[destructive cult]]s." Cynthia Kisser, the then executive director of CAN, was quoted in the controversial 1991 ''[[TIME]]'' article, "[[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power]]." These comments and other forms of criticism from CAN garnered the attention of the Church of Scientology and Landmark Education, and both separately began aggressive litigation proceedings against the organization. CAN was later driven into [[bankruptcy]] due to mounting legal expenses, and the organization was bought out in bankruptcy court by Church of Scientology attorney Steven Hayes in 1996. As a result of a legal settlement with Landmark Education, CAN agreed not to sell copies of ''[[Outrageous Betrayal]]'', a book critical of [[Werner Erhard]], for five years after it emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. Following its bankruptcy, the files of the "Old CAN" were made available to scholars for study and transferred to a university library.<ref name="davis" /> Since then, academics who published a joint paper with [[Church of Scientology]] attorney [[Kendrick Moxon]] and later others referencing their work have stated that the "Old CAN" covertly continued to make and derive income from referrals to coercive [[deprogrammer]]s, while publicly distancing itself from the practice.<ref name="davis" /><ref name="oxford" />


The "New CAN" organization has caused both confusion and controversy among academics and its opponents. Board members of the "Old CAN" have characterized it as a [[front group]] for the Church of Scientology. [[James R. Lewis]] has described "New CAN" as "a genuine information and networking center on non-traditional religions". The group promotes itself as a champion of [[human rights]] and [[freedom of religion]]. In December 1997, ''[[60 Minutes]]'' profiled the controversy regarding the history of the "Old CAN" and the "New CAN", with host [[Lesley Stahl]] noting: "Now, when you call looking for information about a cult, chances are the person you're talking to is a Scientologist." An August 2007 article in ''[[FOX News]]'' on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]] noted that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references between itself and the Cult Awareness Network on [[Wikipedia]].
The "New CAN" organization has caused both confusion and controversy among academics and its opponents. Board members of the "Old CAN" have characterized it as a [[front group]] for the Church of Scientology. [[James R. Lewis]] has described "New CAN" as "a genuine information and networking center on non-traditional religions". The group promotes itself as a champion of [[human rights]] and [[freedom of religion]]. In December 1997, ''[[60 Minutes]]'' profiled the controversy regarding the history of the "Old CAN" and the "New CAN", with host [[Lesley Stahl]] noting: "Now, when you call looking for information about a cult, chances are the person you're talking to is a Scientologist." An August 2007 article in ''[[FOX News]]'' on the [[Wikipedia Scanner]] noted that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references between itself and the Cult Awareness Network on [[Wikipedia]].

Revision as of 01:40, 9 October 2008

CAN, the NEW Cult Awareness Network
Formation1996, purchased assets from "Old CAN" in United States bankruptcy court
1997, incorporated as Foundation for Religious Freedom DBA Cult Awareness Network
TypeAdvocacy, Freedom of religion, Hotline
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Official language
English
Chairman of the Board
George Robertson
Key people
Stan Koehler, Secretary
Nancy O. Meara, Treasurer
WebsiteNew CAN

The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was founded in the wake of the November 18, 1978 deaths of members of the group Peoples Temple and assassination of Congressman Leo J. Ryan in Jonestown, Guyana. CAN is now owned and operated by associates of the Church of Scientology, an organization that the original founders of CAN strongly opposed. Prior to its hostile takeover,[1] CAN provided information on groups that it considered to be cults, as well as support and referrals to exit counselors and deprogrammers. Supporters and detractors alike use the terms "Old CAN" and "New CAN" to refer to the two periods of the organization's existence.[2][3][4][5]

From 1978 until 1996 when the Cult Awareness Network was bought out by associates of the Church of Scientology in United States bankruptcy court, CAN and its representatives were highly critical of Scientology, Landmark Education, and other groups and new religious movements that it considered to have potentially harmful tendencies. The Cult Awareness Network referred to some of these groups as "destructive cults." Cynthia Kisser, the then executive director of CAN, was quoted in the controversial 1991 TIME article, "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power." These comments and other forms of criticism from CAN garnered the attention of the Church of Scientology and Landmark Education, and both separately began aggressive litigation proceedings against the organization. CAN was later driven into bankruptcy due to mounting legal expenses, and the organization was bought out in bankruptcy court by Church of Scientology attorney Steven Hayes in 1996. As a result of a legal settlement with Landmark Education, CAN agreed not to sell copies of Outrageous Betrayal, a book critical of Werner Erhard, for five years after it emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. Following its bankruptcy, the files of the "Old CAN" were made available to scholars for study and transferred to a university library.[6] Since then, academics who published a joint paper with Church of Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon and later others referencing their work have stated that the "Old CAN" covertly continued to make and derive income from referrals to coercive deprogrammers, while publicly distancing itself from the practice.[6][7]

