Monday, June 07, 2010 5:17:42 AM
Cults thrive on tax-free status: Xenophon
Updated Fri May 21, 2010 1:09pm AEST
.. yup, we have teabagger types .. fundamentalist christian doomsday cults, too ..
Nick Xenophon demands end to tax-free status for
some groups claiming to be religions (ABC News)
Police raids find weapons: Nick Xenophon demands end
to tax-free status for some groups claiming to be
religions (7pm TV News SA)
Related links inside ..
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says religious organisations must face a
public benefit test, in light of a weapons find at properties linked to a religious cult.
Adelaide police found guns, high-powered ammunition and explosives at properties connected with Agape Ministries International.
Police think the weapons may have been bound for a Pacific island.
Senator Xenophon says organisations claiming to be religious thrive on their tax-free status.
He says legislation he introduced to the Senate last week would help flush out dangerous groups.
"If a cult cannot get tax-free status because of its activities then clearly
that would make it more difficult for it to flourish and to expand," he said.
"That's why it's important that we have a public benefit test and that to me
is one way of ensuring some degree of scrutiny for an organisation such as this.
"Until we have a public benefit test these organisations will escape even the most basic level of scrutiny."
Police raided 12 properties including a farm near Mount Compass, south
of Adelaide, which they say possibly was being used for weapons training.
They found 35,000 rounds of ammunition for high-powered guns but not the guns themselves.
Three key leaders of the group are missing, including Rocco Leo, also known as Brother Rock, who is the ministry's founder.
Four arrests have been made over the weapons find.
Police say they want to know what has happened to millions of dollars
donated by followers for a move offshore, possibly to the Pacific.
The Agape cult believes the world will end with Armageddon in 2012, but police say they do not
know if that is why the arsenal of weapons, explosives and ammunition was being stockpiled.
Child marriage
South Australia's Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine
says her department is keeping a close eye on members of the Agape group.
Ms Rankine says she is aware of complaints that at least two children
inside the cult had been promised for marriage to older followers.
She says the family has been investigated.
"They were aware of some concerns around people close to the children however my understanding
is there were no indicators that the children themselves were being mistreated," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/21/2905465.htm
Updated Fri May 21, 2010 1:09pm AEST
.. yup, we have teabagger types .. fundamentalist christian doomsday cults, too ..
Nick Xenophon demands end to tax-free status for
some groups claiming to be religions (ABC News)
Police raids find weapons: Nick Xenophon demands end
to tax-free status for some groups claiming to be
religions (7pm TV News SA)
Related links inside ..
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says religious organisations must face a
public benefit test, in light of a weapons find at properties linked to a religious cult.
Adelaide police found guns, high-powered ammunition and explosives at properties connected with Agape Ministries International.
Police think the weapons may have been bound for a Pacific island.
Senator Xenophon says organisations claiming to be religious thrive on their tax-free status.
He says legislation he introduced to the Senate last week would help flush out dangerous groups.
"If a cult cannot get tax-free status because of its activities then clearly
that would make it more difficult for it to flourish and to expand," he said.
"That's why it's important that we have a public benefit test and that to me
is one way of ensuring some degree of scrutiny for an organisation such as this.
"Until we have a public benefit test these organisations will escape even the most basic level of scrutiny."
Police raided 12 properties including a farm near Mount Compass, south
of Adelaide, which they say possibly was being used for weapons training.
They found 35,000 rounds of ammunition for high-powered guns but not the guns themselves.
Three key leaders of the group are missing, including Rocco Leo, also known as Brother Rock, who is the ministry's founder.
Four arrests have been made over the weapons find.
Police say they want to know what has happened to millions of dollars
donated by followers for a move offshore, possibly to the Pacific.
The Agape cult believes the world will end with Armageddon in 2012, but police say they do not
know if that is why the arsenal of weapons, explosives and ammunition was being stockpiled.
Child marriage
South Australia's Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine
says her department is keeping a close eye on members of the Agape group.
Ms Rankine says she is aware of complaints that at least two children
inside the cult had been promised for marriage to older followers.
She says the family has been investigated.
"They were aware of some concerns around people close to the children however my understanding
is there were no indicators that the children themselves were being mistreated," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/21/2905465.htm
Jonathan Swift said, "May you live all the days of your life!"
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