scandal

CultureMarch 9, 2012

Yoga Guru or CEO? Saving the Brand When Scandal Strikes

By Andrea R. Jain

The accusations facing Anusara yoga founder John Friend include suggestions that he heads a Wiccan coven in which he has sex with female members; that he’s had several sexual relationships with married Anusara employees and teachers; that he violated federal regulations regarding employee benefits by suddenly freezing Anusara, Inc.’s pension fund; and finally, that Friend put his employees at legal risk by arranging for them to accept packages of marijuana for his personal use.

UncategorizedFebruary 1, 2012

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Dies: Potential Witness in Philly Sex Abuse Trial

By Anthea Butler

Philadelphia DA loses an important witness.

CultureNovember 15, 2011

Betraying a Sacred Trust: From Penn State to Dover Air Force Base

By Gary Laderman

In the last couple of weeks we have been rocked with scandals rooted in some of the worst offenses imaginable: the profanation of sacred trust placed in the protection of children and the disposition of the military dead.

(A)theologiesJune 16, 2011

Open Letter to Creflo Dollar

By Lerone A. Martin

Long’s case was not simply, as you suggest, a “wreck” or a car “accident,” but a case of DUI: Driving/Pastoring under the influence of unchecked power and accountability. This continues to be a historic problem with commercial celebrity preachers, and given your status and peer group, I’m sure you know this all too well.

UncategorizedJune 7, 2011

Anthony Weiner’s Achilles Penis

By Donna Schaper

Why did he do it? Let us count the reasons…

(A)theologiesApril 7, 2011

Crisis in Philly: Trial Date Nears for Priests Indicted in Sex Abuse Scandal

By Anthea Butler

As this article goes to press, a wrongful death claim has just been filed against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on behalf of the family of Daniel Neill, a former altar boy who committed suicide in 2009 after reporting his sexual abuse by a priest. This is the fifth civil suit to be filed since a grand jury report issued in February.

Politics/LawFebruary 23, 2011

Papal Consultant: Cuomo Should Be Denied Communion

By Randall Balmer

Papal consultant Edward N. Peters, who is also a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, has stated in no uncertain terms that Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, should be shown no mercy. His offense? Seems that the governor has been shacking up—not with underage boys, mind you, but with his longtime partner, Sandra Lee. And as if that weren’t bad enough, Cuomo also supports same-sex marriage and believes that abortion is a private matter that shouldn’t be regulated by the state.

UncategorizedFebruary 10, 2011

Does American Zen Need Reform?

By Lisa Webster

Students have tried to explain away “fiscal extravagance, alcoholism, cruelty, sex addiction, violence, and even rape” among revered spiritual teachers, says Erik Storlie.

CultureJanuary 25, 2011

Zen and the Art of the Sex Scandal

By Gary Gach

Twenty Zen teachers in the West sent open letters to The Zen Studies Society in New York. With compassion and understanding, their general thrust is to ask that the Society’s former head, Eido Tai Shimano, not be allowed access to students—a strong penalty for a teacher.

(A)theologies, Politics/LawNovember 3, 2010

Growing Up Cult: A Memoir of Life with Sri Chinmoy

By Brittany Shoot

Sri Chinmoy wanted to win a Nobel prize, and to be more famous than the Dalai Lama or the Pope. Jayanti Tamm writes a book about what happens when a good guru goes bad.