Frequently, it is what the Exclusive Brethren do not say that speaks loudest.

Many will recall the first cult smear advertising that first hit the streets in New Zealand in 2005. Later, Australia suffered the same influx of brochures, pamphlets and handouts. They all had one thing in common - the group behind the material was never mentioned.

Rather than provide any normal route to identity, the Exclusive Brethren intentionally obfuscate their publications. When you consider the way they hide their tracks, this is perhaps understandable: false addresses, misleading names, even the business premises of their unsuspecting tenants … One thing is constant, the name of the Taylorite / Symington / Hales Exclusive Brethren never appears.

Are the Exclusive Brethren using Black Saturday as a PR opportunity?

9/11 and now 'Black Saturday'

And now, in perhaps their most cynical effort todate, they use their own children in an effort to extract money from a public for whom they care nothing and even seemingly entrap a Prime Minister who has publicly declared them an “extremist cult” to assist them. And their public relations lever? The killer bush fires that swept across Victoria in southern Australia during February, less than a year ago.

‘ Firestorm: Black Saturday’s Tragedy‘ is published by Dennis Jones & Associates of Byswater, Victoria, Australia and there is even a website dedicated to the PR cause: http://www.blacksaturdaysfirestorm.com.au

The Glenvale School is an Exclusive Brethren school – one of those campuses that is set to receive some of the over $70 million hand-out authorized by Kevin Rudd over the next two years:

The Prime Minister provided a letter, accompanied by a photo, congratulating the Exclusive Brethren-run Glenvale School in Victoria for producing the book. The Brethren yesterday confirmed Mr Rudd was aware the sect was involved in the book when he agreed to provide the letter.

The letter is reproduced on a full page at the front of the book, which is billed as a fundraiser for the Country Fire Authority.

About 55,000 copies of Firestorm: Black Saturday’s Tragedy have been printed and are on sale for $50. The preface says the book was the work of “parents and friends” of Glenvale’s Lilydale and Berwick campuses, but fails to note the school is run by the sect.

From The Australian – Kevin Rudd endorses Exclusive Brethren fire book

At best this ‘fund raiser’ is a feeble Public Relations effort but those who know the Exclusive Brethren and their ways see a more sinister intent – a transparent ruse to try and improve their irrepairably damaged public reputation – on the backs of a gut-wrenching disaster and by the use of children that continue to be indoctrinated at the expense of the Australian tax-payer.

It will not escape the attention of many that the last time the Exclusive Brethren attempted anything like this, they were trumpeting their ‘assistance during the aftermath of 9/11‘ – as to exactly what their assistance was at that time, no one knows.

The fact that Glenvale School, the Publisher and the Exclusive Brethren’s public relations firm do not disclose who is behind this effort speaks louder than words – the silence is the continuing sneaky hallmark of one of the most destructive religious cults around today.

As Simon & Garfunkel knew: “silence like a cancer grows...”

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share…
No one dare
Disturb the sound of silence

“Fools,” said I, “you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.”
“Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you.”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls,
And whisper’d in the sound of silence.”