Category:Press

Following is an archive of press relating to The Family / Children of God from around the globe.

To view press coverage by year, see Category:Timeline.

For television coverage, see Category:Video Archives.

60 Minutes

• 60 Minutes New Zealand: The Children of God — 2005-08-22
• 60 Minutes Australia: Sinful Acts — 2005-10-16

ABC News

• Good Morning America: Family International Cult Under Scrutiny After Murder-Suicide — 2005-01-18
• ABC News: New Focus on Fringe Religious Sect — 2005-01-27
• ABC News: Tale of the Tape — 2005-01-27

The Advocate (Newark, Ohio)

• Newark Advocate: Children of God find new home — 1977-07-22

The Age (Melbourne)

• The Age: Controversial Sect At Congress 'To Learn' — 1973-02-22
• The Age: Busloads of Bewilderment and Soft Toys — 1992-05-16
• The Age: What prompted the CSV raids? — 1992-05-19
• Sunday Age: Director worries for children — 1992-05-24
• The Age: Moses David's children — 1992-06-05
• The Age: Court Told of Sect Security Measures — 1992-06-24
• The Age: More of a sect than a cult, says theologian — 1992-07-03
• The Age: Sect looks for a new home — 1992-07-10
• The Age: Mediator appointed to settle Children Of God litigation — 1994-02-02
• The Age: Family's leader sends top aide to secret talks — 1994-04-04
• The Age: Keeping it in the Family — 1994-04-29
• The Age: Secret Cabinet deal killed Family case — 1994-04-29
• The Sunday Age: Meet The Family — 2004-05-09

Akron Beacon Journal

• Akron Beacon Journal: Former Cultist Now Preaches Against Religious Entrapment — 1985-04-27

Alberta Report/Western Report

• Alberta Report Western Report: Chilling reminders of "free love": an Argentine incest bust stirs gruesome memories in Alberta — 1993-09-26
• Alberta Report-Western Report: Badly kept Family secrets — 1995-05-08

Allentown Morning Call

• Allentown Morning Call: Man battled depression before shooting sibling, self — 2002-09-08

Arizona Daily Star

• Arizona Daily Star: Stabber's friends blame decades of abuse in sex cult — 2005-01-12
• Arizona Daily Star: Sect rebuts claims in murder — 2005-01-13

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Alpharetta Mom Working to Rescue Children From Sex Cult in Thailand — 1988-09-11
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Family: Hippie throwback or dangerous, abusive cult — 1993-12-12
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: David Berg, founder of '60s `Jesus freaks,' dies in seclusion at 75 — 1994-11-26
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'Heaven's Harlot' looks back on Jesus freak days — 1998-07-25

Associated Press

• Associated Press: U.S. Embassy Says Five Americans Jailed in Egypt, Accused of Missionary Work — 1985-10-18
• Associated Press: `The Family' wants cult-hunting group dissolved — 1993-08-04
• Associated Press: Mexican groups accuse U.S.-based cult of sexual abuse — 1997-03-26

Austin American-Statesman

• Austin American-Statesman: Youth group tragedy - 6 die when truck collides with van carrying religious campers — 1995-07-17
• Austin American-Statesman: Silence, then a struggle with the heat and horror — 1995-07-17
• Austin American-Statesman: Teens part of group with roots in '60s — 1995-07-17
• Austin American-Statesman: Faith sustains families after crash — 1995-07-18
• Austin American-Statesman: Gathering Pieces of Shattered Lives — 1995-07-19
• Austin American-Statesman: Music, poetry mark teens' funeral — 1995-07-22
• Austin American-Statesman: Group in collision to move to area — 1995-07-26
• Austin American-Statesman: Landlord decides Christian group too big for house — 1995-07-27
• Austin American-Statesman: Man sues over wreck near McKinney Falls — 1995-09-02

BBC News

• BBC News: Eyewitness: Why people join cults — 2000-03-24

Birmingham News

• Birmingham News: New Home, Old Questions Controversies of Past Follow Communal Group — 1995-07-21

California Patriot

• California Patriot: Courage and self-reliance — 2005-10

Chattanooga Times

• Chattanooga Times: Cult crackdown — 1993-09-03

Colorado Springs Gazette

• Colorado Springs Gazette: Man who returned parenting award denies ties to cult — 1999-8-07

