Pregnant women cult 'target'

The Advertiser (Australia)/April 23, 1999
By Vivienne Oakley

Pregnant women were the prime target of a cult operating in the Adelaide Hills, SA, Liberal Senator Grant Chapman told Federal Parliament last night.

Callingon federal and State ministers to launch an investigation, Senator Chapman said the group had an anti-medical philosophy and advocated families break up if a follower's spouse resisted the program.

And the organizers were making up to $25,000 a month from their followers, Senator Chapman said in Parliament.

"The Vibrational Individuation Program is a personality cult operated by Joan Phillips, of Ingelwood, and Marie Steinke, of Upper Sturt, South Australia," he said

"The program is based on the use and control of food to followers of the cult As is the usual cult practice, pregnant women are the prime target."

Senator Chapman said the cult promoted an anti-medical philosophy that included refusing ultrasound testing, immunizations, vitamin K injections at birth and baby health checks.

"Children born into this cult are fed the most bizarre food from birth and reports have come to my attention of under nourished, under weight babies," he said.

"In addition to malnourishment, children miss out on vital socialization which is so necessary to their overall development."

Senator Chapman told Parliament the group also advocated families break up if a follower's spouse resisted the food program.

The group operated one known "community respite house" in the Adelaide metropolitan area, he said.

"The house is used for members who have been advised to leave their partners and as a hidden residence to house them and their children for indefinite periods," he said.

"Members consult either Joan Phillips or Marie Steinke to undergo what is known as a food test which determines what food the recipient should eat for a designated period of time."

Senator Chapman said: THE method of food testing involved a follower lying on a couch while the response of their wrist and surrounding muscles was observed.

MUSCLE response determined what foods were eaten, how they were prepared and the length of the diet.

USUALLY five to six foods were prescribed and one beverage for a period of two to 11 weeks.

OFFAL always featured as one of the required foods.

FOLLOWERS could also ask their body other questions about their life, clothing or behavior

Senator Chapman said about 450 people had been involved and followers were charged between $30 and $60 for each food test, with 10 to 15 programs required each year.

"Based on this information, one could estimate an income for this group of some $20,000 to $25,000 per month," Senator Chapman said.

He was forwarding information about the program and its members to the State and federal attorneys-general and the ministers for health and family services.

Leader preaches her good vibrations

One of the leaders of the Vibrational Individuation Program, Mrs. Joan Phillips, believes all Australians would be taking her advice.

But, she admits, some would regard her nutritional recommendations as "odd."

She said hundreds of South Australians had come to her for advice and she worked "under a Christian framework."

Speaking before Senator Chapman raised his concerns about her organization in Federal Parliament, Mrs. Phillips denied being against conventional medicine, but said her preference was for alternative health care.

"The medical profession works on symptoms, not the cause," she said.

She outlined her health background and said before developing her program she had studied nutrition, iridology (study of the iris to determine health) and kinesiology (concerned with the mechanics of the movement of the human body).

"This works for me, my husband and for a lot of other people," she said. "I work with the vibrations of the body and the vibrations of the food.

"I'm not peddling something -- it works People from all walks of life come to see me.

"I believe this program should be shouted from the rooftops -- I think everyone should know about it."

Mrs. Phillips denied charging a fee for her services.

"There is a donation, but not a cost as in a charge. I regard my time as valuable."

She said people who saw her or business partner Marie Steinke for advice were not customers or clients, but friends. "We don't diagnose and we don't treat," she said.

"We can measure levels of energy and identify weakened vibrations and stronger vibrations."

She said the type of food, how it was prepared and the quantities advised helped to balance each person.

Neither Mrs. Phillips nor Ms. Steinke could be contacted last night after Senator Chapman made his allegations

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