Qld cults: The kids growing up under total control
The cloistered and heavily controlled life of children born or brought into a Queensland cult has been uncovered in a special investigation. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
They’re the cult kids – children of a secretive Queensland sect who live under rules that see them homeschooled, told not to attend university, fed rations, told to learn an ancient language spoken by Jesus, restricted from playing and allegedly “severely disciplined”.
The cloistered and heavily controlled life of children born or brought into the Anglican Catholic Mission Community – formerly the Jesus People of North Queensland – has been uncovered by The Courier-Mail as part of a three-month investigation.
The documents include a list of the strict rules governing children as well as shocking allegations of violence against even toddlers and disabled children.
Since it was founded in the 1970s by Daniel Landy-Ariel, dozens of children have been born into the cult that has communes in NSW and Queensland. The rules – laid out in the ACMC’s manifesto – dictate all children up to the age of 15 are to be watched and controlled by all cult members. Children must be homeschooled so they aren’t exposed to “antichrist secular” education.
A judge ordered one young girl in the cult attend a mainstream school after finding her education progress was poor, court documents show.
Children are told not to aspire to higher education because it leads to “brainwash and squander”.
Male cult members are encouraged to take up “trades rather than professions”, while women are pushed to become cooks, personal trainers and bookkeepers.