Christian Research Journal

• Christian Research Journal: Inside the "Heavenly Elite — Summer, 1990

Christianity Today

• Christianity Today: The Children of God: Disciples of Deception — 1977-02-18
• Christianity Today: Children of God: New Revelations — 1978-02-24
• Christianity Today: The Children of God: Fewer and Far Out — 1980-01-25
• Christianity Today: Children of God Cult Records Higher Numbers — 1982-11-26
• Christianity Today: Have Children of God Cleaned Up Their Act? — 1992-12-14
• Christianity Today: Sex Abuse Charges Disputed — 1993-10-25
• Christianity Today: Accused ‘Family’ Members Released — 1994-03-07
• Christianity Today: COG Founder Berg Dead at 75 — 1995-01-09

Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Cleveland Plain Dealer: Authorities Seize 140 Cult Children — 1992-05-16

CNN

• CNN Headline News: Religious Sect Accused of Child Abuse and Pornography — 1993-09-03
• CNN Larry King Live: 'The Family' - Preachers or Pornographers? — 1993-10-20
• CNN Anderson Cooper 360: Murder-Suicide Leads to Secretive Cult — 2005-01-18

Columbus Dispatch

• Columbus Dispatch: Columbus woman says she escaped cult horrors — 1993-09-16
• Columbus Dispatch: Woman seeking to get cult-controlled kin out of Argentina — 1993-09-25
• Columbus Dispatch: Woman says siblings are brainwashed cult victims — 1993-10-05

Cornerstone Magazine

• Cornerstone Magazine: The Family and the Truth — 2004-03-02
• Cornerstone Magazine: The Children Without Their "Father" — 2004-03-02

The Courier Mail

• The Courier Mail: FBI investigates Coast sex cult — 2005-11-19

Cosmopolitan

• Cosmopolitan: A sex cult stole my childhood — 2005-08

Daily Camera (Denver)

• Daily Camera: Parenting Award Controversial — 1999-08-06

Daily Intelligencer (Doylestown, PA)

• Daily Intelligencer: Dear God, Please give me back my son! — 1977-01-24
• Daily Intelligencer: Cult ordeal has changed family's life — 1979-01-18
• Daily Intelligencer: Egypt deports members of alleged sect — 1985-11-07

Daily Mail (London)

• Daily Mail: House of croquet and free love — 1993-09-03
• Daily Mail: Yard probe into child cult — 1993-09-03
• Daily Mail: Free the children from this evil cult — 1994-11-01
• Daily Mail: 'Reformed' Sex Cult Can Keep Children — 1995-11-25

Daily Telegraph, London

• Daily Telegraph: They told us we might have to die — 2002-02-28

Dallas Morning News

• Dallas Morning News: Area watchdog groups say families torn apart by sects' control of members — 1986-08-18
• Dallas Morning News: Back to the Garden — 1990-03-11

Dateline NBC

• Dateline NBC: A message from beyond the grave — 2005-08-19

Davenport Democrat and Leader

• Davenport Democrat and Leader: Hurled Rock At Evangelist in Miami Church — 1926-07-25

Dr. Phil

• Dr. Phil: The Family Cult Escapees — 2005-10-03

Edwardsville Intelligencer

• Edwardsville Intelligencer: 'Jesus Communes' Opposed by Parents — 1973-06-16

Essex Chronicle

• Essex Chronicle: 'I lost husband, home and almost my sanity to cult' — 1993-03-25

Evening Standard, London

• Evening Standard: We swap wives in the name of Jesus, says cult — 1993-09-03
• Evening Standard: Evil Berg still leads cult from beyond the grave — 1995-11-24
• Evening Standard: The Little Girl Seduced in the Name of God — 2005-03-09

Fresno Bee

• Fresno Bee: NY Accuses Cult of Sex Perversion — 1974-10-15

Geraldo Rivera

• Geraldo Rivera: Former cultists comment on requirements made of them by their leaders — 1992-07-29

