Yesterday afternoon I sat down with my chicken-pie to catch the 1:00pm News on BBC News 24. Knowing that Pope Benedict XVI had just celebrated Mass before a crowd of nearly 2 million joyful young people from all over the world, it seemed likely that the BBC would be covering the event. Needless to say, the report, when it was eventually broadcast, was negative (referring to bad weather the night before) and lasted only about 30 seconds. What happened after this item, though, really made me angry...After practically trashing Pope Benedict XVI's closing Mass at the 26th World Youth Day [even the later report severely downplays the attendance figures], BBC News went straight to its religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, who was practically worshipping at the feet of "His Holiness" Swami Radhanath (aka Richard Slavin), a 60-year-old leading guru for some devotees of the ISKCON cult. (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is more popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, and was founded by Swami Prabhupada in 1966).
Pigott was reporting, in the most glowing terms, on the Janmashtami Festival, which celebrates the incarnation of the Hindu "god" Krishna. It seems that about 60,000 people were in George Harrison's old house (he donated it to ISKCON) near Watford yesterday, to celebrate this festival by eating vegetarian meals and swaying to what I can only describe as 'hippy music'. Needless to say, the BBC did its utmost to praise this most ancient of British cultural events! (Here is a link to a later broadcast, which seems to congratulate the Hare Krishna Movement for its "not-for-profit Ahimsa Dairy Foundation, which sells milk from cows who will be retired when their milking days are over").
The live broadcast that I saw mainly involved Robert Pigott interviewing "His Holiness" (as the journalist constantly referred to him) Sawmi Radhanath. It was probably one of the most courteous and reverential interviews I have ever witnessed on the BBC. One imagines that a Christian leader, especially if he happened to be Catholic, would never be given such an easy ride by the state broadcaster. But Pigott practically spent most of the interview asking Richard Slavin to preach on the merits of Hinduism - without really highlighting that "His Holiness" is actually a leading figure within the cult called ISKCON.
At one point, the BBC journalist seemed to relish the fact that "Lord Krishna" has become human at least "three times" according to Hindu tradition, as opposed to Jesus' one incarnation! He then went on to ask the Swami whether there were any other similarities between Jesus and Krishna. The seemingly "spaced out" Slavin replied, "Jesus taught to love God with all your heart, mind and soul is the first great commandment, and that's what all great spiritual teachers and great incarnations all teach." Of course, the Krishna devotee forgot to say that Jesus also warned his followers, "Beware false prophets; they come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Mt 7:15).
I found it very strange that an objective reporter like Robert Pigott forgot to ask Richard Slavin's views regarding ISKCON being found guilty of "false imprisonment", "kidnapping" and "brainwashing" by the US Supreme Court in 1983 (see New York Times). He also seemed to have missed the opportunity to ask the guru about the several ISKCON groups (including, it seems, his own community, New Vrindaban) that declared themselves bankrupt in 2002 so as to avoid paying over $400 million in damages after losing a multiple child sex abuse lawsuit. If Slavin was a Catholic bishop, it's probably right to assume that the whole interview would have revolved around such historical abuse cases.Pigott also conveniently failed to challenge Slavin concerning the guru's alleged dealings with his own former teacher and guide, the convicted fraudster and racketeer, Kirtanananda Swami (aka Keith Ham - founder of New Vrindaban; pictured, with beard, above). This particularly nasty "Holiness" (he's now out of prison and living as a non-ISKCON guru in India) was also found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to murder! 
It seems that cult-watchers as well as ordinary Hindus and even leading Hare Krishnas have raised concerns about Slavin's long-term support for Kirtanananda, which they allege continued after the founder's involvement in child sex abuse and violence at the New Vrindaban community had been exposed. It's also alleged that all kinds of sexual relationships were tolerated at this bizarre and cultist community, where homosexuality and child abuse appears to have been common place. It also appears, according to some worried Hare Krishnas, that there are other very serious allegations concerning Radhanatha Swami which need to be explained or answered.
