ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

[Guest guest]

the abuser need to be punished and we are not going to file bankruptcy

 

these charges are between individuals and not ISKCON

 

ISKCON will turn the abusers over to the authorities in the jurisdictions

that they occurred

 

It is good that this becomes out in the open.

 

Those devotees that committed these atrocities need to be dealt with by the

law and ISKCON will help in every way so that this takes place.

 

You need to give support to the leadership and help if you have any

information in the pursuit of prosecution.

 

Your servant,

 

Bijaya Kumara das

-

"Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)" <Basu.Ghosh.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

"GBC Unmoderated" <GBC.Unmoderated (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "India (Continental

Committee) Open (Forum)" <India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "Prabhupada Disciples"

<Prabhupada.Disciples (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "(Temple) Presidents"

<Presidents (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Cc: "Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America)" <Anuttama.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "DMW

(Dharma of Men and Women)" <DMW (AT) pamho (DOT) net>; "ISKCON India (news &

discussion)" <ISKCON.India (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

Monday, February 11, 2002 7:41 AM

ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

 

 

> > Churches pay dearly for silence on abuse

> > Criticism grows in pedophile cases

> >

> > By Julia Lieblich

> > Tribune religion reporter

> > Published February 11, 2002

> >

> > Despite two decades of warnings that when churches allow pedophiles to

> > remain in their ranks they risk not only grave damage to children but

also

> > huge financial liability, many groups still appear more concerned with

> > protecting clergy than stopping the abuse, critics say.

> >

> > Religious organizations as diverse as the Roman Catholic Church and the

> > Hare Krishnas are entangled in costly litigation charging clergy with

> > sexually abusing children.

> >

> > And although the problem is not new, many groups continue to foster a

> > climate of secrecy and carry out policies detrimental to victims, said

> > David Clohessy, head of the Survivors Network of those Abused by

Priests.

> >

> > Rather than investigate cases openly, which would encourage more victims

> > to come forward, experts say, most religious groups quietly pay cash

> > settlements. Even the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Ill.,

heralded

> > as a rare model of how to handle abuse cases, has asked victims to agree

> > not to disclose details as a condition of compensation.

> >

> > Clohessy said that in 10 years he has found no religious group that

> > punishes clergy who fail to turn in pedophiles. And too few

organizations

> > insist that suspected abuse be reported the police unless required by

law.

> >

> > Even the review boards are often staffed by inexperienced people who

lack

> > the tools to evaluate claims or by clergy reluctant to remove

colleagues,

> > said Rev. Patricia Liberty, executive director of Associates in

Education

> > and Prevention in Pastoral Practice in North Kingstown, R.I.

> >

> > Guardian found guilty

> >

> > The Hare Krishnas formed a child protection office only to discover that

> > the director had committed child abuse, said the office's director,

Dhira

> > Govinda, of Alachua, Fla.

> >

> > Recent events have only highlighted the extent of the problem.

> >

> > On Sunday, Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston vowed he would not step down

> > despite increasing pressure over a sexual abuse scandal involving

priests

> > who had worked in the archdiocese

> >

> > In late January, the archdiocese of Boston released documents showing

that

> > the church had transferred from parish to parish a priest repeatedly

> > accused of child abuse. Last week the archdiocese submitted to

prosecutors

> > the names of 22 priests, bringing the total number of accused priests to

> > at least 60.

> >

> > Law has apologized to abuse victims and announced a policy of "zero

> > tolerance" for sexual abuse. Also in January, the diocese of Tucson

> > settled a suit brought by 16 plaintiffs who said they were molested by

> > priests--and that the diocese did nothing to stop it.

> >

> > The Hare Krishnas announced plans last week to declare bankruptcy to

> > protect their assets from a $400 million damage suit charging that the

> > group leadership knew about the abuse of hundreds of Hare Krishna

children

> > in the 1970s and '80s. The leaders deny the charges.

> >

> > Roman Catholic officials defend church policy, arguing that great

strides

> > have been made in addressing a problem that is widespread in society.

> >

> > Progress seen by some

> >

> > "In the past 10 to 15 years, there has been major improvement in terms

of

> > both screening people who enter seminaries and the response when there

are

> > allegations something has occurred," said William Ryan, a spokesman for

> > the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But observers like Liberty

think

> > much more work is needed. "On a scale of 1 to 10, things have changed to

a

> > 2," she said. Liberty acknowledges that some individual congregations

have

> > instituted effective programs of prevention and disclosure, "but there

is

> > not one denomination universally doing a good job," she said.