The Globe and Mail

• Globe and Mail: Didn't know boy killed until three days later, Gruener says on stand — 1978-03-07
• Globe and Mail: Pampered Betesh, other 3 shared interests despite backgrounds — 1978-03-11
• Globe and Mail: Gruener is looking to religion — 1978-03-11
• Globe and Mail: Transatlantic custody battle continues — 1982-01-11
• Globe and Mail: B.C. officials seize 13 children after claim that one molested — 1983-02-24
• Globe and Mail: Get ready to die, cult followers told — 1994-02-01

Hamilton Spectator, Ontario, Canada

• Hamilton Spectator: Burlington kin support alleged cult leader — 1993-09-07
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult includes brother of suspect woman — 1993-09-09
• Hamilton Spectator: Member says he saw child sex abuse inside cult — 1993-09-09
• Hamilton Spectator: We will be completely vindicated, says Susan — 1993-09-09
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult provided sex services to strangers — 1993-09-10
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult woman's jail treatment 'atrocious' — 1993-09-17
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult leader fears AIDS scare at jail — 1993-12-11
• Hamilton Spectator: Burlington woman free in Argentina cult case — 1993-12-14

Harper's Magazine

• Harper's Magazine: Family Values — 2005-09

Hillsboro Post Gazette

• Hillsboro Post Gazette: Covered Wagon Travel Rewarding — 1976-01-30

Hollywood Reporter

• Hollywood Reporter: HBO Documentary Focuses on Cult Kids — 2004-04-26

Houston Chronicle

• Houston Chronicle: Hope fading for return of boys taken by cult — 1985-09-02
• Houston Chronicle: Prisoner of a cult — 1989-12-04
• Houston Chronicle: Group opens fund to reunite mother with her kidnapped son — 1989-12-06
• Houston Chronicle: Mother accuses State Dept. of hindering rescue of teen — 1989-12-09
• Houston Chronicle: A Houston woman holds hope for child in cult — 1990-02-04
• Houston Chronicle: Sex in the name of God — 1990-02-04
• Houston Chronicle: Members of sect say they're being persecuted — 1993-09-07
• Houston Chronicle: Cult's image unfairly soiled, member says — 1993-09-11
• Houston Chronicle: Children of God Cult Returns as The Family — 1993-10-10
• Houston Chronicle: Elusive "father' of cult has held a following for 25 years — 1993-10-10
• Houston Chronicle: Past returns to haunt 'Parent of the Year' — 1999-08-04

Houston Press

• Houston Press: Family Ties — 2005-11-17
• Houston Press: Bedtime Stories — 2005-11-17

The Humble Observer

• Humble Observer: Charitable donation or cult income? — 2005-08-03

The Independent

• The Independent: Cult denies child sex abuse — 1993-07-02
• The Independent: Gideon's Bible of Free Love 1993-09-05
• The Independent: `We were always afraid. Silly things like frowning were punished' — 1999-04-18
• The Independent: Parent of the Year `ran camp for cult' — 1999-08-07

Indiana Evening Gazette

• Indiana Evening Gazette: Berg Evangelistic Party Opens Services At Girty Orange Hall — 1954-10-01

IRE Journal

• IRE Journal: Records, sources help show link between charity, religious sect — 2005-09-01

Irish Times

• Irish Times: Helping to Take the Cult Out of the Man — 2005-03-21

Kennebec Journal

• Kennebec Journal: 20 youths arrested in raid on commune — 1976-12-04

Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Ontario, Canada

• Kitchener-Waterloo Record: Defending the Family — 1993-09-10

KVOA TV

• KVOA TV: Professor talks about nanny murder, suicide — 2005-01-20

Lancaster Eagle Gazette

• Lancaster Eagle Gazette: Pamphlets No Longer Allowed — 1973-11-21

Lethbridge Herald

• Lethbridge Herald: Children of God drop $1.1 million slander suit — 1973-08-04
• Lethbridge Herald: God's law versus man's law — 1974-08-10

London Times

• London Times: The day the 'Martians' woke up — 1993-09-05
• London Times: Follower describes childhood of abuse — 1995-11-25
• London Times: Judge condemns cult's founder as perverted and malign influence — 1995-11-25
• London Times: Revenge of a son on cult of free love — 2005-01-23
• London Times: 'After my mother, all I need is one bullet for myself' — 2005-02-09
• London Times: Band on the run with rock'n'roll in their blood — 2005-10-29

