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| ISF has head in the sand |
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Whatever the views of the ISF Executive Committee on Garth Willey’s resignation (see our News story), the Spiritualist movement as a whole surely takes a very dim view of the fact that they have not removed Mervyn Johnson from membership of the federation.
That was the main concern raised by Garth Willey and it seems to be a reasonable one. How does the ISF expect to achieve “strength through unity” (see story) when it offers no justification for allowing a convicted rapist to remain an ISF member?
Let us not forget that the dreadful crime of which he has been convicted was committed in the name of Spiritualism, while he was giving healing and apparently entranced by a spirit doctor.
Declaring that it “does not wish to ... have printed under the name of the ISF any media reports concerning him” is a laughable head-in-the-sand posture that will not succeed. It’s an extension, in fact, of its general lack of openness.
If it wants to bury this sad episode once and for all, the only way is to remove Mervyn Johnson from membership while he serves his time in prison. The situation can be reviewed when he regains his freedom and if he chooses to reapply for membership.
The ISF has been doing a good job of encouraging global understanding of Spiritualism for decades and I hope it continues to do so well into the future. But it really needs to be seen as a little more “street-wise” as far as the realities of this world are concerned.
Mervyn Johnson’s actions damaged a number of victims and I have no doubt that the spiritual law of cause and effect, as well as the Swedish justice system, played its part in putting him behind bars.
Individually, many ISF members may feel able to forgive him. But the ISF surely has a responsibility to its membership to distance itself from those whose behaviour brings the federation or the movement as a whole into disrepute.
And that is something it has clearly not yet done.
| | 2/24/2008 4:39:00 PM |
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| Institute plans global paranormal warning system |  UNITED STATES. The Arlington Institute, a non-profit think tank specialising in predictive modelling of future events, hopes to utilise paranormal powers to provide an early warning of impending disasters or other critical events, such as acts of terrorism. British psychic Chris Robinson (right), who claims to see the future in dreams, is working with the Institute on the project. [full story] |
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| Colleagues pay special tribute to Ian Stevenson |  LONDON. A little over a year after
the death of Prof Ian Stevenson, the indefatigable researcher best
known for his reincarnation studies, fellow parapsychologists met in
London to pay tribute to him on Saturday (26 April). They were
participating in a Society for Psychical Research Study Day devoted to
the life and legacy of a very remarkable man. [full story] |
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| University’s ‘outstanding’ mediumship study |  LONDON. Research into mediumship by Emily Williams Kelly at the University of Virginia in North America has produced “outstanding” results, Prof Bruce Greyson told a meeting in London on 26 April 2008. The findings have not yet been published. Prof Greyson (right), director of the university’s Division of Perceptual Studies in Charlottesville, Virginia, added: “We are embarrassed at how good these results are.” [full story] |
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| Healer and medium Bill Harrison commits suicide |  UNITED KINGDOM. Family, friends and Spiritualist colleagues of West Country clairvoyant and healer Bill Harrison are coming to terms with his suicide on Monday (21 April). Confirming that his father had taken his own life, Sean Harrison, one of his two sons, told www.ParanormalReview.com: “He gave so much to others that he just didn’t leave enough for himself.”
[full story] |
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| ‘ISF should be more open’ says former vice president |  INTERNATIONAL. When Garth Willey
resigned as vice president of the International Spiritualist Federation
(ISF) – see our previous stories – it was largely over the Executive
Committee’s handling of the Mervyn Johnson case. Johnson, a former
president, is now in prison in Sweden having been found guilty of child
rape. But there are other issues that are troubling him. [full story] |
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