Wolrd Religion

Judge Steven Maurer sentenced Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to 16 months in prison this afternoon, calling the couple's decision to not seek medical care for their 16-year-old son, Neil Beagley, a "crime that was a product of an unwillingness to respect the boundaries of freedom of religious expression."

The Beagleys and Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church. Members of the Oregon City church have a lengthy history of child deaths from lack of medical care that influenced a 1999 law eliminating the religious freedom defense in cases involving the welfare of a child.

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In March 1995 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult carried out its infamous nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.

The widow of a man killed in the attack has made a documentary film in which she interviews other people victimized in the sarin attack.

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In Australia the Scientology cult has been hit by a fresh wave of allegations, likely to give added weight to calls for a Senate inquiry into the church.

Several Australians have spoken out for the first time about their experiences with the church, accusing it of forced abortions, holding slave labour camps and exploiting child workers.

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