Los Angeles Times

• Los Angeles Times: A True Conversion? — 1993-03-21
• Los Angeles Times: 58 Americans Held in Argentina Sex-Sect Raid — 1993-09-04
• Los Angeles Times: Paraguay Police Raid Home Owned by Cult Suspected of Child Abuse — 1993-09-09
• Los Angeles Times: Fringe Group at Center of Deaths — 2005-01-17
• Los Angeles Times: Tragic Legacies of a Sex-Based Religion: Murder and Suicide — 2005-03-13

Mansfield News Journal

• Mansfield News Journal: Children of God Reject Everything in Modern Society — 1971-12-10
• Mansfield News Journal: Controversial Children of God Sect 'Matures' — 1976-03-20

Manly Daily

• Manly Daily: Colony Comes to Town— 1973-03-24

Macleans, Canada

• Macleans: Not a normal family — 1993-09-20

Marie Claire, Australia

• Marie Claire: "Killing Myself is the Only Way Out of the Cult" — 2005-04-19

Marysville Journal Tribune

• Marysville Journal Tribune: "Children Of God" Using Sex To Recruit — 1979-12-07

Midwest Christian Outreach Journal

• Midwest Christian Outreach Journal: A Family Affair — Spring, 2004

The Mirror, UK

• The Mirror: How we escaped the clutches of a cult — 1998-12-26
• The Mirror: Ex-member of Children of God Details Childhood Abuse — 1999-05-11
• The Mirror: My parents let evil cult use me as a child sex slave — 1999-05-11
• The Mirror: Escape from the cults — 2000-03-26
• The Mirror: Real Lives: 'I was forced to have unprotected sex with 50 men' — 2001-09-15
• The Mirror: Our years of terror growing up in an evil child sex cult — 2004-10-22

National Enquirer

• National Enquirer: I was a Hooker for Heaven in an Evil Sex Cult — 1999-07-06

New York Times

• New York Times: Ill Winds Buffet Communal Sect — 1971-11-29
• New York Times: Parents Join to Combat Radical Youth Sect — 1972-02-22
• New York Times: Lefkowitz To Seek Commune's Books — 1974-01-31
• New York Times: American's Death A Bangkok Puzzle — 1974-04-09
• New York Times: Lefkowitz Lists Charges On Sect — 1974-10-14
• New York Times: Retrieving Youngsters From a Sex-Exalting Cult — 1988-07-15
• New York Times: Argentines Say a Sex Cult Enslaved 268 Children — 1993-09-03
• New York Times: 66 U.S. Cultists Still Being Held in Argentina — 1993-09-26
• New York Times: Murder and Suicide Reviving Claims of Child Abuse in Cult — 2005-01-15

Nevada State Journal

• Nevada State Journal: Elderly Man Sought in Florida Attack — 1926-07-25
• Nevada State Journal: Evangelists Hold Program Series At Sparks Church — 1946-11-02
• Nevada State Journal: Teen flees cult, says mind was kidnapped — 1975-08-11

Newsday (Melville, NY)

• Newsday: 10 Commune Arrests — 1990-07-10

Oakland Tribune

• Oakland Tribune: Covina Man Still Tied to Church Suit — 1975-01-01

The Observer, UK

• The Observer: Members put on defensive by raids — 1993-09-05
• The Observer, UK: Sex cult's messiah turns killer — 2005-01-23

Odessa American

• Odessa American: Children of God Evicted From Ranch — 1971-10-01
• Odessa American: 'Children' Plan To Appeal Case — 1971-12-02
• Odessa American: Religious Sect Member Sues Own Mother — 1972-01-14
• Odessa American: Suit Against Parents Is Withdrawn — 1973-07-24
• Odessa American: 'Children' Drop Suit On Damages — 1973-07-30

Oui Magazine

• Oui Magazine: Murder Most Foul — 1975-02

People Magazine

• People Magazine: Was the Family Doing God's Work - Or Unspeakable Harm? — 2005-07-18

