Another 65 children seized in Sydney were also released. In March, an Australian who had left the cult and tried to get custody of his child, told a court that children in the group were forced to watch the adults have sex. The group became famous in the 1970s for proselytizing through sexual seduction. Many parents of COG members say the group relies on brainwashing and hypnotism to recruit and maintain followers. But the Community Services department, which initiated the custody action, defended it and expressed hope that the Children's Court magistrate's initial order would be reinstated.
Package holidays open up the most far-flung places.
Health hazards are eliminated by vaccinations. Language courses, cheap flights, and offers of casual overseas jobs enable young people to take the opportunity to broaden horizons before settling down. Unfortunately, as many have learned to their cost, worldwide travel for the young has hazards other than tropical diseases or sunstroke, and not nearly enough is done to prepare them to avoid the other pitfalls. Again and again we hear slightly variant forms of the same sadly familiar story, familiar to us but devastatingly shocking and new for affected parents. He is due to return in a week or so, shortly to continue or take up his studies.