Bad Moon Rising: How Reverend Moon Created the Washington Times, Seduced the Religious Right, and Built an American Kingdom

Author: Gorenfeld, John

John Gorenfeld’s Bad Moon Rising takes readers into the chilling Washington underworld of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, whose cult-like Unification Church calls him the True Father.

Whether claiming endorsements from George Washington, pronouncing Jesus obsolete or dictating sex positions to his followers, Moon has pursued loopy schemes for decades.

For the first time, Bad Moon Rising tells the full story of the reverend’s coronation in U.S. Senate offices in 2004; his quest to become world leader; his founding of a media empire with the creation of The Washington Times and purchase of United Press International; and his unlikely influence on the GOP propaganda machine, financing the stories that make Fox News Channel.

Although Beltway conservatives rarely acknowledge their embarrassing patron, Gorenfeld is not afraid to follow the money to famous names and shameful secrets, revealing a hidden saga of political corruption, lost souls, and megalomania

© 2008 Borders, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rachel Andres

receives the

Bronfman Award

Rachel Andres, known to many of the long time members of CAN, has received the Charles Bronfman Prize for her project of assisting and simplifying the cooking experience of Darfur women.

In her latest project Rachel sought a way to help protect the women and girls of Darfur who were regularly attacked, raped and killed when they ventured out of the protected camps to find wood and fuel for cooking.

Rachel Andres helped to develop the idea and the actual cookers that use foil to reflect the sun and provide a way for these refugees to cook.

In addition to the cookers, the program hired women in the refugee camps to assemble the cookers and others to train women in use of the cookers. Hence this has also provided an income for these greatly impoverished women.

Rachael, one of the first activists against cults, had been a member and then the Director of the Commission on Cults and Missionaries established by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Los Angeles.

Rachael also served for many years on the national board of the former Cult Awareness Network (CAN) and was a leader in exposing the dangers of destructive cult groups.

Her energy and warm smile are well known to the many families and former members who attended CAN conferences.

Kevin Garvey dies

Kevin Garvey was an exit counselor and educator on cult and related issues. He was especially knowledgeable about the Large Group Awareness Workshops or what was often referred to as Mass Therapy groups. Kevin was a fixture at Cult Awareness conferences where he often held court in the coffee shop. His cigarette was as ubiquitous as the cup of coffee in his hand. Kevin was well known for his ability to explain, or at least provide a discourse on the most esoteric subject and philosophies. The range and breadth of his knowledge of ancient, Indian, and Eastern philosophies was amazing as was his ability to talk about these issues for hours.

Kevin was the go-to guy on the Mass Therapies and one who helped untold numbers of families and their children. There were numerous tributes to him on the web. Kevin will be missed.

Sri Chinmoy

“Guru’s Dark Side

Eludes News”

New York Post, Oct. 13, 2007

During Sri Chinmoy’s life time, he had been widely publicized for his leading peace meditations from the UN in New York.

Being acclaimed as a “peace” guru (or as a promoter of “world harmony”) along with unusual feats of weight lifting, he seemed to have escaped media coverage of his more questionable actions.

Nevertheless, with his death at 76, the New York Post, gives an accounting of the “sleazier side” of the guru’s life. The Post stated, “there were claims from former devotees that he ran a ‘cult’, caused ‘disturbing personality changes’ in members and ordered his dreamy-eyed female followers to engage in exploitive sexcapades.”

These sexual encounters were elaborated from a 2004 report: “… one former longtime follower of Chinmoy told the Post how Chinmoy summoned her for extended sex romps, … Other women recounted similar tales, including one who said Chinmoy paid for her abortion after he got her pregnant.”

“Rocker Carlos Santana, a former Chinmoy follower, told Rolling Stone, after he jumped ship in 2000, the guru was ‘vindictive – ‘He told all my friends not to call me ever again, because I was to drown in a dark sea of ignorance for leaving him.’ ”

“The Post’s Jeane Machintosh reports Chinmoy’s attention-seeking often sought to break records – including one for underwater juggling, piggyback riding and balancing a pool cue on one finger.”

“A shameless self-promoter, Chinmoy was a fan of big-top antics and publicity tainted weight-lifting ability – but his former official photographer has ‘fessed up to airbrushing pictures to exaggerate his prowess.”

Chateau Scientology:

Inside the church Celebrity Centre

New Yorker Magazine, Jan. 14, 2008

by Dana Goodyear

This article describes the architectural origins and appearance of the Celebrity Centre along with brief sketches of Scientology’s salient beliefs. Many of the rooms in this gingerbread-styled hotel depict various movie scenes of celebrated Hollywood stars (not necessarily members of Scientology). It may be assumed that young artists are given a sympathetic ear on the vulnerabilities of Hollywood life.

The article reports that the Centre offers artists a “safe” setting to advance their careers. In part, support for these people is through “foster[ing] a feeling of community.” One celebrity commented, “…but most of all I felt very safe in this place.” Another official said, ”an artist at Celebrity Centre would tell you it’s a safe [italics mine] place to study scripts, to network …”

In covering this story, the reporter does become irritated at her being continually approached in a “pervasive, invasive” manner about her willingness to participate in auditing sessions. She reports that at times the Centre seems “like a legitimate industry workshop.” At another time, she comments that the Celebrity Centre is “more or less an opportunity for them [Scientologists] to solicit people [for conversion].”

The article lists glowing testimonials from stars and members who credit Scientology for their own personal transformations. The writer claims that members “tend to get a thrill from the aura of coercion and seduction” attached to the program – not sure what she is saying here -but in any event she gives little hint of controversy about Scientology.