The "New CAN" organization has caused both confusion and controversy among academics and its opponents. Board members of the "Old CAN" have characterized it as a front group for the Church of Scientology. James R. Lewis has described "New CAN" as "a genuine information and networking center on non-traditional religions". The group promotes itself as a champion of human rights and freedom of religion. In December 1997, 60 Minutes profiled the controversy regarding the history of the "Old CAN" and the "New CAN", with host Lesley Stahl noting: "Now, when you call looking for information about a cult, chances are the person you're talking to is a Scientologist." An August 2007 article in FOX News on the Wikipedia Scanner noted that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references between itself and the Cult Awareness Network on Wikipedia.

"Old CAN"

Foundation

File:Cult Awareness Network OLD logo.gif
Logo, (Old) Cult Awareness Network

The CAN predecessor, Citizen's Freedom Foundation ("CFF"), was founded in the wake of the 1978 Jonestown mass suicides, and was run for a time by Patricia Ryan, the daughter of US Congressman Leo J. Ryan (D-Millbrae, California), who died from gunfire while investigating conditions at the Jonestown cult compound in Guyana. CAN evolved out of the CFF, of which Ted Patrick was "the prime force in organizing."[8] The organization was originally headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The "Old CAN" collected information on many controversial organizations and religious movements. Actor Mike Farrell was one of the members of the board of advisors of the "Old CAN", and Dr. Edward Lottick served as president.[9][10] In 1990, the Cult Awareness Network established the "John Gordon Clark Fund", in honor of psychiatrist John G. Clark, who had given testimony about Scientology and other groups.[11][12] The fund was established to assist former members of destructive cults.[12] By 1991, the Cult Awareness Network had twenty-three chapters dedicated to monitoring two hundred groups that it referred to as: "mind control cults."[13]

The "Old CAN" also became the subject of controversy. Galen Kelly and Donald Moore, both of whom were convicted in the course of carrying out 'deprogramming', are linked to the "Old CAN" by detractors Anson Shupe, Susan E. Darnell, and Church of Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon.[14] Shupe, Darnell, and Moxon charge that the "Old CAN" deliberately provided a distorted picture of the groups it tracked. They claimed it was "a Chicago-based national anticult organization claiming to be purely a tax-exempt informational clearinghouse on new religions."[14] In 1991, Time magazine quoted then CAN director Cynthia Kisser in its article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power." Kisser stated: "Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen. No cult extracts more money from its members."[13] This quote has since been referenced verbatim in other secondary sources discussing Scientology.[15][16]

Landmark Education

According to the (Old) Cult Awareness Network's executive director, Landmark Education and the Church of Scientology were the two groups for which CAN received the highest number of inquiries from concerned relatives – twenty-five per month per group.[17] In an interview, CAN's executive director emphasized that the label "cult" with regard to Landmark Education was not important; but rather greater scrutiny of its practices was needed.[17] Specifically, CAN stressed concerning characteristics such as: "... the long hours during which the participant is in the organization's total control, receiving input from only one source, removed from any support system except for the seminar group itself."[17] In 1994, Landmark Education Corporation sued the Cult Awareness Network for USD$40 million, claiming that CAN had labeled Landmark Education as a cult.[18] The case itself involved a dispute over the legality and applicable usage of what Matthews termed "cult indoctrination procedures."[18] CAN later settled and made a statement that it did not consider Landmark Education a cult, as part of the settlement agreement.[19]