It seems that cult-watchers as well as ordinary Hindus and even leading Hare Krishnas have raised concerns about Slavin's long-term support for Kirtanananda, which they allege continued after the founder's involvement in child sex abuse and violence at the New Vrindaban community had been exposed. It's also alleged that all kinds of sexual relationships were tolerated at this bizarre and cultist community, where homosexuality and child abuse appears to have been common place. It also appears, according to some worried Hare Krishnas, that there are other very serious allegations concerning Radhanatha Swami which need to be explained or answered.One doubts very much whether a BBC correspondent would have been so reverential if s/he ever got to interview Pope Benedict XVI, the only man with a historical claim to the ancient and honorific term of address, "Holiness".
Should we be surprised that the BBC's bias is now bordering on self-parody? It might be that the best course of action is to totally ignore the Corporation, which definitely seems to enjoy sneering at Christians whilst adoring other religious or secular groups in a manner that sometimes borders on idolatry. It would also seem to me that if the BBC continues to mock journalistic objectivity, then it runs the risk of totally undermining its very existence.
One devotee of ISKCON's founder lambasts Slavin in an article entitled "Radhanath Swami - Saint or Sinner?" In it the author writes, "[Radhanath] is [so] pretentious on all levels, but what is the most sickening, is that so many people fall for it." Sadly, though, false prophets and cult leaders (including post-Conciliar Catholic ones, like Marcial Maciel) seem to survive on those who are either gullible or vulnerable. From yesterday's BBC report, I could easily see why many would think Richard Slavin is "so pretentious" - even if others "fall for it". Having said that, though, it was hard to tell who was the most pretentious during the broadcast, Slavin the guru or Pigott the correspondent!
[Images: 1 Richard Slavin, aka "His Holiness" Radhanath Swami; source: Prabhupad Anti-Defamation Association. 2 The convicted racketeer and fraudster, Kirtanananda Swami, who was allegedly supported by Radhanath Swami; source: Prabhupad Anti-Defamation Association. 3 "His Holiness" Radhanath Swami, aka Richard Slavin (right), receiving a hug from another New Vrindaban guru, Jaya Pataka Swami; source: Prabhupad Anti-Defamation Association]
10 comments:
Pretentious? Voris is not pretentious of course.
I like the comment of a priest blogger-
"lies and falsehoods" start from the head and work down to the heart."
@ Julian
I am far from being a fan of Voris', even if I agree with a lot of what he has to say on matters of faith and morals. I am always wary of men and women that appear to have over-sized egos.
In fact, I never put my trust in any man, priest, guru, prince or pauper. "Put no trust in princes, in mortal men in whom there is no help. Take their breath, they return to clay and their plans that day come to nothing" (Ps 146: 3-4).
There is nothing more infuriating, though, than to see "spiritual" people who are so deluded that they think they've done away with their egos, though behave in extremely egotistical ways. One cannot accuse Voris of being like that, at least he is full on and he knows it.
Sadly, I have come across many religious people, inducing the odd bishop, who relish in their "spirituality" and "inner peace", but who are actually just suffering from a psychological condition known as Dissociation. These people can con even those who should have known better - such as happened when Pope John Paul II fell for the cultist Marcial Maciel.
If I see any photograph of a UK blogger obsequiously queuing to speak to this particular "guru" on Wednesday I will never visit that blog again.
The cult of celebrity has no place in the Church. Unlike God we cannot know the heart.
PS - my last comment should have read "including the odd bishop", not "inducing..."! lol.
@ Anne
Are you talking about Voris or the Swami? I guess you mean Voris...
His visit to London seems to be dividing opinion at the moment.
I'm not sure the reference and link to A Reluctant Sinner in the Daily Telegraph blog comments is to be welcomed. I personally would not wish to be counted amongst this bickering clique.
I sometimes wonder if it's as straightforward as 'Christianity bad', 'Anything Else good'. Could it be part of English - I leave our sister nations out of this - post-empire, post-colonial self-loathing?
Christianity from the viewpoint of modern historiography is at once lumped in with jingoism, unethical conquest, subjugation of peoples, slavery, wealth creation by pillaging natural resources; all these latter things deemed to be heinous, as indeed they were, and carried out by a believing, practising Christian nation.
