The Way-Controversial Cult Seeking GP Teens? by Tom Greenwood to the Group on Two Basic Levels: Doc
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- •• U Section Grosse Pointe News A, VOL. 42-NO. 13 "wbU.h.oI a. Socalld CI... Mott .. at tho 2Sc '0' Cop)' rOit Oftl .. at Detroit, Mlchigall GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981 $10 'er Ve., 40 Pages-Three Sections-Plus Insert The Way-controversial cult seeking GP teens? By Tom Greenwood to the group on two basic levels: doc. in New Knoxville is the trunk, with Once new prospects attend a few trine and family relationships. Wierwille as the root. Way meetings, they're urged to attend Cult religions. Everyone has Cult accus.ed of mind control- the "Power for Abundant Living" Headed by Dr. Victor Paul Wier. heard of them. Scientology, Contact .with potential members is classes, (PFAL), a series of 15, three. wille, a controversial minister whose Moonies, Hare Krishna, Children made ,in a variety of ways. Allegedly, hour tapes and films of Wierwille's career has had more revivals than rock hands used to meet students of God, the Divine Light Mis- one ,popular recruiting center in the lectures, at a cost of $200. Bruce Lee, ,he bills himself as the Pointes is an ice cream parlor located sion, Jonestown. "only <person to correctly interpret -of the Trinity and that the murder try at Harvard Medical School, an on Mack Avenue, according to a local Que~tions, note taking and taping the Bible since St .. PauI." Wierwille One cult. describE'd as onE' of of ,Ix million Jew, bv thl' Na7.L, i~ a ('stimated 30 I'l'fCent aI''.:' believed to Way ml'mher p<lrent of the classes are not allowed. Those was ongmally oraainea -In Lhe Evan- hoax perpetrated by Israel for "propa. have emotional problems. Lonely, without the cash are not permitted the largest, and fastest growing gelical and Reformed Church. in the country, has local minis- ganda purposes." frustrated and lacking direction in The Way al~o works through music. to altend the classes. PFAL classes provide the majority of the Way's ters worried, The Way Interna- He obtained his "doctorate" from' ther lives, the mainly white, middle Two Way.sponsored rock bands, Joy. Followers are urged to think and ful Noise and 'I'akit, criss.crMs the income. 'Members are urged to go tional, a controversial "Biblical Pikes Peak ,Bible seminary in Colo- class recruits are usually eager to be talk in tongues. Church members are accepted by any organization. country in customized motor busses on for more advanced classes, all at research organization," head- rado, in 1948. Described as a "diplo. ordered to stockpile food, keep car ma mill:' -the "seminary" has no resi- offering .free rock concerts at local an ever increasing cost. quartered in New Knoxville, tanks half full of gas at all times and MANY EX.WAY members "report high schools. dent instructors, no faculty and no to carry international .passports, in MEMBERS ARE also urged to tithe Ohio, has declared 1981 as its accreditation. All degrees are ob. their first contact with the group was case "the Devil" takes over the gOY. a pleasurable experience. They under- Ushers and Way fGl10wers in the 10 percent of their earnings, with the "special outreach year." ta;ined by mail. ernment. go "Love Bombing." At their first few au~ience hand out religious tracts, reminder that "the more you give, the more God will reward you," The Way's avowed aim is to vigor- In 1958, he volunlarily resigned Way. students who attend either of meetings they're made to ,feel the whIle the band plays soft rock and ously recruit more followers from his ministry from the Evangelical and the two Way colleges, (both unaccred. center of attraction, urges those gathered to take control The book "Prison or Paradise-The high schools and colleges. With an Reformed Church shortly before of their lives. ited), have been told to bring reo They feel wanted, a "special" mlm. New Religious Cults" by James and estimated 100,000 members world- church officials could excommunicate volvers or rifles to school for "marks. Marcia .Rudin estimates The Way's in- ber of a "£pecial" family, Based on Concert.goers are asked to attend wide, the Way has several branch him. He then started the Way .Inter. manship" courses. come averages $1 million a year, with the shape of a tree, the meetings, another free concert later in the ministries in the Pointe and neighbor. national. $20 million in property holdIngs, in. (always held in private homes), are week, where heavier recruitment ef. ing cities, according to parents of The majority of Way followers are cluding the group's 147 acre headquar.