| India Express ISKCON SUBJECTS GURUS' SEXUAL PECCADILLOES TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY The Indian Express Monday, November 9, 1998 Nayee Dillee, Nov 8, 1998, United News of India - The InternationalSociety for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) sees itself as goingthrough a purging process, by printing in its journal stories ofchild abuse and sexual misconduct involving some of its gurus, atop spokesman said today. Newspapers and other news organisationshave picked up these stories. However, the spokesman said, even theNew York Times said ISKCON handled the question of child abusebetter than the Roman Catholic Church did. "We (ISKCON) chose to print the articles and bring allegations outinto the open as part of a multi-pronged response to address pastproblems as well as to help prevent future abuse of our children,"the spokesman said. "ISKCON has now set up a child-protection office staffed byprofessional social workers to safeguard children for the future,"ISKCON said. The spokesman admitted that a number of ISKCON members could notcope with the strict spiritual standards of "an increasinglydiverse and dynamic organisation." "When they fell away from the high standards set by SrilaPrabhupada, founder of ISKCON, their resignation or removal by thegoverning body commission (GBC) became necessary," he said. ForISKCON, "The sometimes painful process of internal reflection andassessment," is an indication of greater achievements to come inthe next millennium. About ISKCON ISKCON had its beginnings in a small storefront in New York Cityand has now come to be a globe-spanning society serving millions ofmembers, according to a spokesperson. ISKCON's publication and distribution of Vedic literature, especiallytheBhagvad Gita has now reached over 250 million books and magazinesin more than 90 languages. Using its network of 300 temples, 40 rural communities, 26 schoolsand 40 restaurants in 71 countries, ISKCON has fostered the conceptof vegetarian food-relief. Every 30 seconds, someone in the worldreceives a hot vegetarian meal from a volunteer in extremeconditions like devastating earthquakes or victims ofconflicts inwar-torn Sarajevo or Chechnya, the spokesperson added. Recently, the Russian Government accorded official recognition in1997 to ISKCON as an authentic religious organisation with fullrights. It is one of the few religious bodies to receiverecognition in that country. Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for theeducational purposes of research and open discussion. Source - original article |