Volume IV
Issue IV

From the Editor:

Just three and half years since the Foundation for Religious Freedom (the independent tax-exempt corporation which runs the new CAN) began operating the new Calt Awareness Network Hotline and Information service - our formidable network of interfaith volunteers and experts (ranging from religious scholars, to pastors, to mediators) have helped more than 11,500 callers, reconciled a legion of families and prevented hundreds of deprogrammings with a message of communication and mutual respect.
While continuing these actions, the Foundation is now expanding into the international arena. Our book on TOLERANCE, already translated into French and Italian, will soon be available in several more languages and downloadable from "www.tolerance2000.org". Our first European office is in the planning stages - targeted to open soon in Paris, France!
Read on for recent highlights - as we increase our influence in the US and around the world.

WELCOME to the HOTLINE!

The diversity of our Hotline volunteers is constantly increasing from a public defender to a sociologist to a Buddhist practitioner.
We welcome our latest additions:
Scott , a prison Chaplain from Medera, California and Margot, a religious scholar and interfaith activist with the Interfaith Council of Southern California.
Wonderful to have your knowledge and experience helping us promote dialogue and understanding!

EVEN DEPROGRAMMERS GET THE NEWS

One-time "deprogrammer", some-time "exit counselor", Joseph Szhimart, posted a review of our TOLERANCE book on his website. An excerpt:
"In contrast to its predecessor (the Chicago-based CAN), this new version suggests a more open, accepting approach to "cult" problems in a spirit of recognizing the pluralism and diversity allowed by law in this nation ...The text ends in a spirit that encourages the reader to be open and accepting of new ways of belief." (WE THINK HE'S GOT IT!)

HOTLINE UPDATE!

Hotline calls continue to amaze. -
A newspaper reporter asking about a non-Christian religion (a new-age group) was astounded to learn that it is a peaceful group - dedicated to more awareness of earth's ecology.
The challenge for the hotline volunteer was then convincing the reporter to tell his readers the truth despite his fears of "white washing" a religion about which false information has been spread - by other, less knowledgeable, reporters!
A father called in requesting help to deprogram his forty-year-old (40) daughter from a "cult". It wasn't until he had been convinced not to take such drastic action against a member of any religious group and it had been made very clear to him that such activity violates not only the First Amendment but international treaties on basic human rights that he admitted the "cult" he was worried about was the Methodist Church!
(He was persuaded to go there himself and convinced that they are open to visits by people of any faith.)

Radio, Radio

A few weeks ago, while presenting the Sunday morning radio show "GODTALK" on San Francisco's a. m. radio KGO 810, Ravi "R. J." Peruman responded to a caller who expressed concern about having a loved one join a "fringe" religious group. Ravi told the caller to use understanding and concern rather than anger.
Ravi went on to discuss "TOLERANCE 2000" (the international version of TOLERANCE 101), described it as "powerfully concise" and suggested callers contact our 800-556-3055 hotline to get their own copy - resulting in our highest one-day sales of books to date.
Turns out Ravi had attended the United Religions Initiative global summit earlier this year in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he had received a copy of TOLERANCE 2000, had since read it and thinks it's great! NORTH AMERICAN INTERFAITH NETWORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE
An association of religious freedom activists, the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) includes individual and group members from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
The Foundation for Religious Freedom is part of this association and representatives attended its annual conference in July, briefing other members on how CAN is now run.
Many attendees, familiar with the old CAN's activities, were impressed with the new CAN's operation and delighted to receive their own copies of TOLERANCE 101.
We will continue our co-action with NAIN and keep you posted!

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

As reflected in the latest U.S. State Department's Report on Religious Freedom (www.state.gov/lndex.html) there are too many countries where "religious freedom" is an extremely different concept than the plurality enjoyed in the United States.
The Foundation is expanding its activities to help guarantee that freedom of conscience and belief are practiced in the many other countries which have signed on to agreements guaranteeing such.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Like-minded groups of religious tolerance activists exist around the globe. The Foundation has attended conferences of such in Tokyo, Japan and Riga, Latvia - getting out copies of TOLERANCE 2000 and updating attendees from Brazil, Russia, England, Australia, France, Italy and many other countries on our activities to enthusiastic response.
For example, Dr. George D. Chryssides, of the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom said, "So you have turned the operation of the old CAN around 180 degrees - how wonderful!"

INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATIONS
TOLERANCE 2000 has been translated into French - "Calm Down" = "D'abord on se calme" and Italian "Stay in communication" = "Rimani in conttato" with Danish, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish translations already in progress.
More languages will be coming including German, Greek, Hungarian, Portugese - in fact any language needed where anti-religionists have tried to foment an atmosphere of hate.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE IN FRANCE

A call has come forth to open our first European office in Paris, France. (The loudest voice of the antireligious movement in France has labeled the First Amendment of the U.S. as a "crazy freedom".)
Volunteers are already scouting out a location for an office which will be a mediation center for sorting out religious disagreements, will operate a toll-free number and create a list of qualified experts who can give reliable information on new religions and spiritual movements - functions vitally needed in today's Europe.

INTERNATIONAL WEBSITES

The Foundation currently operates three websites: www.forf.org, www.nopsychs.org and www.cultawarenessnetwork.org which receive over 50,000 hits a week. A representative from the Russian Institute of Law and Justice, meeting the Foundation's representative in Riga, Latvia, commented, "I've used your websites.Excellent."
Soon to be launched www.tolerance2000.org - where people from around the world will be able to download our book on tolerance in many languages!

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