> >

> > In 1985 Rev. Tom Doyle, a canon lawyer then at the Vatican embassy in

> > Washington, co-wrote a confidential report warning U.S. bishops that if

> > they didn't weed out pedophiles they could lose an estimated $1 billion

in

> > 10 years. "We couldn't even get them to consider the report," said

Doyle,

> > now a chaplain at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

> >

> > In 1992 Ray Sinibaldi, a teacher of at-risk youth who was abused by a

> > Roman Catholic priest in Weymouth, Mass., met with Law. When the

cardinal

> > sought his advice on a new child abuse policy, Sinibaldi said he urged

the

> > Boston archdiocese to require priests to report suspects to the police.

> >

> > Not until January 2002 did Law institute such a policy after mounting

> > public pressure.

> >

> > Lawsuits a last resort

> >

> > James Poling, a pastoral theology professor at Garrett Evangelical

> > Theological Seminary in Evanston, said clerics often perceive

critics--and

> > potential lawsuits--as a threat to institutional survival. The irony, he

> > said, is that abuse victims rarely think of suing when they initially

> > inform religious leaders of their experiences.

> >

> > Clohessy agreed: "Litigation only happens as a last resort when

survivors

> > feel nothing else will get their perpetrators removed from ministry."

Last

> > month it was disclosed that new Vatican rules specified that

> > ecclesiastical courts will handle abuse allegations in secret, though

the

> > policy does not rule out legal proceedings. And religious groups

continue

> > to keep settlements under wraps, said A.W. Richard Sipe, a

psychotherapist

> > and former priest who counsels victims.

> >

> > "I've been in on cases where I've gone to the bishop's office with the

> > victims," said Sipe. "The bishop says, `I believe your story is logical.

> > How much do you want to settle?' Literally in an hour a man can get a

> > quarter of a million dollars' settlement."

> >

> > Defenders of such action say it protects the victim's privacy and the

> > integrity of proceedings. But Liberty believes handling allegations this

> > way does not encourage other victims to come forward. "There is a

> > difference between confidentiality and secrecy," she said. "In 100

percent

> > of the cases there is some kind of gag order attached to the settlement.

> > Requiring silence is another form of abuse."

> >

> > Victim advocates say such policies should provide concrete mechanisms

for

> > reporting and reviewing cases as well as compensating victims. They also

> > want educational programs for clergy and laity. Clohessy's group has

> > honored Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S.

Conference

> > of Catholic Bishops, for quickly removing priests accused of sexual

> > misconduct, for openly stating the reasons and providing therapy for

most

> > survivors and accused priests.

> >

> > The archdiocese of Chicago also has a "state-of-the-art policy" that

> > requires abuse allegations to be reported to the authorities, said

> > Indiana-Purdue University sociologist Anson Shupe, who studies religion

> > and criminology.

> >

> > Punishment for silence

> >

> > Still, all religious groups should add procedures for disciplining

clergy

> > who remain silent when someone is suspected of harming children,

Clohessy

> > said.

> >

> > "If a cleric suspects one of his colleagues of abusing and does not turn

> > him in, that cleric should be hung out to dry," said Clohessy, whose

group

> > is based in St. Louis. "Men who prey on children are like mad dogs. They

> > have a compulsive sickness."

> >

> > Many religious organizations have yet to adopt abuse policies of any

kind.

> > Shupe said that although some of the major Protestant groups have

> > "self-policing measures," a 1998 survey he conducted of all U.S.

> > Protestant groups indicated the vast majority do not.

> >

> > "Most groups said, `We don't have a problem so we don't have a policy,'"

> > he said.

[Guest guest]

I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

[Guest guest]

> I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

> running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

 

If there is any truth to it, you should write a letter to Dhira Govinda's

office and have them look into it. They are good at what they do. Dhira

Govinda's email is dhira.govinda.dg (AT) pamho (DOT) net

 

ISKCON has a good system of checks and balances in place these days. You

should learn about it and use it.

 

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Vipramukhya Swami

[Guest guest]

>

> India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net [india.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net] On Behalf Of

> Babhru (das) ACBSP (San Diego - USA)

> Friday, February 15, 2002 7:03 AM

> GBC Unmoderated; India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum);

> Prabhupada Disciples; (Temple) Presidents; Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP

(Baroda

> - IN); groveey (AT) starband (DOT) net

> Cc: Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America)

> Re: ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

>

> At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is

now

> >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

>

> His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect

ISKCON

> to do?

>

> Babhru das

 

If there is a known abuser, it should be reported to Dhira Govinda's

office.

[Guest guest]

Can anything be done about informing the people he works for?

 

> followup and further investigation, but the APVC has done what it

could do

> till now with the resources it has. I am very worried about the

children

> under the care of Manihar and Ananta Rupa. Hare Krsna.

 

Your servant,

Vipramukhya Swami

[Guest guest]

> At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

> >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

>

> His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect ISKCON

> to do?