During the litigation proceedings between Landmark Education and the Cult Awareness Network, Landmark Education spent months attempting to compel legal journalist Steven Pressman to respond to deposition questions aimed at obtaining the confidential sources he used for research on his book about Werner Erhard, Outrageous Betrayal.[20] Though the deposition questions were brought under the pretext of compelling discovery for use in Landmark Education's lawsuit against CAN, Pressman concluded that the deposition questioning was mainly a form of harassment.[20] The discovery commissioner who entered an interim order in the matter, commented that: "... it does not appear that the information sought [from Mr. Pressman] is directly relevant or goes to the heart of the [CAN] action, or that alternative sources have been exhausted or are inadequate." The action against Pressman was dropped after the Cult Awareness Network litigation was settled.[21][20] As a result of the Cult Awareness Network settlement with Landmark Education, CAN agreed to cease selling copies of Outrageous Betrayal for at least five years. From the resolution of the CAN board of directors: "In the interests of settling a dispute and in deference to Landmark's preference, however, CAN now agrees not to sell the Pressman Book for at least five years after CAN emerges from bankruptcy."[22] CAN's executive director maintained that the purpose of Landmark Education's lawsuits was not to recover lost funds, but to "gag critics".[17] Along with Scientology, Landmark Education was granted access to Cult Awareness Network's files, which contained phone records and data on individuals who had previously sought information on these groups.[23][24]

Church of Scientology's response

The Church of Scientology had long characterized the Cult Awareness Network as both an opponent of religious freedom and a "hate group."[25] In 1990, a woman named Jolie Steckart, posing as Laura Terepin, applied to volunteer for the (Old) Cult Awareness Network.[26] Bob Minton later hired a private investigator to look into this, and in 1998 discovered that she was actually a "deep undercover agent", who was managed by David Lee, a private investigator hired by the Church of Scientology.[26] Steckart had also attempted to infiltrate the Scientology-critical organization Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network or "FACTnet".[26]

In 1991, over fifty Scientologists from across the United States filed civil suits against the Cult Awareness Network, many of whom used the same carbon copy claims through influence from the Los Angeles, California law firm Bowles & Moxon. In addition, Scientologists filed dozens of discrimination complaints against CAN, with state human rights commissions in the United States. The Cult Awareness Network, which ran on a budget of USD$ 300,000 per year, was unable to cope with this amount of litigation. By 1994, it had been dropped by all of its insurance companies, and still owed tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.[27][25] Kendrick Moxon, chief attorney for the Church of Scientology, had stated that the lawsuits were brought to address discrimination against individuals who wanted to reform the Cult Awareness Network.[25] These fifty individuals had all simultaneously tried to join the organization.[28] When the Cult Awareness Network's executive director turned down the applications for fear that the new Scientologist applicants would overtake control of CAN, they sued in separate lawsuits claiming religious discrimination.[28] Though Moxon handled the litigation for all of the lawsuits, the Church of Scientology maintained that it did not provide the financial backing for the suits.[29] Moxon did acknowledge that his firm Moxon & Bowles had represented the plaintiffs in the case at virtually no charge, and that Scientology churches "helped a little bit, but very little," with the litigation costs.[30]

Daniel Leipold, the attorney who represented CAN in the suits, believed that the Church of Scientology did indeed have a role in the financial backing of the suits, stating: "for every nickel we spent, they spent at least a dollar."[30] Leipold also stated that when he began to take statements from some of the Scientologist plaintiffs in the process of his defense of CAN, "Several of the plaintiffs said they had not seen or signed the lawsuits, even though the court papers bore their signatures."[30] One Scientologist plaintiff told CAN attorneys that he could not recall how he initially got the contact information of CAN officials, or who had asked him to write to the organization.[30] Another Scientologist later fired his lawyer and asked a judge to dismiss his own case against CAN, saying that Eugene Ingram, a private investigator for the Church of Scientology, had paid him three hundred dollars to have lunch where he agreed to be a plaintiff and signed a blank page for Church of Scientology attorneys.[30] CAN attorney Leipold stated: "Scientology planned, instigated, coordinated and sponsored a plan to subject CAN to multiple lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions in order to overwhelm and eliminate it or take it over and control it."[30] Frank Oliver, who was until 1993 an operative in the Church of Scientology's Office of Special Affairs division (OSA), asserted that his last assignment with the OSA branch was to assist Kendrick Moxon in developing a special unit to target the Cult Awareness Network.[31] Oliver stated that this unit was tasked with recruiting plaintiffs to sue the Cult Awareness Network, with the intention that these lawsuits would put CAN out of business.[31] In a 2005 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Church of Scientology spokesperson stated that the Church was not responsible for the litigation leading to CAN's bankruptcy.[28]

Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige appeared in his first ever interview with the media on the program Nightline on February 14, 1992, and was interviewed by Ted Koppel.[32] Miscavige stated that he believed Scientology did not "lend itself well to the press," and he criticized a piece on Scientology that aired on Nightline shortly before his interview.[32] In his criticism of the piece, Miscavige asserted that Nightline correspondents had only interviewed members of CAN, stating: "For instance, something that isn't mentioned in there is that every single detractor on there is part of a religious hate group called Cult Awareness Network and their sister group called American Family Foundation. Now, I don't know if you've heard of these people, but it's the same as the KKK would be with the blacks. I think if you interviewed a neo-Nazi and asked them to talk about the Jews, you would get a similar result to what you have here."[32] Koppel then posited the notion that others critical of Scientology were less apt to come forward and speak publicly due to fears of potential recrimination from the Church.[32] In 1994, the Cult Awareness Network opened a counter-suit against the Church of Scientology, eleven individual Scientologists and the Los Angeles law firm of Bowles and Moxon.[33]

Jason Scott case

In 1995, CAN, Rick Ross and two others were found guilty of conspiracy to violate the civil right to freedom of religion of Jason Scott, then a member of the Life Tabernacle Church, a small United Pentecostalist congregation in Bellevue, Washington.[34] The 18-year-old Scott had been kidnapped and subjected to a failed deprogramming attempt.[34] Ross was ordered to pay more than US$3 million in damages; CAN was ordered to pay a judgement of US$1 million.[25][35][36] Ross had been involved in hundreds of interventions with members of various religious groups over a 15-year period. The large damage award, plus a large number of additional civil tort cases brought against CAN by the Church of Scientology, drove the "Old CAN" into bankruptcy in 1996, and its assets, including records, names and phone numbers, ended up in the hands of Scientologists.[24][37][36][38][35] Ross went into bankruptcy as well, but emerged in December 1996 when Scott reconciled with his mother and settled with Ross for five-thousand dollars and two hours of Ross's services "as an expert consultant and intervention specialist."[1] Scott fired his attorney Kendrick Moxon the next day and retained long-time Church of Scientology opponent Graham Berry as his lawyer instead.[1]

Moxon, who had argued in the case that Ross and associates had hindered a competent adult's freedom to make his own religious decisions, immediately filed court papers seeking to rescind the settlement and appoint a guardian for Scott, whom he called "incapacitated." That effort failed.[39][40]

Congress record statement on Waco

In a 1996 joint hearing before the United States Congress on the Waco Siege entitled: Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians, it was stated into the record that publicists for the New Alliance Party had circulated a report to Congress and the media called "What is the Cult Awareness Network and What Role Did it Play in Waco?"[41] Testimony was also entered into the record stating that: "Their report relied on Linda Thompson, organizations created or funded by the Church of Scientology and the Unification Church" and a "long-time cult apologist".[41]

"New CAN"

Bought in bankruptcy court

Seal of the United States bankruptcy court. Church of Scientology attorney Steven Hayes bought rights to the Cult Awareness Network assets during its bankruptcy proceedings.

After the litigation had driven the Cult Awareness Network to bankruptcy, Church of Scientology attorney Steven Hayes appeared in bankruptcy court and managed to win the bidding for what remained of the organization for an amount of $20,000: The name, logo, phone number, office equipment, and judgments that the organization had won but not yet collected.[1] Initially, the Scientologists did not succeed in getting the CAN files, because of the threat of litigation against the bankruptcy trustee; the files were returned to the board.[24] After Jason Scott sold his $1.875 million judgment to Scientologist Gary Beeny for $25,000, this made Beeny, who was represented by Kendrick Moxon, another Scientology attorney, CAN's largest creditor.[27] The CAN board then settled with Beeny by turning over the files to him instead of the possibility of being individually liable for the judgement.[9][40]

A number of documents in the files were apparently destroyed by unknown persons at CAN in the early to mid-nineties, during the time when CAN and its directors were embroiled in legal battles.[6]</ref> After being turned over to Beeny, the surviving files were donated to the Foundation for Religious Freedom, who made them available to academic researchers and representatives of various NRMs for inspection and photocopying.[6] Later they were transferred to the Special Collections section of the University of California library in Santa Barbara.[6]

The Foundation for Religious Freedom became the license holder of the CAN name and operates the New CAN today.[42] It is controlled by a multi-faith board of directors chaired by Dr. George Robertson, a Baptist minister.[42] The New CAN, whose goals are to attack religious bigotry and promote respect for individual religious freedom, operates a website and a telephone hotline.[42]