~' Among his teachings are the beliefs called "twigs." Members are the forts are conducted. Many schools, Way members and local ministers. in their late teens, or early twenties. ters, two colleges, .a Bible camp that Christ is not God; that there is leaves, area.wide fellowship centers alarmed by reports from concerned in Gunnison, Colo. and a jet for Wier- . PARENTS. religious leaders, psy. no after life; that Christ was crucified According to Dr. John G. Clark, as. are branchehs, the state organizations parents and religious leaders, have chologists and school officials object on Wednesday on a ,lStake; the denial sistant Clinical Professor of Psychia. are limbs, the national organizatlon cancelled the concerts in the past. (Contlnued on Page 4A) If Maire School students thought school was for the birds last Friday, March 20, they were right. The kids saw State tax plan. a slide and animal show pre- sented by Tom Molyneaux, su- pervisor of Belle Isle's urban nature center featuring. wild birds from the island park. may put squeeze Molyneaux's entourage in- cluded a red-tailed hawk, a wood duck, and a horned owl, pictured right, all of whom are injured animals recuperat- on cities, schools ing at the Nature Center, They earn their keep by working By Susan McDonald that he expects the limit will eventu- the school lecture circuit,- ac- ally lead to a shortfall in city reve- The tax cut package hammered nues. cording to Molyneaux, out in Lansing last week may Conservation ethics are also provide relief for most Grosse "It would be fine if (the Legisla- a large part of Molyneaux's ture) could also legislate the growth show. He explained how his Pointe homeowners, But local of utility bills to 6 percent,' too," "peg-legged hawk" got that school and city officials are ex- Bremer said. pecting plenty of headaches way after a steel trap severed City lIIanager Kressbach and school one of its legs. He also cau- when they try to balance budgets if voters appr;)ve the plan in the officials also expressed skepticism tioned the children against about the state "guarantee" to reim. ~+ . damaging wildl~le -ana .the- en- May 19 ele('Hml" '". burse local units for lost revenue. vironment through careless ac- Details of the package are complex tions. "The state has developed a poor and most local leaders are holding track record on paying .cities. They The wildlife show was part off on taking a firm stand for or still haven't e\'en come up with the of a supplemental environ~ against it until they see specific lan- money guaranteed for last year's guage. mental studies program staffed presidential primary," Kressbach said. by si~ Maire School parents,- Photo by Tom Greenwood One exception is school Supt. Wil. He added a state legislator suggested liam Coats who said in a release this the cities refuse to conduct the May week some features of the proposal (Continued on Page 2A) cause "great concern" for sch'oollead- ers. He called the package more of State delays group home license a "shift" than "genuine tax relief." While mosl city leaders .aren't speak- Court lawsuit and an administrative By Susan McDonald hold up granting of the license for shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores ing so forcibly against the plan, yet, Park studies complaint with the Department of at least two weeks to look further when he leaves the home on Bedford. they do see problems staying within Social Services. Grosse Pointe's State Rep. Wil. into problems with the site selection the limits it sets on future growth liam Bryant jumped into the and the licensee," Bryant said. The Department of Mental Health of thei,r revenue, The city, at the same time, is keep. proposes placing six retarded adults one half mill battl~ to stop a group home for ing its circuit court suit before Judge retarded from moving into Neighbor "attorney Prather, who who are currently living in the Plym- THE PROPOSAL. whicll will effect Victor Baum alive and is filing an outh Center for Human Development Grosse Pointe Park this week by lives on Bedford several doors away July's tax bill if approved, will do additional complaint with social ser. from the proposed group home, said in the Bedford home. The Plymouth the following: asking State Social Services Di- vices. the group feels it was "denied due Center has been ordered by Federal bond issue rector John Dempsey b delay court to place most of its residents • Cut homestead property taxes process because the community wasn't By Joanne Gouleche licensing the facility for at least City Attorney Herold "Mac" Deason consulted and the residents weren't in community group homes by 1983 (for operating millage) in half, with two weeks. said his complaint will allege the consulted about where the home \ as a result of a suit brought by the a $1,400 relief ceiling per individual. choice of 1030 Bedford was made "in Michigan Association for Retarded Grosse Pointe Park City Man- should be." The city was notified of • Cut income taxes in 16 Michig",n Dempsey agreed late 'ruesday, secret, without consulting the com.