Catholics hit out against rash of 'dubious cults'

IN THE WAKE of a High Court Judge's condemnation of the Church of Scientology, a number of leading Catholics have expressed their concern at the spread of religious cults in this country.
It is understood that Cardinal Hume is worried by the advance of such organisations and is watching their progress with anxiety. There are an estimated 170 cults in London alone.
Mr Justice Latey, in ordering a father who is a member of the Scientology church to hand over his two children to his wife last week, described the cult as "grimly reminiscent of the ranting and bullying of Hitler and his henchmen", and its founder, Ron Hubbard as a "charlatan and worse". The cult claims five million converts worldwide, and has its UK headquarters at East Grinstead.
On Monday Sr Jackie Clackson FMM of Housetops, a Cathoic resource centre in London with special concern for mission in Asia, appeared on Granada Television's The Week Tonight to warn against such cults. She stressed that Christians are happy to work with other religions, but felt that sects which caused distress and split families should be avoided.
Sr Clackson also spoke of the Church of Scientology's dubious recruiting methods which include placing advertisements for jobs with the • church in religious Publications, and encouraging young people to undergo a series of expensive personality tests.
Catholic Member of Parliament David Alton has tabled a Commons motion calling for the expulsion of the Scientologists from Britain. Mr Alton says: "These cults are spreading their evil influence all over Britain. I want legislation to control the activities of these pseudo-religious gangsters".