A small, pseudo-Christian cult in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
It does not follow historical, mainstream Christianity. It is a
small authoritarian group that relies on "direct revelation"
and not the Bible for its direction. This small cult has been in
the news because it is believed that two children have died unnecessarily.
Samuel Robidoux, the ten month old son of the cult founder's son,
Jacques, died of malnutrition. He was not fed because they were
waiting for a sign from God to feed him. Rebecca Corneau's child,
Jeremiah, died shortly after childbirth reportedly due to the lack
of basic medical care. Corneau is now eight and one half months
pregnant (as of September, 15th, 2000) and the courts have intervened
to try to protect it. The American Civil Liberties Union and other
Pro-Choice Advocates worry that this case might set a dangerous
legal precedent by showing more concern for an unborn child than
the wishes of the mother.
Former member Dennis Mingo left the group after ten
years, and gave a diary that described the deaths of the two children
to police. Despite months of effort, police have not been able to
locate the children's bodies. The group denounces the ''seven systems''
of mainstream society, including education, government, banking,
religion, medicine, science and entertainment. Consequently, members
of the group have refused to cooperate with all authorities and
have refused legal counsel. They have even refused to assert their
basic constitutional right against self-incrimination. This Millennial
group expects the world will erupt in violence and turmoil at any
moment, and that they alone will be saved.
I believe that this is a mind
control cult. Furthermore, I believe that this family-oriented
cult was formed by Roland Robidoux several years ago when he split
from the Worldwide Church
of God (a group that is itself described as a mind control cult-
especially at the time that Robidoux left it) and started his own
"Bible study group." We know this because Brian Weeks,
now a pastor, left the Worldwide Church of God with Robidoux. Weeks
later split with Robidoux because he saw that he was going further
and further away from the Bible.
In my new book, Releasing
the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves, (Freedom
of Mind Press, 2000), I describe how individuals need information
and counseling in order to recover from a cult group's mind control
regime and indoctrination. It is not uncommon that someone leaves
a cult and starts his/her own new cult.
The definition of a mind control cult is "A
pyramid structured, authoritarian relationship or group which uses
deception in its recruitment and mind
control to keep people obedient and dependent." This mind
control process is done in a step by step fashion and firsts disorients
and "unfreezes" the person's identity, then "changes"
it through behavior control and indoctrination and then "refreezes"
into the new "self". Destructive mind control is very
different than mere social learning or social influence. Also, the
"conversion" process is very different than a legitimate
spiritual conversion experience in which free will exists.
Destructive mind control creates a "dissociative
disorder" in its members - a split of identity which is ego-dystonic
as opposed to ego-syntonic, as in military training. The cult identity
is given a new set of beliefs, feelings and behaviors and is taught
to try to "kill the old self" and at best suppresses it.
Thought-stopping techniques taught to cult members interrupt normal
reality-testing thought processes. By isolating members from all
sources of information that might contradict cult doctrine, members
are made to be nearly totally dependent. Powerful phobias are instilled
into cult members' minds, which neutralize the possibility of their
believing that leaving the cult is a viable choice. Members of this
cult group have been taught that the world is coming to an end and
that if they don't remain "faithful" they will be taken
over by Satan.
Whatever the leader says, followers will do. When
Robidoux read the book, ''Born in Zion,'' by Carol Balizet, it led
him to make more and more extreme changes. Balizet, a former emergency
room nurse who now has her own "ministry", advocates natural
home births, claiming only prayer is needed. Members who are legally
blind have had to get rid of their glasses, believing that God would
heal their eyes if they are "faithful". Former member
Mingo says that several of them are "blind as bats," but
refuse to wear glasses. Members do not celebrate birthdays, holidays,
read newspapers, magazines, watch TV or movies. They burned all
of their old photographs in order to block them from remembering
the past. They were told that looking at photographs is an act of
vanity. Men wear long beards and the women all wear long cotton
dresses.
In Jan. 2000, Rev. Bob Pardon, head of the New
England Institute of Religious Research, was appointed guardian
ad litum of the sect's children. Pardon, and his associate
Judy Barba, prepared a 20-page report on the sect for Judge Kenneth
P. Nasif. After extensive research both say that the cult members
do not feel guilty about what happened to Samuel Robidoux or Jermiah
Corneau. They believe that if Rebecca Corneau needs medical assistance
during her upcoming childbirth, without state intervention, this
child might also die or suffer grave injury.
Pardon, a Christian minister, is well equipped to
understand the workings of the group. He has been assisting me for
many years with a wide variety of cult cases and has a firm knowledge
of the Bible. He has been trained in the Strategic Interaction
Approach, a legal, goal -oriented communications method for
liberating those influenced by destructive cult groups. He was stymied
over and over again to help the cult members because they refused
to speak with him, fearing being disobedient to their orders.
Like many cults, this group thought they alone had
a "direct pipeline to God." They were the chosen ones.
They prophesized that they were going to live in Jerusalem, which
was now the state of Maine. Like most cult members, these people
are basically nice, good people. They are not evil. They are just
misguided. Interestingly, this group was so insular, it did not
even try to recruit new members.
It is my opinion that Rebecca Corneau is not mentally
competent, and on that basis, there is little danger that the court's
ruling can endanger women's rights. This group is not merely a small,
fringe group where people can have free will. This is a classic
case of an extreme mind control cult. I have interviewed individuals
including Dennis Mingo, and I am hopeful that, in time, the individuals
involved will be able to begin to think for themselves and reevaluate
their life choices. Unfortunately, it might be too late for them
to avoid lengthy jail sentences. The court has already taken their
children away from them and given custody to their relatives.
Steven Hassan M.Ed LMHC
www.freedomofmind.com
9/15/00
Freedomofmind.com fully supports religious
freedom and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The fact that a person’s name or group appears on our website
does not necessarily mean they are a destructive mind control cult.
They appear because we have received inquiries and have established
a file on the group.
The Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. was established by cult expert Steve Hassan.
