congregations, has been quick to respond to alleged false descriptions in print, sometimes winning concessions from religious publishers.
The Local Church, which has been estimated to have about 7,000 members in U.S. A staff of 10 answers telephone inquiries about cults from concerned parents and members of the news media. Formed in 1975, the group has published a number of articles offering a ''biblical perspective,'' mainly about Eastern-oriented cults and other non-Christian religious movements.
A spokesman said the group could not hope to raise an additional $150,000 or more in trial costs. In its book, the Berkeley group said the Local Church deviates from orthodox Christianity and uses psychological fear to keep members loyal-allegations the church denies.The Berkeley group, saying it owes $200,000 and that its attorney would no longer extend credit, was able to delay the start of court proceedings when it filed a bankruptcy petition. Each of its congregations takes the name of its host city-the Church in Los Angeles, the Church in Anaheim and so forth. Trial had been set for March 4.įounded in China in the 1920s, the Christian group spread to Taiwan andput down roots in this country in the 1960s.
''Legal action has theeffect of gagging us.'' The plaintiffs, the so-called Local Church, and its 80-year-old prophet-leader, Witness Lee, of Anaheim, claimed in their 1980 libel suit that it had been defamed in ''The God-Men,'' a book researched by members of Spiritual Counterfeits Project. ''Some Christian groups are afraid to speak out,'' said Kirk Bottomly, spokesman for the Berkeley group.
At the same time, the group, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, said suchlegal action endangers small religious organizations that attempt to publish critiques of the teachings and practices of new religious movements. On the eve of the trial in a libel suit brought against it by an international Christian sect, a small evangelical research group in Berkeley,Calif., filed bankruptcy papers, saying it cannot afford to defend itself in the case. BANKRUPTCY FILING DELAYS SECT'S LIBEL SUIT
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