The Foundation for Religious Freedom predates the New CAN; in the 1993 closing agreement between the IRS and the Church of Scientology, it was listed as a Scientology-related entity.[43]

Reception

"Old CAN"

Sociologist Anson Shupe and Susan E. Darnell presented a paper co-authored with Church of Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon at the 2000 meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, based on their analysis of the files of the "Old CAN", and raising various allegations against the way the "Old CAN" was operated.[14] Shupe, Moxon and Darnell repeated these allegations in a 2004 Baylor University Press publication entitled New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America, edited by Derek Davis and Barry Hankins.[6] They expressed the view that the "Old CAN" could reasonably be described as a criminal organization operating in large part for the profit to certain actors, and that it cultivated a hypocritical and deceptive public persona.[6] They alleged that despite public denials, the "Old CAN" operating policy included routine referrals to coercive deprogrammers, citing, among others, FBI wiretap evidence documenting frequent, casual contact between coercive deprogrammers and Cynthia Kisser, the executive director of the "Old CAN".[6] They further alleged that the "Old CAN" operated as a money laundering scheme, with coercive deprogrammers expected to "kick back" to the "Old CAN" part of the fees they charged families, in the form of direct or indirect donations.[6] Other allegations made by Shupe, Darnell and Moxon included irregularities in finances suggestive of personal enrichment by some "Old CAN" officials,[6] as well as the use of legal and illegal drugs by deprogrammers during deprogrammings, and occurrences of sexual intercourse between deprogrammers and deprogrammees.[6] Shupe and Darnell expanded on these topics in their 2006 book Agents of Discord, referencing their prior work with Kendrick Moxon.

The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements (Oxford University Press, 2004) states that the "Old CAN" countered fiscal challenges by soliciting donations for referrals.[7] Citing Shupe and Darnell, the Handbook states that exit counsellors or deprogrammers either made donations themselves, or had client families make donations to the "Old CAN"; and that these donations made up as much as one-third of "Old CAN" revenues.[7] According to James R. Lewis, while the "Old CAN" was set up as a tax-exempt organization serving educational purposes, coercive depogramming referrals remained an integral part of its economy and response pattern, a contradiction that was concealed, but not resolved by the "Old CAN" publicly renouncing deprogramming while covertly engaging in referrals.[7]

"New CAN"

An article published by the "New" Cult Awareness Network in 2000 on the group Aum Shinrikyo thanked the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights for their research on psychiatry.

In her book Researching New Religious Movements, Arweck wrote that individuals began to fear that Scientology would "use CAN's name to cause confusion", and these fears solidified with the appearance of "New CAN".[44] Board members of the "Old CAN" said the "New CAN" was nothing but a front group for Scientology.[27] A section of its website relating to the Aum Supreme Truth sect authored by Nick Broadhurst, a New Zealand Scientology Spokesman,[45] stated that the real source of the crimes committed by Aum were drugs and psychiatric treatments the cult administered to its members.[46] Broadhurst thanked the Scientology subsidiary Citizen's Commission on Human Rights for usage of material in his report.[46] Scientology is extremely hostile towards psychiatry. The site does not contain any criticism of Scientology, unlike most other sites which claim to provide anti-cult information (other than those dedicated to other specific groups). In the Scientology publication IMPACT, Nr. 72, Scientologist and CAN VP Jean Hornnes explained: "We have successfully prevented deprogrammings and we have taken broken families and helped to put them back together by using standard LRH technology on handling PTSness."[47][48] In January 1997, shortly after the formation of the New CAN, brochures mailed out by the organization described Scientology as a way to: "increase happiness and improve conditions for oneself and for others."[25]