>

> Babhru das

 

ISKCON can build a case against him, and have him at least deported from

India. I know few ex-gurukulis who have first hand experience with this guy.

Because ISKCON will not do anything against this perpetrators, that's why

it'll keep facing various lawsuits. Maybe next law suit will be in India.

 

ys, Isvara dasa.

[Guest guest]

At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

>I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

>running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

>Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

 

His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect ISKCON to do?

 

Babhru das

[Guest guest]

Please do. Thank you

 

raghu

 

 

India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net [india.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net] On Behalf Of

Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN)

Thursday, February 14, 2002 10:52 AM

GBC Unmoderated; India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum);

(Temple) Presidents; Tattvavit (das) ACBSP (NE-BBT);

groveey (AT) starband (DOT) net

Cc: Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America)

Re: ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

 

> At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is

now

> >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

>

> His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect

ISKCON

> to do?

>

> Babhru das

 

ISKCON can build a case against him, and have him at least deported from

India. I know few ex-gurukulis who have first hand experience with this

guy.

Because ISKCON will not do anything against this perpetrators, that's

why

it'll keep facing various lawsuits. Maybe next law suit will be in

India.

 

ys, Isvara dasa.

[Guest guest]

>From the horses month--great

 

 

India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net [india.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net] On Behalf Of

Madhusudani Radha (dd) JPS (Mill Valley, CA - USA)

Thursday, February 14, 2002 9:22 PM

GBC Unmoderated; India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum);

(Temple) Presidents; Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN); Tattvavit

(das) ACBSP (NE-BBT); groveey (AT) starband (DOT) net

Cc: Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America); dgovinda (AT) aol (DOT) com

Re: ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

 

I'm cc-ing Dhira Govinda Prabhu on this so he can let us know if there

has

been any investigation done by his office.

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

 

At 03:52 PM 2/14/02 -0500, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is

now

> > >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name

is

> > >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

> >

> > His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect

ISKCON

> > to do?

> >

> > Babhru das

>

>ISKCON can build a case against him, and have him at least deported

from

>India. I know few ex-gurukulis who have first hand experience with this

guy.

>Because ISKCON will not do anything against this perpetrators, that's

why

>it'll keep facing various lawsuits. Maybe next law suit will be in

India.

>

>ys, Isvara dasa.

[Guest guest]

CONFIDENTIAL: ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND WORK PRODUCT

 

Dhira Govinda dasa

Association for the Protection of Vaisnava Children (APVC)

P.O. Box 1438

Alachua, Florida 32616-1438

Tel: 386-418-0882 FAX: 386-418-0982

email: dgovinda (AT) aol (DOT) com

 

Feb. 15, 2002

 

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

 

The APVC has investigated the cases of Manihar and Ananta Rupa and has

adjudicated and issued official decisions on their cases. Those official

decisions have been sent to ISKCON leaders. If any of the recipients of this

posting would like those decisions, please contact me. Additionally, after

the investigations were complete and the decisions issued, the APVC sent the

decisions along with a cover letter to governmental, including law

enforcement, authorities in India and England. In the cover letter we

explained our willingness and eagerness to cooperate with law enforcement and

social service investigations connected with Manihar and Ananta Rupa. We sent

the letter to authorities in England because, based on articles we received,

the orphanage managed by Manihar receives support from leaders in England,

including Prince Charles. So, we did inform authorities about the situation,

and expressed great concern that Manihar and Ananta Rupa are working very

closely with children. There is more to be done in this regard, in terms of

followup and further investigation, but the APVC has done what it could do

till now with the resources it has. I am very worried about the children

under the care of Manihar and Ananta Rupa. Hare Krsna.

 

Your servant,

 

Dhira Govinda dasa

 

 

In a message dated 2/15/02 2:15:35 AM, mariaekstrand (AT) earthlink (DOT) net writes:

 

<< I'm cc-ing Dhira Govinda Prabhu on this so he can let us know if there has

been any investigation done by his office.

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

 

At 03:52 PM 2/14/02 -0500, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

> > >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> > >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

> >

> > His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect ISKCON

> > to do?

> >

> > Babhru das

>

>ISKCON can build a case against him, and have him at least deported from

>India. I know few ex-gurukulis who have first hand experience with this guy.

>Because ISKCON will not do anything against this perpetrators, that's why

>it'll keep facing various lawsuits. Maybe next law suit will be in India.

>

>ys, Isvara dasa.

