In the News...

LDS Apostle Says Mormon Church Christian

The February 2, 1998, Salt Lake Tribune reported that LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer gave an "our-name-says-it-all" lecture to students at Church-owned Brigham Young University, in which he stated that criticisms about Mormonism's version of Christianity are "uninformed and unfair and not consistent with the Christian spirit of brotherhood." Packer's speech was in reponse to "those who teach and write and produce films which claim that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a Christian church and that we, the members, are not Christian." Although Packer did not name specific groups or publications, many believe he referred to the Southern Baptist Convention, which will hold its annual conference in Salt Lake City later this summer.

The SBC, in preparation for the conference, has created a training video titled The Mormon Puzzle to educate its members about the differences between Mormonism and orthodox Christianity. The video focuses on the differences between LDS and biblical theology concerning such doctrines as the Trinity and salvation by grace, and offers pointers on witnessing to Mormons, preparing the 15,000 delegates to the SBC conference to evangelize the Mormon community in Utah.

Emphasizing that individuals can accept or reject Mormon teachings, Packer stated that the failure of critics to affirm Mormon doctrine "is their problem, not ours." He hinted that criticism of the Mormon Church may result in the destruction of the critics, declaring, "They might learn from an old Spanish saying, 'Les salio el tiro por la calata,' which means, 'The bullet came out of the wrong end of the gun.'"

Answering Packer's claim that Mormonism is Christian, Philip Roberts, the director of the Interfaith Witness Division of the SBC's North American Mission Board, noted in a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune that the Mormon God was once an ordinary man who later achieved Godhood, the Mormon Jesus was born out of physical relations between this glorified, exalted man and Mary, and various extra-biblical works and ordinances that are required by Mormonism for forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God - all non-Chrisitan doctrines. Roberts also offered a tongue-in-cheek proposal: "I will propose.that all Southern Baptists going to Salt Lake City in June desist from encouraging Mormons to become Baptists if the LDS Church will agree to withdraw all of its 50,000-plus missionaries from their proselytization efforts of Protestant Christians to become LDS."

The General Authorities of the LDS Church have not agreed to Roberts' terms at this time.

German Police Raid Scientology Offices

The Associated Press reported that more than one hundred police officers raided five Scientology offices in Munich, Germany, on February 10th. The raids are linked to separate investigations into the deaths of three businessmen who received advice from Scientologists, three suspected arson cases and the distribution of insulting material.

German prosecutors stated that the Church of Scientology had cooperated fully with the raid on the five Scientology offices. A Scientology spokersperson stated that the raids were directed against individual Scientologists, and not against the Church itself.

German authorities placed the Church of Scientology under surveillance in June, 1997, on suspicion of engaging in anti-constitutional activities. This action led to protests by such Hollywood stars as Dustin Hoffman, Goldie Hawn and Oliver Stone.

Scientology has also been under investigation in the United States after member Lisa McPherson died on December 5, 1995, while in the care of Scientologists in Clearwater, FL.

Church of God International Leader Asked to Retire

DALLAS, Tex. (EP) - Garner Ted Armstrong is being asked to reitre from the Church of God International, the breakaway cult he founded after being put out of the Worldwide Church of God, [founded by his father, Herbert W. Armstrong].

The group's Ministerial Council made the recommendation because of a lawsuit being brought against Armstrong by a masseuse. Suera Robertson claims that Armstrong sexually assaulted her during a 1995 massage session; she secretly videotaped his actions during a followup session.

Armstrong stepped down as chairman of the board, church president, and a member of the Ministerial Council, but has continued to preach. A letter from the council posted on the group's web site explained, "It was the unanimous conclusion of the Ministerial Council that due to events associated with his lawsuit and other personal matters, Mr. Armstrong's ministry has been affected sufficiently to warrant his retirement," and warned that if Armstrong refuses to retire, his ministerial credentials will be revoked.

Former Mormon Leader Paul Dunn Dies

Paul Dunn, a former LDS inspirational speaker and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy until his false stories of war and sports exploits were discredited, died January 9th at the age of 73.

Dunn told stories from his past to serve as moral lessons for LDS members. His influence ended, however, when the Arizona Republic revealed in 1991 that he fabricated many of his adventures.

Among Dunn's many famous war stories, Dunn claimed that his best friend died in his arms during the battle for Okinawa during World War II. The Republic discovered, however, that Dunn's friend was still living in Odessa, MO. Dunn later claimed that the story was based on the death of another soldier who did not die in his arms.

Dunn also claimed to be the MVP in a military baseball league, and that he was a major league player for the St. Louis Cardinals. In reality, Dunn was never an MVP and only played for the Cardinals farm team in Pocatello, ID.

Dunn issued an apology in the LDS Church News in 1991. He was soon after removed from office by the Quorum and given the honorary title of General Authority emeritus.

Former Christian Scientist Carolyn Poole Dies

Carolyn Poole, founder of Christian Way ministry and a former Christian Scientist, died from cancer on January 6th.

Poole was a third-generation member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and served as president of the Executive Board at the Mother Church in Boston.

Poole attended a Billy Graham crusade in 1969 and received prayer, but later reported being attacked by an "evil presence" that convinced her to remain a Christian Scientist. After later participating in a Bible study, however, she renounced the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy and became a Christian in 1976.

Christian Way was founded by Poole in 1983 as an evangelistic outreach to Christian Scientists. The ministry is being continued by Mike Benjamin.

The URL for the Christian Way website is <http://www.christianway.org>.

Psychic Friends Network Files for Bankruptcy

The Associate Press reported that Inphomation Communication, the parent company for the Psychic Friends Network, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 9th. Inphomation listed liabilities of $26 million and assets of $1.2 million.

The Psychic Friends Network, founded in 1990, employed a network of nearly 2,000 psychics to answer calls to its "900" phone service. At its peak the "infomericals" featuring singer Dionne Warwick were the second-highest-grossing programs of their type.

Inphomation estimated its revenue in the early 1990s to be near $125 million, but the AP reported that revenue dropped to an estimated $25 million to $30 million in the last two years.

Spanish Police Arrest Canary Cult Leader

Police in the Canary Islands arrested German psychologist Heide Fittkau-Garthe on January 7th, hours before she allegedly planned to lead followers in a mass suicide, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities stated that thirty members of a group thought to be linked to the suicide cult, the Order of the Solar Temple, planned to kill themselves in anticipation of the end of the world. Members told police that a spaceship would then pick up their bodies from Teide mountain on the island of Tenerife.

Five of the members were children between the ages of six and twelve. Fittkau-Garthe faces four to eight years in prison if convicted. Forty-eight Order of the Solar Temple members died in mass murder-suicides in Switzerland in 1994. Twenty-six members have died since that time in Canada and France.

Aid for Scientology Critics

Boston, Mass. (EP) - A retired investment banker is giving $1.25 million to critics of the Church of Scientology because he believes the cult group abuses its members and intimidates its detractors. He told the Boston Globe, "I'm trying, in a rather helpful way, to force this organization to reform. If they want to be a good member of the world's largest religious communities, then they need to act like one."