Many regard Christian missionaries as a front for all of the above; at the least hypocritical, at the worst complicit.
In disowning this dubious history, Christianity must be purged, along with the rest, unless it is 'updated' to a non-judgemental, secularised arm of social work.
Other religions are seen, certainly by a significant part of the media, as peaceful and harmless, if a little quaint and, because apparently adhered to by the downtrodden of former empire, are treated to that particular western, non-questioning, patronising kind of approach. Ironically, included in this softly, softly touch is the one with manifestly global ambitions so excoriated by the adversaries of Christianity.
@ Genty
I agree - Christianity, by some bizarre misunderstanding of history in its global context, is often accused of being a religion of western empire-builders and slave owners. On the other hand, tragically, some religions that have empire-building and slave-owning as a fundamental aspect of their theology are treated as "oppressed minorities" in need of aid and constant pampering by Nanny!
Yes, terrible isn’t it. That is why the BBC provides ‘Thought for the Day’ Mon-Sat – which has a Christian bias, though lesser representation of people of other faiths. The BBC also broadcasts EVERY day, morning worship. Every week there is hour long religious affairs program on Sunday on Radio 4 – followed by a further 30-an hour (I don’t know, cos I always turn it off) church service. There is an hour of ‘Songs of Praise’ on BBC television every week and there are numerous local TV and radio slots given over to the religion – in addition to Evensong and Compline being broadcast on Radio 3.
Yes, the BBC is SO biased and anti-Christian... Despite forthright and well organised campaigns to end religious broadcasts by various secularist organisations, the BBC continues to provide, daily, some form of Christian broadcast.
Personally I am no fan of News 24, it is essentially an entertainment channel and tends to fill the airwaves sights and sounds, rather than news. If there is something out of the ordinary, then they are going to broadcast that rather than pay any attention to something as edifying as the Pope’s address. Hence I don’t think this is a case of anti-Christian bias, but rather the rejoicing in the extraordinary – at least it gives us a break from ill considered speculation and repetition of the same five minutes of film showing us this or that disaster on a loop because they have nothing more to offer...
The real issue is not anti-Christian bias, but rather the poor quality of News 24!
Regards:
P.
(P.S. I wouldn’t get too self-righteous about homosexuality and child abuse and ISKCON on a Roman Catholic blog... Tho’ the irony made me howl with laughter!)
@ Peter
I would rather the BBC didn't broadcast "Thought for the Day", which isn't Christian, but an amalgamation of liberal mush. Even the Muslims who contribute to it have to be left-leaning, or so it seems. As for the religious services, none of which seem to be properly Catholic (and therefore Christian), they seem to have been pushed further and further into the graveyard slots. They, too, tend to be based on BBC approved pop-spirituality, mushy, feel-good and fake religion. BBC Radio 3's Evensong broadcasts mainly seem to be concerts, and most people listen to them for the high quality performances given by the various cathedral choirs. Songs of Praise is the most embarrassing joke - one assumes it's designed to put people off Christianity (again a mushy evangelical / protestant sort).
I wasn't being self-righteous about homosexuality or paedophilia. Obviously, you couldn't be bothered to read my post? I explicitly made the comparison between the way Pigott dealt with the ISKCON sect and its child abuse scandals and the way he would probably deal (inferring from the way he has dealt with it in the past) with Catholic abuse scandals. That's where the bias lay!
Finally, this isn't a Roman Catholic blog. I happen to be a Catholic (only 16th century protestants add "Roman"), but that's about it. I do not represent the Church or speak for her.
The sad reality is that the left-leaning media, such as the BBC and the Guardian, constantly refer to the child abuse by Catholic priests, most of which is historic. Yet, hardly ever a word is mentioned about similar scandals in other religions - even when it is by now a widely reported and known fact that imams, gurus, evangelical ministers and the like are far more likely to sexually abuse children. But, seeing that the Catholic Church has always been the Left's bogeyman, what else can we expect?
(PS - your humour seems particularly distasteful).
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