If you’re watching cults across Australasia, you must have noticed the enormous groundswell of the last few weeks. The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups is now underway, initiated by Geelong Revival Centre survivors Ryan and Catherine Carey. Hundreds of submissions were made, and many bravely spoke up in the media. Decult conference speakers Laura McConnell Conti (ex-Truth/2×2), Lara Kaput (ex-JW), Maria Esguerra (Ex-Children of God) and the world’s leading cult sociologist Dr Janja Lalich were also part of this combined effort.
“We’ve been blown away how people have gotten behind this, and the work that has gone into creating something that the government can and should act on”, Catherine told me. “Survivors have begun to connect and speak up. Our message has been heard.”
Public hearings will continue. The final report is due in September 2026 and could lead to groundbreaking law changes that can spread to other states and countries. Follow Stop Religious Coercion Australia and the Victorian Cult Survivors Network to watch this space.
Closer to home, Gloriavale leader Howard Temple was convicted for indecently assaulting women and girls over a period of 20 years. The 85-year-old American helped establish the fundamentalist Christian community alongside convicted sex offender Hopeful Christian.
Public voices to close down New Zealand’s most notorious cult are getting louder – while Matt Dooecey, New Zealand’s minister for mental health, made desperately naive comments, saying “people have free choice” in Gloriavale and those concerned should just call the police. Prime minister Christopher Luxon stated on TV that he is “very concerned” but refused to answer questions.
Side note: As the only journalist who ever interviewed the Overseeing Shepherd, I surprised him on the Westcoast in 2022 for Cult Trip. It got confronting when I asked Temple about the sexual abuse at Gloriavale, not knowing that he was a predator too. He played ignorant, blamed victims and claimed that “this happens everywhere”. Our bizarre encounter made the last chapter of my book.
DECULT DOCUMENTARY IN WELLINGTON
Those in the capital can join us for an exclusive screening of DECULT VOICES – BEYOND BELIEF on Tuesday, 16th September from 1 pm – 3 pm. Lindy Jacomb from the Olive Leaf Network and I will give a talk and Q&A afterwards. It’s organised by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) but open to anybody. In July, ANZASW issued a formal public apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care as a response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.
Limited seats, so register soon. And if you’d like to hold a similar event for your organisation or community, then please get in touch.
Speaking of docos: Over in the UK, our friend Dr Gillie Jenkinson, who trained the first cohort of New Zealand mental health professionals in cult recovery therapy last year, featured in a two-part BBC documentary “Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army” which is all the talk there. And if you’re in Australia, don’t miss “The Cult of the Saints” on ABC this Sunday. Great work all around!
DOOMSDAY COMEDY IN LONDON
I wish I could go to Doomsday Comedy in London this weekend (or next) – right up my alley! All comedians are former Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you love stand-up and are curious about cults – or had a close brush with one – then this show on 9th &16th August is for you.
They need a full house and have offered a discount for Decult followers. Please join them for a night of laughter to celebrate their post-cult freedom. Spread the word while the end is nigh and get 25% off with the code ARMAGEDDON.
HEALTHCARE AND CULTS
Last but not least, and also a first: 200 health professionals attended a webinar this week by GPs (and former children in cults) Dr Caroline Ansley and Dr Kyle Eggelton about better care for patients inside or out of cultic groups and how to meet their specific needs. The recording will be available soon.
Caz, who co-leads the Decult Collective, introduced the topic at Decult 2024 (you can watch her presentation here or listen to it on Decult Talks). Very exciting and significant to finally see this kind of professional development in Aotearoa. The next one is for social workers.
I’ll be back with more news and updates after I’ve written my feature about Rajneeshpuram, 40 years after the Oregon cult commune collapsed.
See you on the other side, or hopefully in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.
Anke Richter