by Dr Lyndy Summerhaze, Australia

Can it be possible in the year 2012 in Australia – a political democracy professing freedom of speech, that a Minister from the Uniting Church could walk into a Presentation about living a full, healthy and loving life and harass the gathered people and accuse them of being a cult? Yes, this did happen on October 12th at the Lennox Head Community Centre and I was there to witness it.

David Millikan, a Minister of the Church, said to Serge Benhayon that he was writing a book and was interested in our philosophy; he said he would like to ask the audience some questions about Universal Medicine and what it presents. What ensued was no open forum of communication between David Millikan and the group, or between one human being and another. Before any such exchange could take place, Mr Millikan menacingly turned on the audience and accused them of being a cult under the controlling influence of Serge Benhayon. As he began the delivery of his slanderous, angry speech, people with hand-held cameras popped up all around us and began filming. It was a set-up with a sinister agenda.

This was one of the most disreputable, dirty, ugly acts I have ever witnessed. Here was a peaceful group of people, including young people and teenagers, being bullied for gathering to talk about how we can live life in a gentle, practical way. How can it be possible that someone like David Millikan can do this in a country of free speech; in a country in which diverse views and religious beliefs are legally allowed to be expressed? Mr Millikan’s act was a violation of basic human rights.

David Millikan claimed to be a Minister of the Uniting Church, and yet everything he did was the very antithesis of the teachings of Christ, of the Christian way of Life – he lied and deceived, he bullied, he harrassed, and he slandered a group of people who deeply care for humanity.

Mr Millikan’s behaviour is unacceptable and he must be made accountable for it.