Speech #960280415

The bill takes the approach of authorizing a judge to appoint a temporary conservator with power to supervise a person who has been recruited and held by a cult by coercive and deceptive practices for a short period of time so that the court can determine whether the individuals participation in the organization is truly voluntary. Hearings by an ad hoc committee on the activities of cults in which I participated earlier this year revealed evidence of shocking illegal activities by these organizations. Among these allegations was deceptive recruitment. mental coercion comparable to the brainwashing of prisoners by the Germans in World War II Including roundtheclock indoctrination without food or sleep. accompaniment of recruits 24hours per day by members of the cult. restraint of recruits from contact with the outside world. false representations of the cults activities and purposes and other coercive practices. illegal immigration practices. illegal representation of foreign governments. illegal financial activities and avoidance of cases on false claims of religious exemption. and other illegal activities. To date. investigation of these allegations of illegal activities. to say nothing of prosecution. has been blocked by assertion of first amendment protection. Indeed. the New York State conservator bill was vetoed by Governor Carey on first amendment grounds.