Other news sources reported that the (New) Cult Awareness Network was owned by the Church of Scientology.[37] A December 1996 report by CNN had the headline: "Group that once criticized Scientologists now owned by one."[37] One Scientologist was quoted in the report as stating that he believed the New Cult Awareness Network would stand for "religious freedom", however former director Cynthia Kisser was quoted as saying: "People are going to believe they're going to talk to an organization that's going to help and understand them in their time of crisis, and in fact, it could be a pipeline of information directly to the group they're most afraid of."[37] In 1997, an article in The New York Times characterized the New CAN as an affiliate of the Church of Scientology, stating: "now it's in the hands of a Scientologist and proselytizes for the church."[49] The New CAN has been accused of passing the name of a caller, a concerned mother, to the cult she was inquiring about, which resulted in further damaging the relationship with her daughter.[50] Penn writes in False Dawn that the New Cult Awareness Network is "dominated by Scientologists".[51] In describing what he refers to as the "doublespeak" of the (New) Cult Awareness Network, Tuman states that Scientology and CAN utilize the term "religious freedom" as a hallmark of its defense against critics.[52] Tuman wrote that: "What seems to be the case is that the Cult Awareness Network has kept its same name and even its original mission statement, while shifting its concern 180 degrees, from investigating sects to protecting them (from "religious intolerance").[52] Tuman concluded his piece entitled: "The Strange Case of the Cult Awareness Network", by comparing the Web site of the (New) Cult Awareness Network to the 1956 cult film, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.[52]

On December 12, 1996, a usenet posting by 'lah' (later reported by TIME magazine to be the account of one Sister Francis Michael of the Heaven's Gate group) in the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology applauded Scientology for their "courageous action against the Cult Awareness Network," which she accused of "promoting all sort of lies (including) cult activities."[53][54] This email was also reported on, and the full-text of the email was displayed, in an article entitled: "The business of cults", in 2000.[55] The subject of the email was: "Thanks for Actions Against CAN", and began with the text: "Here's a round of applause to the Church of Scientology for their courageous action against the Cult Awareness Network."[55]

File:60 Minutes on Cult Awareness Network.jpg
60 Minutes, "The Cult Awareness Network", December 28, 1997
(Lesley Stahl pictured.)

In December 1997, 60 Minutes profiled the new management of the Cult Awareness Network, in a piece hosted by Lesley Stahl, entitled: "CAN: The Cult Awareness Network".[56] 60 Minutes referred to the (Old) Cult Awareness Network as a comprehensive resource, stating it was "for 20 years the nation's best-known resource for information and advice about groups it considered dangerous."[56] The current influence by the Church of Scientology was investigated, and Stahl commented in a voice-over: "Now, when you call looking for information about a cult, chances are the person you're talking to is a Scientologist."[56] The Church of Scientology's Fair Game policy was described by Stahl; examples of the Fair Game policy were given on-camera from individuals such as Stacy Brooks, as well as a private investigator hired by Kendrick Moxon. Moxon and Church president Heber Jentzsch also gave an interview, during which Jentzsch compared CAN to the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazi Party. [56] The Time Magazine article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" was also cited as a reference in the report.[56] The piece concluded by displaying some of the pamphlets distributed by the (New) Cult Awareness Network, which included one called "Facts about Deprogramming" and another entitled "Fact vs. Fiction: Scientology: the inside story at last."[56] The 60 Minutes segment itself was later cited by secondary works on the history of the Cult Awareness Network.[52] In August 2007, a FOXNews article on the new Wikipedia Scanner reported that Church of Scientology computers had been used to delete references between Scientology and the Cult Awareness Network, in related articles on Wikipedia.[57]

In his 2005 book Cults: A Reference Handbook, James R. Lewis stated that when CAN was bought by the Church of Scientology, most observers expected that CAN would become merely a propaganda wing for Scientology, but that contrary to expectations it had begun to operate as "a genuine information and networking center on non-traditional religions".[58] According to Lewis, the new CAN has built working relationships with scholars and professionals, referring callers to suitable specialists if their own staff are not able to adequately answer queries from the public.[58]

