In Retrospect: Cult Awareness Network

Last Update: 23 February 1996

The Cult Awareness Network was a clearing house for information about cults, run by volunteers on a shoestring budget. Its main mission was to educate the public about the effects of mind control as used by destructive cults, and to provide support to victims of cults and their families.

The fact that the organization (and its officers) were harassed and sued over many years -- by more than one cult -- is a testament to its effectiveness in the fight against abusive cults.

CAN was finally forced to close its doors in mid-1996 as a result of a lawsuit brought against it by cult member Jason Scott with the help of Scientology lawyer Kendrick Moxon. It is believed that Scientology is attempting to obtain the numerous files that CAN has amassed on cults and victims, donor lists and so on. The purpose of this exercise is open to interpretation.

CAN's official internet account will soon expire together with its Web site -- so here, without permission, I am pleased to present a mirror of the CAN site. Other mirrors are likely to appear soon.

On October 23, 1996 the Cult Awareness Network, Inc.'s servicemark and trademark rights, including rights to the use of the CAN stylized logo, were sold as part of a $20,000.00 purchase of CAN assets in the federal bankruptcy court. Steven Hayes, of the law firm of Bowles & Hayes, bought the assets. [Bowles is Timothy Bowles, formerly of Bowles and Moxon, the Scientology law firm that litigated heavily against CAN in the 90's.]

The purchase became final on October 30, 1996.

In a dramatic turn of events Jason Scott fired Kendrick Moxon -- thus severing his relations with the Church of Scientology -- and hired Graham Berry, a lawyer known to be sympathetic to CAN, in his place. Scott also settled with Ross for $5000 and 200 hours of counselling from Ross. The agreement was signed on 02 December 1996.

On 11 January 1997, the Scientology-appointed Trustee Philip V. Martino filed a Notice of Intended Abandonment, i.e. his intention to return the CAN library, "computer memory", video and audio tapes, files on cults, phone records and financial records to the original board of CAN. His reason for so doing was that:
a. There was little or no commercial value.
b. He had been "assured" that he would be sued if he sold the material, which consisted mostly of confidential files, even if sensitive information was removed prior to the sale.

On 30 January 1997, in the hearing on CAN's bankruptcy case, the judge ruled that CAN's documents were to be abandoned to CAN, and that he would issue an order in a few days. Moxon & Bartilson announced they would appeal the order.

The next hearing will take place on 18 February 1997.

Watch this space for new material....

Mirror Sites

Visit the CAN homepage.

[The original page no longer exists]

Visit the Finland Mirror.

Visit the Norway Mirror.

Visit the UK Mirror.

Visit the USA Mirror.

Download the entire CAN page here.

Media

  1. 20 Mar 1988 -- CULT FIGHTERS IN CENTER OF RAGING STORM [Chicago Tribune]
  2. 09 Feb 1994 -- Holy Wars: A Mother's fight with a Bellevue church [Eastside Week]
  3. 25 Jan 1995 -- Spreading the word on cults [Chicago Tribune]
  4. 01 Jul 1996 -- Cult Fighters' Future in Doubt [Los Angeles Times]
  5. 29 Jul 1996 -- Anti-Cult Group: Foe Ruined Us [The National Law Journal]
  6. 01 Dec 1996 -- Anti-Cult Group Dismembered As Former Foes Buy Its Assets [The Washington Post]
  7. 06 Dec 1996 -- Patrons of anti-cult group fear sale of files [Sun Times]
  8. 19 Dec 1996 -- What's $2.995 Million Between Former Enemies? [Phoenix New Times]
  9. 23 Dec 1996 -- Plaintiff Shifts Stance on Anti-Cult Group [The Washington Post]