Peoria Journal Star

• Peoria Journal Star: Crusader Fights Crime with Law Degree and Attitude — 1995-03-12
• Peoria Journal Star: Why He Fights — 1996-06-09

Philadelphia Inquirer

• Philadelphia Inquirer: Church declines to aid sect accused of abusing children — 1993-10-19
• Philadelphia Inquirer: Berg's Followers Say Death Report Won't Deter Them — 1994-11-26

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• Philippine Daily Inquirer: An insider's account of free-love, group-sex cult — 2002-08-12

The Post Crescent

• Post Crescent: 20 from free-love cult arrested in Argentina — 1976-12-04

Port Arthur News

• Port Arthur News: Judge dismisses religious suit — 1973-02-18

Press-Enterprise

• Press-Enterprise: The Family's values disputed — 1993-07-25

The Progress (Clearfield, Pa.)

• The Progress: Children of God Sect Grips Thousands of Parents — 1974-11-20

Rocky Mountain News

• Rocky Mountain News: Police Raid Children Of God Homes Sweep Nets 52 Arrest — 1993-06-11
• Rocky Mountain News: Longmont dad denies ties to 'happy hookers' — 1999-08-06

Rolling Stone

• Rolling Stone: The Life and Death of the Chosen One — 2005-06-30

Salt Lake Tribune

• Salt Lake Tribune: Radical religious group returns to U.S. — 1993-03-20

San Francisco Chronicle

• San Francisco Chronicle: Daughter of Family's Founder Renounces His Teachings — 2001-02-14
• San Francisco Chronicle: Escaping a Free Love Legacy Children of God sect hopes it can overcome sexy image — 2001-02-14
• San Francisco Chronicle: Murder-suicide case in desert evangelical sex cult — 2005-01-11
• San Francisco Chronicle: Rage turns to vengeance against "Family" — 2005-01-15
• San Francisco Chronicle: Ex-sect members fear new violence — 2005-01-17
• San Francisco Chronicle: On tape, son of 'prophet' declares war on mother — 2005-01-20
• San Francisco Chronicle: Common Thread of Sexual, Spiritual Abuse Among Cult Defectors Who Killed Themselves — 2005-01-27
• San Francisco Chronicle: IRS documents show ties between charity, sex cult — 2005-02-06
• San Francisco Chronicle: Hewlett grant went to cult-linked charity — 2005-02-12
• San Francisco Chronicle: Mixed Memories of 'The Family' Sex: Ex-member believed abuse 'normal' — 2005-02-27

San Jose Mercury News

• San Jose Mercury News: Group, P.A. woman's slaying intertwined — 2005-01-18

The Scotsman

• The Scotsman: Sex cult said to be recuiting in Scotland — 1994-11-01
• The Scotsman: Breaking away from the Children of God — 1998-06-24

South China Morning Post

• South China Morning Post: More accusations against Children of God — 1993-09-12
• South China Morning Post: Children of a lesser god — 1994-12-04

Sydney Morning Herald

• Sydney Morning Herald: Sect Boy Denied Sexual 'Fishing' Says Counsel — 1992-09-07
• Sydney Morning Herald: The Family v. The Rock — 1992-09-11
• Sydney Morning Herald: The Family's Planning — 1993-11-06
• Sydney Morning Herald: For God's sake — 1996-10-23
• Sydney Morning Herald: Seizure of sect children ruled unlawful — 1999-04-01

Syracuse Post-Standard

• Syracuse Post-Standard: Parents Frightened By Sect's Impact — 1972-02-22

Texas Monthly

• Texas Monthly: Let the Love Light Shine — 1973-10-01

Time Magazine

• Time Magazine: Whose Children? — 1972-01-24
• Time Magazine: Children of Doom — 1974-02-18
• Time Magazine: Tracking the Children of God — 1977-08-22

Times-Picayune

• Times-Picayune: 'Death Is A Vacation' — 1995-07-18
• Times-Picayune: Trial starts in Gretna killing — 2004-07-15

