The story behind the following Today Tonight Australian news footage is even more dramatic than the high-speed car chases, mindless intimidation and the images of squirming cult members.

The underlying facts here involve the heart-wrenching story of an Exclusive Brethren teenager who is confused as to his sexual identity. In any tolerant and modern social environment, this is a topic for discussion, understanding and above all, caring. It is an opportunity to display love and compassion.

This would be the case in almost any community, Christian or not, but here we deal with the Exclusive Brethren …

Exclusive Brethren @ Yahoo!7 Video

The Exclusive Brethren, self-defined as the ‘Bride of Christ‘ and self-titled as a ‘Christian Fellowship‘, take a somewhat different approach when dealing with young men who question the official view of ‘what is normal’. The homophobic cult bombarded 18 year old Craig Hoyle with threats of earthly discipline, excommunication and spiritual annihilation. Craig was dispatched to Sydney, the HQ of the worldwide cult where he met with the ‘Elect Vessel‘ EB Leader Bruce Hales. While there, one of the few remaining Exclusive Brethren medical practitioners (attending University has been banned for Exclusive Brethren members since the 1960′s) prescribed the teenager with a drug that many describe as a form of chemical castration.

You may find just the thought of giving a teen such a drug to be horrific enough, but what was to follow defies belief. When Craig made the decision that he wanted to be true to himself and find out who he really was rather than be dictated to or remain chemically abused, he was forced to leave his family home. Since that time Craig has suffered more emotional stress than many can imagine by being denied access to his family, friends and community.

With admirable strength of character the now 20-something young man decided to take his fight to the Exclusive Brethren and contacted the media with his story. Such a dramatic story was bound to interest all levels of media attention and Craig soon became a focal point and example of how the Exclusive Brethren treat those who dare to think for themselves, or do not conform, or are simply … different.

A few days ago, the Australian Today Tonight news show attempted to confront some of the key components of Craigs’ story. They took Craig and a camera crew to interview Radiologist Dr. Mark Craddock, the Exclusive Brethren physician who prescribed a year-long “trial” of Cyprostat, a drug that many, including the American Civil Liberties Union calls a “cruel and unusual punishment”.

Following a very unimpressive response from the Radiologist who stated that he was treating “a problem” and attempted to pass all responsibility onto his teenage client, the Today Tonight news crew headed toward the place from where Craddock had received his orders: Ermington NSW, home of Exclusive Brethren leader Bruce Hales. The camera crew located themselves outside the Ermington Exclusive Brethren Meeting Room and waited.

What occurred next, caught on camera as seen above, belongs more in a movie screenplay! Unmarked cars raced through the city streets a few intimidating inches from the rear of news crew vehicles. Eventually the crew were forced to call for police protection and we understand arrests followed.

The entire story is a public relations disaster for the only public Exclusive Brethren contact – Jackson Wells. This top Australian PR firm  has gone to great lengths to publicize the fiction that the Exclusive Brethren are just a misunderstood Christian church. Could it be said that they are paid to make wolves look like sheep?

There is no mistaking the message that the story of Craig Hoyle provides. The Exclusive Brethren display nothing of traditional Christianity in their dealings with any person or group that dares to criticize them. Their public testimony is proof enough of what the Bible teaches is a perfect litmus test for false Christianity and false leaders:

‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.‘ - Matthew 7:15-16

Follow a more detailed story of Craigs life here:

1 – WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE GAY IN THE EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN?
2 – EXCOMMUNICATION FROM THE EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN
3 – AFTER THE EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN – CRAIG HOYLE BEGINS LIFE