CultNEWS101 Articles: 12/3/2025

[Patrick Ryan]

Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, Commander Butcher, The Free Birth Society

Sydney Morning Herald: ‘We’re not a cult’ and a call for $250 million: Inside Exclusive Brethren’s rallying call to members

"The leaders of extremist religious sect the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church this week tightened their grip over every aspect of their members’ lives and finances, while rejecting the prime minister’s accusation that they’re a cult.

Leaked audio from the church’s annual conference, Strive 26, held on Monday and obtained by this masthead, features Dean and Charles Hales – two of the ultra-wealthy sons of the “Man of God”, Bruce Hales – pressuring the Brethren “saints” to give more money and to hand over more financial information to centrally controlled companies.

The church is facing an ongoing Australian Taxation Office investigation, scrutiny from a parliamentary committee over its widespread support for Peter Dutton at the last election, and a number of audits of its publicly funded school system.

The sect, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, is a closed organisation which preaches a “hatred” for people outside the church. Its followers, known to each other as “saints”, are taught Hales is “so close to the Lord Jesus that he can feel his heartbeat”.

The Strive 26 conference, conducted over Zoom, and at which all Brethren households globally were expected to be present, is designed to shore up the church’s vast “ecosystem”.

The ecosystem is a multi-billion dollar network of entities, overseen by a Global Advisory Panel of senior Brethren members, including the church itself and its charities and investment vehicles, as well as Brethren members’ individual businesses, schools, church properties and its public-facing charity, the Rapid Relief Team.

Individual Brethren businesses were heavily encouraged to divulge all their financial affairs to a central business run by church elders, and to invite Brethren “board advisers” to help their companies prosper.

The Hales brothers celebrated at the conference that properties housing all “gospel halls” globally had recently been pulled under the control of trustees operating out of the PBCC headquarters in Sydney. The PBCC says this is to standardise their operation, to give access to “world-class advice” and to reduce costs.

Families were also told that all school children should have proprietary Brethren spyware called Streamline 3 on their phones for their “protection”.

A spokesman denied these moves were an attempt to centralise control or influence over individuals, private businesses or church properties."

The Guardian: How cult leader ‘Commander Butcher’ plotted to sow mayhem across US

Guilty plea by far-right activist lays bare plans for bombings, school shootings and Santas handing out poisoned candies

" ... Chkhikvishvili appeared in a Brooklyn court last week as one might find an office IT tech: close-cropped hair and black-rimmed glasses, attentive, clear-spoken and cooperative as he was questioned about his understanding of a plea that could see him imprisoned for up to 18 years at his March sentencing.

The 23-year-old Georgian neo-Nazi was in US federal court to plead guilty to charges of soliciting bombings, school shootings and other acts of hate-motivated violence across the US.

It marked the end of an astonishing saga of plans for inciting and carrying out outlandish and appalling crimes. Chkhikvishvili was the leader of the aptly named Maniac Murder Cult, an international racist violent extremist group. He recruited people to commit violent acts, including plotting a mass casualty attack in New York City.

But now – at least when finally facing a court of law – Chkhikvishvili expressed regret.

“I’m going to do better with my life,” he told the court and explained that since being arrested in Moldova in May, he had been working out and going to church while in custody at the Metropolitan detention center in Brooklyn. He spoke about his depression and anxiety as a teenager and apologized to “those communities” he had targeted."

The Guardian: ‘Ignorant and life-threatening’: experts condemn Free Birth Society misinformation

Professionals say claims about birth, including excessive bleeding, blue babies and placenta care, are dangerous.

"The Free Birth Society (FBS) is a multimillion-dollar business that promotes the idea of women giving birth with no medical assistance.

It is led by two ex-doulas turned social media influencers: Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark. Neither have midwifery or medical training, but they claim to have extensive experience from attending the births of other women.

Through its successful podcast, Instagram account, private online community and online schools, FBS has gained a global following. An investigation by the Guardian has linked FBS content to infant deaths and serious maternal harm around the world.  FBS did not respond to requests for comment. After publication of the Guardian’s investigation, Saldaya posted a statement on Instagram criticising “propaganda on mainstream news”. “This is what it means to be a disruptor,” she said. “They will try to discredit you. They will lie about you. They will attempt to silence what they don’t understand.”

An FBS disclaimer published in May said its content was for “educational and informational” purposes and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition related to pregnancy or birth. “For medical advice, consult your healthcare provider,” it added."

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