In popular culture

The controversy surrounding the Church of Scientology and the (New) Cult Awareness Network was described in the 2002 play, Jesus Hopped the "A" Train.[59] The character Angel tells Mary Jane that individuals who call the Cult Awareness Network looking for help will end up speaking with a Scientologist on the other end of the phone.[59] The play was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award, in the category: "The BBC Award for Best New Play of 2002."[60]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Keller, Rod (1998-08-02). "CAN". alt.religion.scientology, Week In Review. Operation Clambake. pp. Volume 3, Issue 17. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  3. ^ Ross, Rick. "Cult Awareness Network". Rick A. Ross Institute. Retrieved 2007-10-28."The so-called "reformed Cult Awareness Network" is "operated by the Foundation for Religious Freedom." According to the IRS/Scientology agreement this foundation is a "Scientology-related" entity."
  4. ^ Staff (2001). "From the Editor". New CAN: Cult Awareness Network. pp. Volume I, Issue 2. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  5. ^ Goodman, Leisa, Human Rights Director, Church of Scientology International (2001). "A Letter from the Church of Scientology". Marburg Journal of Religion: Responses From Religions. pp. Volume 6, No. 2, 4 pages. Retrieved 2007-10-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Davis, Derek; Hankins, Barry (2004), New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America, Baylor University Press, pp. 27–28, 37–38, 40–41, ISBN 0918954924
  7. ^ a b c d Lewis, James R. (2004), The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 193, 196–197, ISBN 0-19-514986-6 1 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  8. ^ Sterba, James P. (1974-09-02). "Parents Form Group to Fight Religious Cults' Hold on Young". New York Times. p. 18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network Newswire (1999-05-17). "Original Cult Awareness Network, Inc. confidential records turned over to Scientologist". Cultic Studies Review. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  10. ^ Staff. "Farrell the Human Rights Activist". Mike Farrel Online. L.A. van Aardenne 1998. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  11. ^ Nagourney, Eric (October 18, 1999). "John Clark, 73, Psychiatrist Who Studied Sects". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ a b Schumaker, John F. (1992). Religion and Mental Health. Oxford University Press. p. 242. ISBN 0195069854.
  13. ^ a b Behar, Richard (1991-05-06). "Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  14. ^ a b c Shupe, Anson (2000-10-21). "CAN, We Hardly Knew Ye: Sex, Drugs, Deprogrammers' Kickbacks, and Corporate Crime in the (old) Cult Awareness Network". Presented at 2000 meeting of Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. CESNUR. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Healy, David (2004). Let Them Eat Prozac: The Unhealthy Relationship Between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Depression. NYU Press. pp. Page 58. ISBN 0814736696.
  16. ^ Signorile, Michelangelo (1993-05-04). Queer in America: Sex, the Media, and the Closets of Power. Random House. pp. Page 275. ISBN 978-0679413097.
  17. ^ a b c d Jackson, Steve (April 24, 1996). "When it comes to Landmark Education Corporation, There's no meeting of the Minds". Westword. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b Matthews, William Joseph (1997). Current Thinking and Research in Brief Therapy: Solutions, Strategies, Narratives. Psychology Press. p. 53. ISBN 0876308191. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Hukill, Tracy (July 1998). "The est of Friends". Metroactive. Metro Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  20. ^ a b c Skolnik, Peter L. (February 2006). "Introduction to the Landmark Education litigation archive". Lowenstein Sandler PC. The Rick A. Ross Institute. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Skolnik, Peter L. (February 2006). "The Landmark Education Litigation Archive". Compiled by attorneys for Lowenstein Sandler PC. The Rick A. Ross Institute. pp. Subsection, Pressman. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Svoboda, William (1997-11-03). "Certified Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Cult Awareness Network, Inc. A California Not-for-Profit Corporation". Cult Awareness Network. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  23. ^ Beebe, Jim., "Court gives Landmark Education Corp. (LEC) access to Cult Awareness Network (CAN) files." March 1999.
  24. ^ a b c United States Bankruptcy Court (1997-03-14). "U.S. Bankruptcy Court Opinions - IN RE CULT AWARENESS NETWORK, INC., (N.D.Ill. 1997)". pp. Bankruptcy No. 95 B 22133. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  25. ^ a b c d e Frantz, Douglas (1997-03-09). "An Ultra-Aggressive Use of Investigators and the Courts". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b c Noah, George (27 August, 2000). "David Lee Exposed: The Real Story About John Fashanu's So Called Private Investigator". Nigeria Today Online. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ a b c Hansen, Susan (June 1997). "Did Scientology Strike Back?". American Lawyer. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  28. ^ a b c Linn, Virginia (2005-07-31). "PostScript: When scientologists aren't so clear". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Morgan, Lucy (1998-01-28). "Hardball: When Scientology goes to court, it likes to play rough -- very rough". