POLITICS, MONEY, AND HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS...
An Unworldly Mix
August 3, 2004
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2004 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
In some elite circles of U.S. politicians, the traditional understanding of religion and morality is fast giving way to "alternative spirituality" and the search for a "higher consciousness." The phenomenon exists in both major political parties, but it is particularly prominent in the Democratic Party.
"Channeling" and the search for a "higher consciousness" are all part of an "alternative" spirituality. The claims of the "alternative" spirituality contrast sharply with traditional belief in one God who is the Creator of all and has provided specific Revelation for the direction and instruction of the faithful.
"Channeling" is defined as a process during which the channelor transmits messages from the spirit world: angel, god, advanced being, a "composite" entity, or a deceased human.
Democratic Party vice presidential nominee and U.S. Senator John Edwards claimed to have channeled the messages of a dead baby during a trial in which he acted as plaintiff's legal counsel, according to an op-ed column by Robert L. Pollock in the July 26, 2004 Wall Street Journal.
According to reports, former First Lady and current U.S. Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, claimed to have spoken to the spirit Eleanor Roosevelt, which would fit into the definition of "channeling." Publicly, however, Clinton declined to use the term "channeling." Sen. Clinton is an admirer of alternative spirituality guru Jean Houston, co-director of the Foundation for Mind Research.
Houston operates the Mystery School, which, among other claims, enables attendees "to explore and decipher the great mysteries and their resonance and application in order to live more freely and more fully."
St. Mary of the Lake University, Mundelein, Illinois, seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago, hosted a session of Houston's Mystery School, July 16 to 22, 2004.
The immense influence of alternative spirituality recently came to public attention when news surfaced in June about the March "coronation" in the Dirksen Senate Office Building of Reverend Sun Myung Moon, leader of the controversial Unification Church and convicted felon, as "Messiah."
Influential members of both political parties were present, but a white-gloved Democrat, Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois, solemnly carried the crown for the "coronation."
Although the event was an obvious breach of the separation of church and state involving important political figures, news of Moon's "coronation" remained hidden from public view until discovered by independent journalists.
Moon's "coronation" remains a little discussed topic in the media.
While purportedly seeking to know and do "good," practitioners of the new forms of spirituality advocate the previously condemned practices of abortion and homosexual marriage.
Some influential practitioners of this form of spirituality and their supporters are being implicated with money laundering, clergy abuse, gunrunning, and the intentional destruction of families.
Among the leaders of those exposing the dark side of alternative spiritual movements is the Kronzer Foundation, a tax-exempt non-profit organization, led by its founder Phillip J. Kronzer.
Ten years of research and investigations into religious fraud and cult abuse is leading to the filing of a civil suit in California charging conspiracy and racketeering against important figures supporting the new spiritualism, according to Kronzer during an interview on Michael Corbin's For A Closer Look.
Kronzer is also in the process of sharing his findings with federal authorities, and encourages a federal investigation into the misuse of funds and the abuse of individuals by devotees of the new spirituality.
The Kronzer Foundation states that its investigations have uncovered links between prominent supporters of the cult of Medjugorje, feminist spirituality, corrupt real estate practices, money laundering, and gunrunning.
The cult of Medjugorje originated in the village of Medjugorje, now part of Bosnia, in the mid-1980s. Since then the devotion has gained millions of adherents, but has never been approved by the local bishop and several individuals closely associated with Medjugorje have been implicated in sexual abuse, money laundering and gunrunning.
Though Catholic in origin, practices adopted by significant numbers of those purportedly devoted to Medjugorje are similar to those associated with alternative spirituality and the occult. These devotees make claims to "secret knowledge," special powers - including levitation -- and attainment of a "higher consciousness."
There are also reports that children are the latest targets of the alternative spirituality, and are to be cultivated as spiritual practitioners.
Kronzer also states that Kronzer Foundation researchers are uncovering links between individuals profiting from the devotion to Medjugorje and several important supporters of the Democratic Party.
Kronzer's investigations began after he discovered first-hand the power and influence of the new spiritualism. Ten years ago, on his birthday, Ardie, his wife, left Phil Krozer and joined a prominent Medjugorje backer. Although Ardie is Catholic, a Medjugorje-linked priest advised that she never return, and instead divorce her husband.
The Kronzer Foundation also assists those recovering from cult abuse. Significant among these efforts is major assistance to Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, which is devoted to the rehabilitation of cult abuse victims.
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