CultNEWS101 Articles: 1/16/2026
Patrick Ryan
Radar Online: Heber Jentzsch Dead at 90: Scientology's Longtime 'President' Dies Years After Being Transferred to a Nursing Home
" ... Karen de la Carriere, Jentzsch's former wife, reached out to [Tony] Ortega to share that Jentzsch had passed away at 90 years old. Years ago, he was moved from Scientology’s international management base to a nursing home.
Jentzsch was considered a major player in the Church, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, when he served as the Church's spokesperson. This role saw him ingratiate himself with journalists and his fellow Scientologists.
Although he was known as Scientology's "president," the title didn't mean he ran things, as David Miscavige became chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center and captain of the Sea Organization, Scientology's most elite and dedicated group, once founder L. Ron Hubbard died.
As chairman of the board, Miscavige is regarded as the leader of the Church of Scientology.
According to de la Carriere and others, Miscavige reduced Jentzsch's role in the early 2000s and spoke negatively to him in front of others. He started appearing at events less frequently. He was later sent to the "hole," a prison of sorts in which Suppressive Persons (people the Church considers a threat to their progress) are kept.
According to official paperwork submitted as recently as 2023, Jentzsch was still listed as the Church of Scientology International’s 'CEO.'"
ABC: Former members of Two by Twos call for financial transparency to access abuse compensation
"Survivors of a secretive Christian sect central to a global child sexual abuse investigation are demanding its leaders disclose how much wealth the group controls.
They say a lack of financial transparency is preventing victims from accessing compensation.
The sect has no official name. Members refer to it as the Truth or the Way, while critics commonly call it the Two by Twos. Some refer to it as a cult.
In Australia, it has also operated under names including Undenominational Christians and Non-denominational Christians.
Founded in Ireland in the late 1800s, the sect follows a strict interpretation of the Bible, with members meeting in private homes for worship.
Its ministers, known as workers, move between cities and countries in groups of two, and followers are encouraged to avoid modern media and wear conservative clothing.
The group has been under investigation by the FBI in the United States over historical child sexual abuse allegations and has also faced claims of psychological abuse."
Las Vegas Review Journal: Sexual assault trial scheduled to start for ‘medicine man’ Chasing Horse, accused of running cult
"An alleged cult leader accused of targeting the Native American community and sexually assaulting multiple women appears to be heading to trial Tuesday after years of litigation.
Authorities have said Nathan Chasing Horse, 49, who played Smiles a Lot in the 1990 film “Dances With Wolves,” committed crimes in the U.S. and Canada while running a cult called “The Circle.”
Chasing Horse, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Lakota Tribe, cast himself as a “medicine man” and used Native American culture and ceremonies to build trust, police have alleged. Prosecutors said his group had up to 350 followers at its height.
Multiple women have told police Chasing Horse assaulted them and filmed himself “having intercourse with them while they were conscious and unconscious,” according to a prior arrest report.
He was arrested in 2023 after a police raid on the North Las Vegas home where he lived with multiple women he viewed as wives. He was indicted in October 2024 on counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, open and gross lewdness, sexual assault, use of a minor under 14 in producing pornography and possession of child pornography."
News, Education, Intervention, Recovery
Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.
CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.
The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.
Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultinte...@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Ashlen Hilliard (ashlen.hilli...@gmail.com)
Joe Kelly (joeke...@gmail.com)
Patrick Ryan (pryan...@gmail.com)
If you do not wish to be subscribed to this list, or you think you are being maliciously subscribed to the list, or have any other questions, send them to: pryan...@gmail.com or send an email to: cultnews101...@googlegroups.com.