FBI investigating secretive Christian sect with Australian followers for historical child sex abuse
FBI investigating Two by Twos for historical child sexual abuse claims, including in Australia ABC News
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Child Sexual Abuse Investigation in Secretive Christian Sect
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an international investigation into child sexual abuse within a secretive Christian sect that has followers throughout Australia.
The global fundamentalist sect does not have an official name. It is referred to by believers as The Truth or The Way, or by non-believers as the Two by Twos, or the Church with No Name.
WARNING: This story contains details that may be distressing to some readers.
Believers of the church meet in people’s homes for prayer sessions, with the group’s ministers moving between the different cities and countries where followers are based.
In February in the United States, the FBI launched a probe into the group after widescale reports of abuse were publicised by the BBC earlier this year.
A hotline for former members who have experienced sexual abuse within the sect in Australia and New Zealand has received allegations involving about 130 separate people.
Victim wants to be heard
Lisa Smith clearly remembers the moment her dad, a member of the sect, began to sexually assault her.
Lisa is not her real name. The ABC has chosen not to identify her for legal reasons.
She was 10 years old and living in Brisbane when the abuse began.
Sexual assault support lines:
“I was the only one in my bedroom. Dad came in and said, ‘I need to check if you’re developing properly’,” Ms Smith said.
“I had no clue what he was talking about. I knew nothing about my body, about periods, about sex. We were so sheltered.”
Now 55 years old, the personal horrors she experienced remain strong memories.
Ms Smith said the assaults by her father continued daily until she was about 15.
Over subsequent years she disclosed the abuse to various members of the sect but was often told to “forgive and forget” and pray. She left the sect in 2014.
Ms Smith said her father, who was considered a local bishop, continued to be part of fellowships until he was sent to prison.
He pleaded guilty in the Queensland District Court during 2020 to seven charges of indecent treatment of girls under 14 and was handed a three-year prison sentence, suspended after four months.
“Unless you can wipe my memory, it’s not going to go away,” Ms Smith said.
Hotline provides support
Jillian Hishon runs a hotline called The Brave Truth, which connects former members who have experienced sexual abuse within the sect in Australia and New Zealand to support services.
Since its launch a year ago, she estimated about 100 alleged victims had contacted the hotline, reporting about 130 separate people.
Ms Hishon grew up in the sect around the Toowoomba region but left in October 2011 after Queensland leadership did not approve of her marriage because her husband was not a part of the sect.
She said some of the alleged offences reported to the hotline dated back 80 years.
“Not everybody wants their report to go through the court system. Not everyone wants it on a police database,” Ms Hishon said.
“Sometimes they ring so someone will believe them and hear their story.”
The hotline is similar to one set up in the United States called Advocates for The Truth, which the BBC recently revealed had received complaints against 700 individuals in the sect.
“It’s not a church full of paedophiles and awful people. There are so many good people that have now been caught up in this horrible, horrible situation,” Ms Hishon said.
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