Toronto Star

• Toronto Star: 33-year-old Metro woman linked to sex-for-salvation cult — 1993-09-06
• Toronto Star: Metro woman in 'sex cult' probe — 1993-09-06
• Toronto Star: Sect members deny abuse stories — 1993-09-07
• Toronto Star: Two Canadian cult members arrested in Argentina — 1993-09-07
• Toronto Star: Anti-cult organization blamed for arrests — 1993-09-08
• Toronto Star: Sect members face sex, abduction charges — 1993-09-08
• Toronto Star: Couple held after bid to visit kids in custody — 1993-09-13
• Toronto Star: 'We've been totally and falsely accused' Family mom insists — 1993-09-15
• Toronto Star: Tests disprove sect's family ties — 1993-09-21
• Toronto Star: Argentine court frees Canadians in sex case — 1993-12-14

Tucson Citizen

• Tucson Citizen: Police probe ties between victim, killer — 2005-01-11
• Tucson Citizen: Murder suspect, a suicide, raised by cult to lead — 2005-01-12

UC Berkeley News

• UC Berkeley News: The accidental activist: Daniel Roselle — 2005-09-16

UPI

• UPI: Ministry will seek custody of cult children — 1983-03-23

US Magazine

• US Magazine: Strange Days — 1995-10

Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas)

• Valley Morning Star: Parents Charge Children Victims of Racket Cult — 1971-10-16

Washington Post

• Washington Post: Children of God Suit Ended — 1973-08-03
• Washington Post: New York Would Place Children of God Under State Scrutiny — 1974-02-15
• Washington Post: 'The Family' and Final Harvest — 1993-06-02
• Washington Post: 30 Members of Children Of God Arrested — 1993-09-02

What Magazine

• What Magazine: Bait on the hook: a cult experience — 1998-05-01

Xinhua News Agency

• Xinhua News Agency: Kenya Warns Over British Evil Cult — 2000-03-23

Non-English-language press

• Ventana: La Secta los Niños de Dios Bajo Lupa del Juez de Menores Cámpora — 1993-07
• La Nacion: Los Ninos de Dios, exegeta con vertientes sexuales — 1993-09-12
• SOMOS: Los Niños de Dios - Como Fue la Investigacion — 1993-09-13
• Clarin: Piden a Interpol la captura del reverendo que fundó la secta — 1993-09-15
• Gente: Habla Joyanne Treadwell Berg — 1993-09-15
• Cronica: "Niños de Dios": Liberan a una Nena y la Entregan a su padre Brasileño — 1993-09-25
• La Nacion: Tres paises reclamaron niños que vivian con La Familia — 1993-09-25
• Noticias a Fondo: ¿Quien Ampara a la secta Niños de Dios? — 1993-11
• Página 12: Reclamos por La Familia — 1993-11-13
• Cronica: "Niños de Dios": Padres Reclaman — 1993-11-30
• La Nacion: Claves de una organizacion con ramnificaciones internacionales — 1993-12-10
• La Nacion: Quarracino cuestiono por TV la liberacion de miembros de una secta — 1993-12-19
• Protagonistas de Mercedes: Informe especial sobre libertad — 1993-12-20
• Protagonistas de Mercedes: Llego hasta Mercedes el consul de E.E.U.U. — 1993-12-27
• Protagonistas de Mercedes: Nuevo golpe de la justicia Mercedina a la secta La Familia — 1994-08-08
• Protagonistas de Mercedes: Mas detalles sobre el golpe a la secta La Familia — 1994-08-15
• Clarin: Detienen a un ex integrante de la secta Niños de Dios — 1997-07-05
• La Nacion: Detienen en Mercedes a un miembro de la secta Niños de Dios — 1997-07-05
• Diario Popular: Detienen a un depravado que violaba menores — 1997-07-05
• La Prensa: La Justicia de E.E.U.U. pidió la extradición de un argentino — 1998-07-11
• ACI Prensa: Juez aprueba veracidad de libro sobre oculta historia de secta argentina — 2001-10-04
• AP Spanish Online: Video de homicida-suicida renueva polémica sobre secta comunal — 2005-01-25
• Kristeligt Dagblads: Hævnmord efter opvækst i sekt — 2005-01-26
• Het Volk: Messias van sekte wordt moordenaar uit wraak — 2005-02-02
• Dagbladet: Guds misbrukte barn — 2005-04-09