>>

 

>Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:16 +1000

>"Vipramukhya Swami" <Vipramukhya.Swami (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

>Sender: India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net

>"GBC Unmoderated" <GBC.Unmoderated (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

> "India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum)" <India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

> "(Temple) Presidents" <Presidents (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

> "Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)" <Basu.Ghosh.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>,

> "Tattvavit (das) ACBSP (NE-BBT)" <Tattvavit.ACBSP (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

>RE: ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

>

> >

> > India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net [india.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net] On Behalf Of

> > Babhru (das) ACBSP (San Diego - USA)

> > Friday, February 15, 2002 7:03 AM

> > GBC Unmoderated; India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum);

> > Prabhupada Disciples; (Temple) Presidents; Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP

>(Baroda

> > - IN); groveey (AT) starband (DOT) net

> > Cc: Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America)

> > Re: ISKCON in the Chicago Tribune...

> >

> > At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is ow

> > >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> > >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

> >

> > His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect

> > ISKCON

> > to do?

> >

> > Babhru das

>

>If there is a known abuser, it should be reported to Dhira Govinda's

>office.

 

 

>Thu, 14 Feb 2002 18:49 -1000

>"Raghunata (John) Anudasa" <raghu (AT) roopa (DOT) org>

>"India (Continental Committee) Open (Forum)" <India.Open (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

>Reports are true, DirGov. contacted, nothing done

>

>

>The stories about Manihara are true. I know first hand as he was my

>teacher for about 6 years. The reports about the boarding school for

>homeless kids is also true. He has met with the Prime Minister of

>England among other high profile promos. His partner, Ananta Rupa, is as

>meticulous in taking care of the kids in education, clothing, food etc

>as he is well read, organized and brilliant. He does a great job for

>them for the simple reason that hi is in love with those boys just as he

>was with a number of my friends in Vrindavna. He was by far the best

>asrama teacher of most any other teacher we had because there was

>nothing he loved doing more then taking care of them as only a lover can

>do.

>

>Dir Govinda has already been informed years ago. Appearently, there is

>nothing he can do. I think people asking and looking into it helps to

>keep the issue alive and so don't want to dismiss them as I feel may be

>what is happening here a some what.

>

>Raghunatha Anudasa

[Guest guest]

> >He was by far the best

> >asrama teacher of most any other teacher we had because there was

> >nothing he loved doing more then taking care of them as only a lover can

> >do.

 

Just to clarify; Ananta Rupa can hardly be classified as a lover. If he is

having sex with those boys, he is a child molester . Consensual sex between

two adult males is not the same as sex between an adult authority figure

and a child. It's abuse, even if the child does not fight it.

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

[Guest guest]

At 06:25 AM 2/15/02 -0500, Dgovinda (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

>The APVC has investigated the cases of Manihar and Ananta Rupa and has

>adjudicated and issued official decisions on their cases.

 

Thank you so much for informing us! I'm glad your office both investigated

and reported them. I would very much like a copy of the reports.

 

Did you receive any response from the authorities in England and/or India?

 

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

[Guest guest]

At 10:52 AM 2/14/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > At 12:22 AM 2/13/02 -1000, Isvara (das) GGS (Vrindavana - IN) wrote:

> > >I was told that one of perpetrators of the gurukula molestation is now

> > >running children orphanage home in South India. Was told his name is

> > >Manohara or Manonatha dasa. Is ISKCON doing anything about it?

> >

> > His name is Manihara. This is veryold news; what would you expect ISKCON

> > to do?

> >

> > Babhru das

>

>ISKCON can build a case against him, and have him at least deported from

>India. I know few ex-gurukulis who have first hand experience with this guy.

>Because ISKCON will not do anything against this perpetrators, that's why

>it'll keep facing various lawsuits. Maybe next law suit will be in India.

 

If you know someone with power within ISKCON in India, please convince them

to do so.

 

Babhru das

[Guest guest]

At 01:25 AM 2/15/02 -1000, Dhira Govinda (das) DG (Alachua, FL - USA) wrote:

 

>CONFIDENTIAL: ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND WORK PRODUCT

 

I've sometimes wondered why this warning appears on emails sent to public

forums.

 

>So, we did inform authorities about the situation,

>and expressed great concern that Manihar and Ananta Rupa are working very

>closely with children. There is more to be done in this regard, in terms of

>followup and further investigation, but the APVC has done what it could do

>till now with the resources it has. I am very worried about the children

>under the care of Manihar and Ananta Rupa.

 

And we all are, with good reason. It appears, then that ISKCON has done

pretty much what it can. They have reported the abuse to authorities, and

it's up to those authorities to investigate and prosecute.

 

As Urmila might say--(sigh)

 

Babhru das

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/02 8:01:23 AM Pacific Standard Time,

mariaekstrand (AT) earthlink (DOT) net writes:

 

<< Did you receive any response from the authorities in England and/or India?

>>

 

No.

 

Dhira Govinda dasa