Controversial Group Issues Statment

KCRG-TV9 News/September 28, 2005
By Katie Wiedemann

A secretive religious group finally makes a statement to the media. This comes after several archdioceses including the one in Dubuque released statements saying the Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission group has cult-like tendencies.

Today group leaders sent out a public statement... But it didn't contain very much information. The group simply stated that they have not received any official notice from any archdiocese regarding their status as a legitimate catholic group.

Love Holy Trinity leaders will not return our repeated phone calls and the group's local members refuse to comment. It is this secretive nature which is really taking a toll on one McGregor family.

It has been more than a month since Lora Knott and her husband roger have seen Lora's 19 year-old daughter Ashley. A heart broken Lora said, "I call her everyday and everyday I ask for a response for her to call me just to tell her that I love her."

But Lora does not think Ashley is getting the messages and says the group is keeping Ashley out of contact with her family. Ashley's step-father, Roger Knott said, "For some reason in Love Holy Trinity everything has to happen so fast and they won't tell us about themselves and their backgrounds they basically tell us it's none of our business."

Last month Ashley suddenly dropped her plans for college and announced she was leaving home immediately to become a sister with the Love Holy Trinity. Lora said, "She (Ashley) felt like if she didn't answer her calling right now that the demons inside her were fighting. If she didn't answer her calling that would be a sin."

A few days later the Knotts went to this Love Holy Trinity retreat center in Bellevue to get more information. but they were kept out. The owners of the J and M ranch clearly are not welcoming visitors.

A fence keeps through traffic from making their way up to the retreat center. Lora said, "She went to church everyday but that's part of their guidelines that they attended retreats and they go to this. I talked with people who are ex-members and it's just too much."

Monsignor Barta says the Archbishop has not officially sent his message of disapproval to the Love Holy Trinity. However, Barta says he is positive the group has a copy.