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ a b c d e f Morgan, Lucy (1997-12-23). "Scientology sponsored suit against opponent". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ a b Ortega, Tony (1999-12-23). "Double Crossed". Phoenix New Times. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ a b c d Koppel, Ted (1992-02-14). "Scientology Leader Gave ABC First-Ever Interview". Nightline. ABC News. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Staff. (December 1, 1996). "Hot-line buyer has Scientology ties". Chicago Sun-Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  34. ^ a b Russell, Ron (1999-09-09). "Scientology's Revenge - For years, the Cult Awareness Network was the Church of Scientology's biggest enemy. But the late L. Ron Hubbard's L.A.-based religion cured that -- by taking it over". New Times LA. Retrieved 2007-05-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b Larson, Bob (2004). Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. 434. ISBN 084236417X.
  36. ^ a b Snow, Robert L. (2003). Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers. Praeger/Greenwood. p. 177. ISBN 0275980529.
  37. ^ a b c d Knapp, Dan (December 19, 1996). "Group that once criticized Scientologists now owned by one". CNN. Time Warner. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Baggini, Julian (2002). Making Sense: Philosophy Behind the Headlines. Oxford University Press. pp. 201–203. ISBN 0192805061.
  39. ^ Ortega, Tony (1995-11-30). "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans. Clients of deprogrammer Rick Ross call him a savior. Perhaps that's why people he's branded cult leaders want to crucify him". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2006-04-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ a b Ortega, Tony (1996-12-19). "What's $2.995 Million Between Former Enemies?". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2008-08-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ a b Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Crime, United States Congress. House. Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice (1996). "Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians, Joint Hearings before the United States Congress, House". United States Congress. ISBN 0160534259. p. 256. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ a b c Robinson, B. A. "The Cult Awareness Network (CAN)". Retrieved 2008-08-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  43. ^ CoS / IRS Closing Agreement
  44. ^ Arweck, Elizabeth (2006). Researching New Religious Movements: Responses and Redefinitions. Routledge. pp. Page 195. ISBN 041527754X.
  45. ^ Staff (2002–2003). "What is Scientology®? Exhibit Tour creates strong interest in Australia and New Zealand". RehabilitateNZ. Retrieved 2007-10-29.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  46. ^ a b Broadhurst, Nick (2000). "Preamble: Aum Supreme Truth". pp. See: Acknowledgement given to Citizen's Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  47. ^ Hornnes, Jean (Issue No. 72). "We have successfully prevented deprogrammings and we have taken broken families and helped to put them back together by using standard LRH technology on handling PTSness". IMPACT magazine. Church of Scientology. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  48. ^ Note: PTS means "Potential Trouble Source", see Scientology beliefs and practices
  49. ^ Rich, Frank (1997-03-16). "Who Can Stand Up?". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Knapp, John M. (1997-07-18). "A Mother's Betrayal by the New CAN". Trancenet.net. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  51. ^ Penn, Lee (2004). False Dawn: The United Religions Initiative, Globalism, and the Quest for a One-world Religion. Sophia Perennis. pp. 126, 470, 471. ISBN 159731000X.
  52. ^ a b c d Tuman, Myron C. (2002). Criticalthinking.Com: A Guide to Deep Thinking in a Shallow Age. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 82, 83, 205. ISBN 1401052290.
  53. ^ Gleick, Elizabeth (1997-04-07). "Heaven's Gate". Time. p. 3. Retrieved 2006-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ "lah", Usenet poster (1996-12-21). "Thanks for Actions Against CAN". Alt.religion.scientology. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  55. ^ a b Strempel, Dan (2000-05-01). "The business of cults. Subsection: "A message from the 'UFO Cult'."". Fairfield County Business Journal. pp. Vol. 39 Issue 18, p1, 3p, 1 black & white photograph, 1 color photograph. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  56. ^ a b c d e f Staff. (December 28, 1997). "The Cult Awareness Network". 60 Minutes (in English). CBS News. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  57. ^ Blakely, Rhys (2007-08-16). "Wal-Mart, CIA, ExxonMobil Changed Wikipedia Entries". FOXNews. Fox News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  58. ^ a b Lewis, James R. (2005), Cults: A Reference Handbook, ABC-CLIO, p. 299, ISBN 1851096183
  59. ^ a b Guirgis, Stephen Adly (2002). Jesus Hopped the "A" Train. Dramatists Play Service, Inc. p. 25. ISBN 0822217996.
    "Scientologists sued the Cult Awareness Network, bankrupted them, and took over the damn Cult Awareness Network! ... Same office! Same phone number! But when you call the [expletive] up, you speaking to one of them! What kinda help you think they gonna give you?"
  60. ^ Staff (2003-02-14). "Laurence Olivier Award winners - complete list". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2007-10-28.

External links

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