News and Commentary

  1. 23 Jun 1996 -- WARNING! Retract your name from CAN!!!!!
  2. 25 Jun 1996 -- If CAN dies, is the world better off? [Jeff Jacobsen]
  3. 25 Jun 1996 -- Re: If CAN dies, is the world better off? [Dennis Erlich]
  4. 26 Jun 1996 -- Re: If CAN dies, is the world better off? [Monica Pignotti]
  5. 26 Jun 1996 -- CAN closes doors [Don Krieger]
  6. 26 Jun 1996 -- Moxon press release on CAN bankruptcy [Ron Newman]
  7. 01 Jul 1996 -- Re: If CAN dies, is the world better off?
  8. 10 Jul 1996 -- Cult Fighters' Future in Doubt
  9. 01 Aug 1996 -- CAN Bankruptcy: Privacy Rights, Non-Profits, & the Law [Jon Ruth]
  10. 03 Sep 1996 -- CAN's Appeal against the Scott Judgement
  11. 03 Sep 1996 -- CAN vs. Jason Scott: Motion for Leave to File Amicus Curiae Brief
  12. 07 Sep 1996 -- CAN files under protective order
  13. 10 Sep 1996 -- Co$ vs. CAN -- Litigation History
  14. 30 Sep 1996 -- Re: KIM BAKER [Stuart P. Derby]
  15. 03 Oct 1996 -- fwd: Illinois Supreme Court grants CAN petition [Tilman Hausherr]
  16. 25 Oct 1996 -- Re: CAN LOGO AND SERVICE MARK SOLD [Tilman Hausherr]
  17. 06 Nov 1996 -- Cult Awareness Network files objection to sale of assets [Marina Chong]
  18. 06 Nov 1996 -- Re: Cult Awareness Network files objection to sale of assets [Maureen Garde]
  19. 22 Nov 1996 -- fwd: Bankruptcy Court finalizes sale of Cult Awareness Network Name [Tilman Hausherr]
  20. 03 Dec 1996 -- CAN Sale Front Page News in Silicon Valley, California [P Suster]
  21. 04 Dec 1996 -- Moxon Dumped [seaorg]
  22. 04 Dec 1996 -- PRESS RELEASE: Jason Scott fires Kendrick Moxon; Graham Berry to represent Scott pro-bono
  23. 04 Dec 1996 -- Re: Moxon Dumped (Statement by Graham Berry) [Rod Keller]
  24. 04 Dec 1996 -- Re: Moxon Dumped [Rod Keller]
  25. 05 Dec 1996 -- Re: Moxon Dumped [Pamela Fitzpatrick]
  26. 06 Dec 1996 -- Appeal Brief: "Conspiracy to engage in malicious prosecution"
  27. 08 Dec 1996 -- MTV's Kurt Loder Mentions Scientology/CAN [Hud Nordin]
  28. 08 Dec 1996 -- Co$/CAN Makes Front Page of Le Monde [Baba ROM DOS]
  29. 10 Dec 1996 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Jeff Jacobsen]
  30. 11 Dec 1996 -- Moxon not dumped quite yet [Rod Keller]
  31. 11 Dec 1996 -- Re: Moxon not dumped quite yet [Bev]
  32. 13 Dec 1996 -- OpEd to Washington Post about CAN [Carol2180]
  33. 16 Dec 1996 -- CAN: Notice of Appeal from Order of a Bankruptcy Court
  34. 16 Dec 1996 -- CAN: Amended Notice of Appeal from Order of a Bankruptcy Court
  35. 20 Dec 1996 -- Moxon attempt to recoup Scott as client, a document [Maureen Garde]
  36. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: CAN vs. Co$ appeal brief: "Conspiracy to engage in malicious prosecution" [Ex Mudder]
  37. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: The Scott VS Ross/CAN Case: a troubling Conclusion! [Ceon Ramon]
  38. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: The Scott VS Ross/CAN Case: a troubling C [JimDBB]
  39. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: The Scott VS Ross/CAN Case: a troubling C [P. FITZPATRICK]
  40. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: The Scott VS Ross/CAN Case: a troubling C [Bev]
  41. 24 Dec 1996 -- Re: The Scott VS Ross/CAN Case: a troubling C [P. FITZPATRICK]
  42. 25 Dec 1996 -- I've been served [Rod Keller]
  43. 26 Dec 1996 -- Re: CAN vs. Co$ appeal brief: "Conspiracy to engage in malicious prosecution" [Tilman Hausherr]
  44. 30 Dec 1997 -- Article about CAN on CNN (Dec. 19, 1996) [Andreas Heldal-Lund]
  45. 31 Dec 1996 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Michael Reuss]
  46. 03 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [JimDBB]
  47. 05 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Steve A]
  48. 06 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Martin Hunt]
  49. 07 Jan 1997 -- CAN Takeover news [Xenu phobic]
  50. 10 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Brent Stone
  51. 10 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN: It's Role in WACO. [Steve A]
  52. 10 Jan 1997 -- Re: CAN it's role in WACO [JimDBB]
  53. 10 Jan 1997 -- 1st person in email in re CAN [Martin Hunt]
  54. 11 Jan 1997 -- CAN: Trustee files Notice of Intended Abandonment [Marina Chong]
  55. 11 Jan 1997 -- Kenny Moxon moves to compel testimony [Rod Keller]
  56. 19 Jan 1997 -- Cult Awareness Network's records... [Donovan]
  57. 01 Feb 1997 -- CAN update [Tilman Hausherr]
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