September 20th, 2008
The Exclusive Brethren sect has attempted to prevent a sick 85-year-old former member from revealing her terrible life story by saying that if she remained silent she could be reunited before she dies with the children she was separated from 28 years ago.
Alison Alderton’s family was torn apart at the order of the sect’s world leader in 1980, and she has barely had contact with her children, who are “in fellowship”, since.
Inside the sect, kept apart from Mrs Alderton by the Brethren’s founding doctrine of “separation,” are three daughters and a son, 18 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren she does not know and cannot count. Continue reading »
September 19th, 2008
Extracts of the eagerly awaited book ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren’ by premier Australian investigative reporter Michael Bachelard, are due to be published in the “Good Weekend” lift-out of the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age this weekend.
As anticipated, the Exclusive Brethren are not only worried, they’re petrified! Their new PR spin-doctors (they’ve been through several) are now Jackson-Wells, an Australian firm, who have decided to use the name of Daniel Hales as the Exclusive Brethren spokesman.
Daniel Hales is the brother of the cult leader Bruce Hales and has been largely a background figure in the Hales dynasty, far more concerned with financial matters than the spiritual aspects of life.
Here is their media release, dated today – September 19th, 2008.
MEDIA STATEMENT
Brethren say Fairfax article outdated, inaccurate
Extracts from a new book by journalist Michael Bachelard that will appear in the Good Weekend magazine tomorrow are out of date and contain significant factual inaccuracies, says the Exclusive Brethren Church.
Continue reading »
The general reaction in the ex-Exclusive Brethren community to the forthcoming ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren’ is: “it’s about time! “. Michael Bachelard has used his remarkable investigative and writing abilities to rip back the covers on a cult that has given new meaning to the word Hypocrisy.
If Michael Bachelard is respected as one of the foremost investigative journalists in Australia, David Marr is the other name that immediately comes to mind. Both men have assisted the purpose of this website in ensuring the Truth is told regarding the Exclusive Brethren. Bruce D. Hales, the current leader of the cult, assisted matters brilliantly from 2003 onward by forcing the 45,000 world-wide membership to contribute money for their ‘political’ campaigns in several countries – including USA, Canada, Sweden, UK, New Zealand and Australia.
David Marr is quoted on the proposed cover of this new book, due for publication in October 2008:
‘Shocking and compelling. Michael Bachelard has written an eye-opening account of power and cruelty in a tiny Christian sect that enjoys a privileged existence in Australia.’ - David Marr
Continue reading »