The author explores a positive picture of Scientology’s effort to acquire and to clean up a crumbling neighborhood. In a sense, they have created a bit of dazzle, an aura of gleaming edifices, in character with Hollywood’s historical splendor (The Centre is highlight4ed by night lighting). Further, Scientologists have become increasingly identified with the community through sitting on boards, sponsoring charity events.

Clearwater a reluctant citadel of Scientology

Bergen Record, 9-24-07, AP,

by Mitch Stacy

In regard to Scientology’s presence in Clearwater, “I think there’s been a slow shift from a very strong adversarial relationship to a tolerance–so says a former local news editor. This article reports Clearwater as the site of “an international Scientology stronghold and a destination for elite members… who come from all over the world for the highest levels of the church’s spiritual training.”

“…the old attitudes and prejudices in town softened by the passage of time and aggressive community outreach. Scientologists sit on the boards of civic groups…. No longer is it political suicide for local leaders to associate with them.”

A former detective says that, “the church has ‘cleaned house’ in the 1970s, removing anyone who espoused attacking opponents. By many other accounts, the Church of Scientology has made huge strides mending fences in Clearwater.”

“Meditation On the Man Who Saved The Beatles,”

2-7-08, New York Times,

by Alan Kozinn.

“Maharishi – what have you done? You made a fool of everyone.” This ironic lyric was written by John Lennon shortly after the Beatles broke off with the Maharishi in 1968. This article also pointed out their derision of the guru in the score of “Sexy Sadie.”

Maharishi Majesh Yogi introduced to the West the Transcendental Meditation movement. The Beatles indeed had been impressed with their earlier experience with the guru, including their going to India for meditation sessions with the Maharishi. Prior to this experience, the Beatles were unable to write, but after their TM experience they “wrote like demons.” Yet, as intense and as productive as this relationship was, there was a significant break in the relationship with the guru for some time (22yrs.) before the parties eventually reconciled. As to what caused the break up, there seems to have been no reliable account.

Recalling the Maharishi and Carville’s Killer Ad

New York Times, 2-14-08

by Tom Ferrick, Jr.

A candidate for the governorship of Pennsylvania, William Scranton, had gone to Europe in 1970 to study TM, becoming one of its life-long proponents.

He returned home to pursue a more conventional career in politics. When Scranton was running for governer of Pensylvania, his opponent, Mr. Casey, was lower than Scranton in the polls. Casey then asked James Carville to run a more aggressive campaign.

Carville ran an ad just before election day depicting a younger, long haired Scranton along side of a long haired Maharishi, with background sitar music.

Casey won the election and political consensus indicated that the guru ad was what defeated Scranton.

Sites for ‘Maharishi Effect’ (Welcome to Parma) Spread Across U.S.

New York Times, 2-22-08

by Sean D. Hamill.

This article reviews various architectural plans for Peace Palaces throughout America as sponsored through Maharishi’s TM movement. Maharishi…”proclaimed …that he knew the secret to world wide peace [through building Peace Palaces].”

The author picked up a local comment about the palaces. Robert M.Parry, director of planning (in the Cleveland area) said, “They’re interested in peace and harmony and good vibes, and we are interested in that. Who isn’t?”

The writer suggests that nothing could be wrong with an organization that advocates ”peace.” The Newsletter editor wonders if an emphasis on peace or peace slogans might become a way of avoiding ordinary decisions of living.

Scientology e-mail ,12-8-07,

reported from New York Times

“The interior ministers of the nation’s [Germany’s] 16 states as the federal interior minister, Wolfgang Schauble, ‘consider Scientology to be an organization that is not compatible with the Constitution’ and will work to ban the organization, Berlin’s interior minister, Erhard Korting, told reporters after a meeting.”

Arnold Markowitz, long term Cult Information Service board member has retired from the New York Jewish Family and Children’s Counseling Service. He had been the director of the Cult Hot line and Clinic since it’s inception. He continues to work part time at the Cult Clinic

“Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a Guide for The Beatles’ Spirits, Is Dead,”

New York Times, 02-6-08.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died in his 90s in Vlodrop, Netherlands. He was famous for introducing TM (transcendental meditation) to the West (USA, 1957) and as a spiritual advisor to the Beatles.

He was a controversial figure, “a spiritual man who sought a world stage from which to espouse the joys of inner happiness.

His critics called his organization a cult business enterprise. And in the press … he was often dismissed as a ‘hippie mystic,’ the ‘Giggling Guru’…”

“The TM movement was a founding influence on what has grown into a multibillion-dollar self-help industry, and many people practice similar forms of meditation that have no connection to the Maharish’s movement.”

“Classes [for TM] today cost $ 2500 for a five-day session.” The techniques reportedly help to “gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote good health and attain clear thinking and inner fulfillment.”

“The visibility and popularity of the organization can largely be attributed to The Beatles.” The band visited the Maharishi in his Himalayan retreat in 1968, yet shortly thereafter broke off with the guru. “The Maharishi movement began loosing followers the late 1970s , as people were put off by the organization’s promotion of a more advanced form of TM called Yogi Flying…” The guru, also enabled his own promotion of TM through world-wide tours.

One biographer commented, “He reinvented himself and he became a ’maharishi’ (meaning great seer) and wanted to be seen as a messiah.”

Later on in life, the Maharishi promoted “peace palaces,” to be built according to Vedic principles. These structures were to advance such goals as “preventing war, eradicating poverty and promoting environmental sustainability