Difference between revisions of "Washington Post: Children of God Suit Ended"

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The order also required the Children of God to produce their Dallas membership re­cords, names and addresses of all members of the sect, and leadership charts to be used for "discovery of evidence" by the parents to support their allegations against the sect.
 
The order also required the Children of God to produce their Dallas membership re­cords, names and addresses of all members of the sect, and leadership charts to be used for "discovery of evidence" by the parents to support their allegations against the sect.
  
In October, [[1971]], a group nf parents who were members of the Parents' Committee to Free Our Sons and Daughters from the Children of God ([[FREECOG]]) picketed in front of the Federal Building in Dal­las to protest the Children's activities.
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In October, [[1971]], a group of parents who were members of the Parents' Committee to Free Our Sons and Daughters from the Children of God ([[FREECOG]]) picketed in front of the Federal Building in Dal­las to protest the Children's activities.
  
Among other things, FREE-COG pickets had charged that the sect was a subversive group out   to   overthrow the government and "organized religion." They also accused the Children of kidnaping and dragging young converts, us­ing hypnosis on them, and "being part of a $1 million racket to extort money from converts."
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Among other things, FREE-COG pickets had charged that the sect was a subversive group out to overthrow the government and "organized religion." They also accused the Children of kidnaping and dragging young converts, us­ing hypnosis on them, and "being part of a $1 million racket to extort money from converts."
  
 
A press release issued by the Children, which described the group as "a voluntary, nonprofit association," attrib­uted the dropping of the suit to "plaintiffs' firm belief that defendants' allegations have proven to be only a reproach upon themselves." The Chil­dren's statements also held  that "defendants' efforts to discredit the Children of God were futile (as) has been evi­denced by the fact that the Children of God continue to grow and prosper in their work."
 
A press release issued by the Children, which described the group as "a voluntary, nonprofit association," attrib­uted the dropping of the suit to "plaintiffs' firm belief that defendants' allegations have proven to be only a reproach upon themselves." The Chil­dren's statements also held  that "defendants' efforts to discredit the Children of God were futile (as) has been evi­denced by the fact that the Children of God continue to grow and prosper in their work."

Revision as of 19:21, 27 June 2005

Children of God Suit Ended

The Washington Post/1973-08-03

Religious News Service

DALLAS—A 21-month-old suit filed by the Children of God here against a group of parents of members of the radical fundamentalist sect has been dismissed by the court at the request of the Children of God.

Judge Dee Brown Walker of the 162nd District Court in Dal­las dismissed the $1.25 million libel and slander suit at the sect's request when its offi­cials declined to obey a court order to produce all their financial records for use as evi­dence.

The order also required the Children of God to produce their Dallas membership re­cords, names and addresses of all members of the sect, and leadership charts to be used for "discovery of evidence" by the parents to support their allegations against the sect.

In October, 1971, a group of parents who were members of the Parents' Committee to Free Our Sons and Daughters from the Children of God (FREECOG) picketed in front of the Federal Building in Dal­las to protest the Children's activities.

Among other things, FREE-COG pickets had charged that the sect was a subversive group out to overthrow the government and "organized religion." They also accused the Children of kidnaping and dragging young converts, us­ing hypnosis on them, and "being part of a $1 million racket to extort money from converts."

A press release issued by the Children, which described the group as "a voluntary, nonprofit association," attrib­uted the dropping of the suit to "plaintiffs' firm belief that defendants' allegations have proven to be only a reproach upon themselves." The Chil­dren's statements also held that "defendants' efforts to discredit the Children of God were futile (as) has been evi­denced by the fact that the Children of God continue to grow and prosper in their work."

William Rambur, Ted Patrick, and Mr. and Mrs. Law­rence Cooke, all of California, and Mr. and Mrs. John Moody, of Manhasset, N.Y., were spe­cifically named in the lawsuit. All are members of FREE-COG.

Patrick is currently on trial in New York on charges of helping to kidnap a member of another fundamentalist sect.

At the time of the 1971 inci­dent, Dallas was considered to be the international headquar­ters of the Children. They have since moved their world headquarters to London, but continue to base their U.S. work in the Dallas colony.