Vol. 6, No. 8, 1989

Articles on the New Age

Carolyn McHaney

Since the Church Universal and Triumphant (C.U.T.) moved its headquarters from California in 1986 to Paradise Valley in little Park County, Montana, some of the local residents have grown fearful.

The church, formerly known as Summit Lighthouse, was founded during the 1950's by the now deceased Mark L. Prophet and his young wife Elizabeth Clare Prophet. She then became the head of the church and her fourth husband, Ed Francis, runs all the church business.

Citing similarities with the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, whose cult followers took over the small town of Antelope, Oregon, many citizens of Park County, Montana area are wary of repeating history again with political, environmental and spiritual takeovers.

The bone of contention has been the 12,500 acre Royal Teton Ranch where C.U.T. owns and operates commercial enterprises, residential development, and seven bomb shelters. Now the state has approved Church plans for additional homes, classrooms and offices where Yellowstone Park borders the ranch. Park officials are worried, too.

Mrs. Prophet dismisses all charges, claiming C.U.T. and Rajneesh can't be compared, charging these claims to religious persecution. The church's credibility has been hurt due to past charges of extortion, gun-running, stock piling of gold, and sexual blackmail (The Dallas Morning News, 6/24/89 p.4A-5A).