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after the two homes the church runs received a failing grade from the
Haitian agency that monitors orphanages. "...Even though they claim in IRS filings to be spending around $ 2.5 million annually, the home for boys and girls was so dirty and overcrowded during recent inspections that the government
63:
lifestyle, with Traill maintaining that only he can understand the true meaning of the words of God. Traill encourages his group members to break off contact with their families. Over time, the members decreased in number. The group has been accused of being a cult, and it has been estimated that
58:
church from which he was expelled, and began teaching Bible and developing a following. He changed the name of the "Forever Family" to the "Church of Bible
Understanding" in 1976. Ex-members complained that they worked for very low wages, with all the money going to the church. The group had a
96:, New York City-based retail stores selling architectural salvage goods and antiques. In 2017, the stores funnelled $ 6.8 million to the Church of Bible Understanding, according to the nonprofit's tax filing for that year.
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accused The Church of Bible
Understanding of enticing 17 youth out of the shelter with promises of salvation, and a state court enjoined them from housing or transporting youth under age 18 without parental permission.
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In the 1970s, with its headquarters in New York, it developed into a controversial network of churches with 10,000 members and 110 communes at its peak, but only a few hundred members in later years.
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On
February 14, 2020, one "orphanage", run by the organization in Haiti, burned down, killing 15 children; two burned to death and the others died from smoke inhalation, according to a
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With a carpet-cleaning business, "Christian
Brothers Carpet Cleaning", they were the inspiration for
182:, Una McManus, John Charles Cooper, Zondervan Pub. House, 1984, ISBN 0-310-70281-X, February 5, 2010
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report. The cause was alleged to be candles being lit, the facility's generator being inoperative.
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s "Sunshine Carpet
Cleaning Cult". They also started a used-van business as a commercial venture.
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investigated claims that the church was at fault for running substandard housing for orphans in
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145:, James R. Lewis, Prometheus Books, 1998, ISBN 1-57392-222-6, accessed February 6, 2010
481:"Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to 'cult' known for NYC antique stores"
410:"Haiti orphanage ravaged by deadly fire linked to 'cult' known for NYC antique stores"
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288:"The Church of Bible Understanding; Minister Accuses Church of Enticing Youngsters"
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Traill underwent a conversion experience in the early 1970s in
Allentown, joined a
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383:"Cleaners Handle Rugs and Religion Shagging Souls a la TV's Seinfeld"
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Stewart Traill, the long-time leader of the group, died in 2018.
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Larson's Book of World
Religions and Alternative Spirituality
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455:"Haiti: 15 children killed in fire at unlicensed orphanage"
424:"AP News: Haiti faults orphanage run by well-off US church"
257:
The
Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality
176:
McManus, Una; Cooper, John
Charles (June 19, 2009).
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The encyclopedia of cults, sects, and new religions
259:, James K. Walker, Harvest House Publishers, 2007
35:, in 1971 by Stewart Traill (1936–2018). It is a
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64:Traill became a millionaire from it.
20:, a British anti-racism organization.
381:Yglesias, Linda (December 8, 1996).
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566:1971 establishments in Pennsylvania
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546:Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania
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541:Protestantism in New York (state)
526:Christian new religious movements
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319:. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
340:Dunn, Brad; Daniel Hood (2004).
113:said it shouldn't remain open."
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218:Chryssides, George D. (2006).
185:. Zondervan Publishing House.
180:Dealing with destructive cults
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268:. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
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25:Church of Bible Understanding
536:Christianity in Pennsylvania
511:Mike Montoya's COBU Web Page
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346:. 146: arsenal pulp press.
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366:: CS1 maint: location (
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139:Lewis, James R. (1998).
16:Not to be confused with
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33:Allentown, Pennsylvania
104:In November 2013, the
67:Rev. Bruce Ritter of
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37:communal organization
313:Larson, Bob (2004).
148:. Prometheus Books.
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461:. February 14, 2020
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