Alienation of Families |
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~Martin Luther King Jr. One of the saddest aspects of this cult is the alienation of family members. I will focus primarily on my own family for this page. Please understand there are many other families adversely affected by this cult. This is not a Spielman family feud by any stretch of the imagination. There are many “Spielman families” that have been destroyed as a result of Agnes Kyo McDonald. Joanne and Jim Robinson have not spoken with their daughter, Juanita, for more than 13 years now. Juanita credits her “holy aunt and uncle” (Marilyn and Dick Vogt) for getting her into this group. Because Juanita's parents, Joanne and Jim Robinson, asked questions of their daughter and of Marilyn and Dick Vogt, Joanne and Jim were - and continue to be - accused of persecuting the group. Indeed, this is typical canned language that most cults use. Since when did asking questions become persecution? I, too, have been labeled as “evil” and accused of persecution. I honestly think this group thrives on the alleged persecution. If any group is truly of God, they will indeed welcome questions about their organization. (Of course, LHTBM is clearly not “of God” nor is it a legitimate organization within the Catholic Church.) Several years ago, Marilyn and Dick Vogt told Juanita’s parents that they (specifically Joanne) needed to write letters to everyone they had contacted (priests, bishops, etc.) saying they were sorry they had spoken badly of LHTBM and that they were wrong in questioning the group. Marilyn wanted Joanne to write or type the letters at Marilyn’s house as Marilyn watched her, and then Marilyn wanted to follow Joanne to the post office to mail them. Talk about emotional blackmail! Thank God Joanne and Jim did not write the letters; several wonderful priests advised them against it, as did many other people. Family members would love to speak to their family members in this cult, but those family members in the cult have been brainwashed into thinking their families are evil. If you don’t agree with LHTBM (i.e., Kyo), you are automatically labeled evil. What other organization does that? None. (Unless it’s another cult!) Years ago, my brother asked Marilyn Vogt to have Juanita call her Mom and Dad. Chuck was trying to help facilitate communication between Juanita and her parents. Per Chuck, Marilyn told Chuck “Joanne knows what she needs to do (write the letters) in order to talk to Juanita.” Marilyn also mailed Joanne an envelope with a copy of a note from Juanita (something she had given her parents before she moved to Chicago). Marilyn had highlighted Juanita’s request/demand that her parents write the letters. Imagine that! What Marilyn and Dick requested of Joanne was tantamount to saying, “You can see your child if you do as we say!” Again, emotional blackmail. And, I assure you, they wouldn't have been allowed to see their daughter. In December 2005, Joanne, Jim and I attended a Q&A session in Eldora, Iowa. Fr. Jim Dubert held the session at the request of his parishioners. Dubert was a member of the group and perhaps still is. He seemingly still supports LHTBM and remains very close to the core members. During the meeting, one of the parishioners asked Fr. Dubert (since he’s so close to group members) if he could intercede on behalf of Joanne and Jim, and try to facilitate communication with their daughter, Juanita. Dubert stated “Oh, no, they are not allowed in there” (referring to cult HQ in Chicago). Ding, ding, ding! While Marilyn and Dick claim it is Juanita’s choice not to speak to her parents, clearly the Robinsons are not allowed in. Yes, Juanita is an adult, but she is brainwashed into thinking her parents are evil and are persecuting the group. The Juanita I knew would never have used those words (evil and persecution). The Juanita of today uses them often. When one is brainwashed, that person effectively loses the freedom of choice. If I thought my parents were evil and needed to repent (yes, Juanita thinks that of her parents), I might opt (“choose”) not to speak to them, either. This is about brainwashing, not common sense. This is about mind control, not freedom of choice. The true evil here is that this group has thrived for such a long time and that Agnes Kyo McDonald has managed to brainwash so many people, so deeply. I can assure you this Marilyn is not the sister I knew and loved. I believe that, due to Agnes Kyo McDonald’s brainwashing, mind control and manipulation, Marilyn has become a different person. I know there is a small part of her that is the pre-cult Marilyn. I pray we get her back one day. I pray all families that have been affected will one day be reunited with their family members currently in the cult. For now, of Agnes Kyo McDonald, I ask the following question: are you aware of the fourth commandment, Honor thy Father and Mother? If not, perhaps you need to review the Ten Commandments that the good Lord gave us. They are not suggestions; they are commandments. They are HIS words, not mine and certainly not yours. And in my humble opinion, you, Agnes Kyo McDonald, are one of the biggest con artists of our time. |