The Courier Mail: Rebirth Of A Controversial Sect
From XFamily - Children of God
Rebirth Of A Controversial Sect
The Courier Mail/2005-11-19
The Family has its roots in the Children of God, a religious cult started in the late 1960s by roaming Californian preacher David “Moses” Berg, who drew followers disillusioned with the status quo.
Initially the group had no sexual agenda, but by the late ‘7Os, Berg began encouraging his growing membership to engage in open sexuality with a variety of partners and ages.
Public outcry, allegations of child abuse and sexual disease limited the practice, and the cult began to reform its policies prior to Berg’s death in 1994, although former members say sexual and physical abuse continued.
Earlier this year, 29-year-old Ricky Rodriquez, Berg’s son, committed suicide after stabbing to death his former nanny Angela Smith, a director of The Family’s fundraising arm. Prior to the murder, Rodriquez recorded a video expressing his anger at the sexual abuse of his sisters.
The video also described his father as a pedophile, and his mother as violent towards children.
Cult critics, including former members, point to the murder-suicide as a tragic progression for those raised in a bizarre, ritualistic community where children were exploited.
Rodriquez was touted growing up as an example of the cult’s success — to the extent that his life was chronicled in The Davidito Book.
Claire Borowik, a US spokeswoman for The Family, has ridiculed suggestions that the cult has an above-average suicide rate and said the “untimely deaths brought much grief and heartache”.
Berg’s wife, Karen Zerby (“Mama Maria”), now administers the cult from a secret location.
“Maria has made this life style choice at this time for her reasons — and she has found it works well to help her concentrate on The Family administration, writing, etc,” said Paul Hartingdon, a spokesman for The Family in Australia.
Ms Borowik said Rodriquez had withdrawn from The Family in 2000.
Rodriquez’s wife, Elixcia Munumel, spoke to the media after his death and said her husband wanted justice. He had wanted to help his half-sister Techi escape from the cult, and had wanted to see his mother prosecuted for child abuse.
Mr Hartingdon said The Family tried to reach out to former members, and did not harass or threaten them. “We pray for them,” he said.
The cult says it has a membership of about 4000 adults and 4000 children. They live in more than 700 communal homes in 100 countries.
The Family says there are about 500 members in Australia, mostly in NSW and Victoria, but former members say the number is closer to 1000, with a growing number on the Gold Coast.
