Kirtanananda Swami's Release from Prison

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Kirtanananda Swami's Release from Prison

by Anuttama das

 

Posted June 20, 2004

Chakra.org

 

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

I am writing on behalf of the Executive Officers of the ISKCON North

American Temple Presidents and GBC.

 

Kirtanananda dasa Swami, aka Swami Bhaktipada, aka Keith Ham, will be

released from the United States Federal Prison system Wednesday, June 16,

2004, having served approximately eight years in prison. Although unlikely,

he may wish to visit your temple, or you may be contacted about the

possibilities of such a visit. We are sending you this letter as an update

of his continued status in relation to ISKCON.

 

Kirtanananda is prohibited from visiting any ISKCON temple or

ISKCON-affiliated project.

 

This prohibition remains in place per prior decisions of the Governing Body

Commission (GBC) of ISKCON, and ISKCON's Child Protection Office, or the

Association for the Protection of Vaishnava Children (APVC). These decisions

were made in 1987 and 2000, respectively, as outlined below:

 

Kirtanananda Swami was expelled from the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness (ISKCON), on March 16, 1987, by resolution of the Governing

Body Commission (GBC). That expulsion concludes with the following:

"The ISKCON GBC hereby expels Kirtanananda Swami from ISKCON and thereby

removes all his rights and responsibilities related to ISKCON. The ISKCON

GBC further issues a notice of non-participation forbidding Kirtanananda

Swami from participating in the functions of ISKCON." (Full text of the

Resolution is below.)

 

 

On October 25, 2000, a decision was rendered by the ISKCON Child Protection

Office, or the Association for the Protection of Vaishnava Children (APVC)

regarding Kirtanananda Swami. That decision involves a series of restriction

and requirements, including the following:

"Kirtanananda is not permitted to have any contact with ISKCON or

ISKCON-affiliated organizations for five years from the date of this

Official Decision...If Kirtanananda dasa violates any of the dictates of

this Official Decision, then he can have no association with ISKCON temples

or projects until his case is reviewed by the APVC. This ban means that he

cannot enter ISKCON property or the property of any organization affiliated

with ISKCON."

 

As of this date, Kirtanananda has not complied with the list of requirements

of the APVC decision and is violation. He therefore remains banned from

ISKCON temples and affiliated projects by both the 1987 GBC resolution and

2000 APVC decision.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact me, Anuttama dasa, at 301

299-9707, or my assistant, Chitralekha dd, at info (AT) icinternational (DOT) org

 

For further information regarding the CPO decision, please contact that

office at 386- 418-0882, or at kkesavavbd (AT) alltel (DOT) net

 

Thank you.

 

Your servant,

Anuttama Dasa

Vice Chair

 

On behalf of:

Romapada Swami, Chair

Malati Dasi, Vice Chair

Nityananda Dasa, Vice Chair

 

 

 

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Background Information:

 

Resolution of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) dated Monday March

16, 1987.

 

Whereas Kirtanananda Swami, by his words and deeds, has systematically

obscured and minimized His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila

Prabhupada's pre-eminent position as the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON;

 

Whereas Kirtanananda Swami in word and deed rejects the Governing Body

Commission as the ultimate managing authority in ISKCON, and by so doing is

dismantling Srila Prabhupada's vision of unity;

 

Whereas Kirtanananda Swami is, in defiance of GBC policy and over the GBC's

protest, establishing in North America, India, and Malaysia, temples and

institutions controlled by himself alone, thus creating a movement separate

from ISKCON;

 

Whereas in word and deed, Kirtanananda Swami, while acting independently of

ISKCON authority, systematically misrepresents ISKCON to the public, the

media, and the government, and thereby brings ISKCON into jeopardy;

 

Whereas, as indicated by the GBC investigations, numerous, serious illegal

acts have occurred within his jurisdiction;

The ISKCON GBC hereby expels Kirtanananda Swami from ISKCON and thereby

removes all his rights and responsibilities related to ISKCON. The ISKCON

GBC further issues a notice of non-participation forbidding Kirtanananda

Swami to participate in the functions of ISKCON.