Tall Sai Pillars Crumble
Excerpt from
book-in-the-writing: Amazing Disgrace.
Date: 07-01-04
Author: Barry Pittard
Email: bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
Might not Sai
devotees with serious concern turn confidently to the most
senior officers of their spiritual organization? But for
many years, complaints and queries addressed to Sai leaders have
been profoundly ignored.
And yet new accusations
keep on coming....
After considerable
global efforts, I can find only one written response by a Sai
official to any letter that details concerns about the
allegations. Ella Evers was one of many leaders who strenuously
investigated, seeking out first hand accounts, and contacting
many others known for their care in handling evidence. A devotee
between 1986 and 2000, she held various
offices and along with her husband John conducted the Eugene
Sai Centre, Oregon, for
fifteen years.
The then President of
the Sathya Sai Organization of America, Dr John C. Evans, was
among nine top officials who received a copy of Mrs Evers letter
to the head of the organisation, Dr Michael Goldstein (now the
world head, as well). Ella Evers' letter of
August 1, 2000
bore seventy-five signatures of those who had
been keen Sai devotees, some of them for many years. Dr Evans’
letter to her of August 20, 2000
totally ignored her points and queries, showing absolute
disregard for the terrible suffering she reported, and about
transparency, investigation and accountability. He quoted a
saying of Sathya Sai Baba: "If one voices
criticism loudly, it will be lost in thin air, if one criticizes
within, it goes to one's own self." In other words, Ella Evers
should shut up. She should criticize herself - but for what?
The letter states that "all of the
undersigned came to a mutual conclusion that a worldwide
investigation must be put in place immediately to prove or
disprove the so overwhelming worldwide evidence placed before
us." However, to this day, in the BBC documentary 'Secret Swami'
(first screened in the UK, June 17, 2004), the same Dr Goldstein
(unaware that he is on hidden camera) - repeatedly and angrily
jabbing his finger towards the BBC's correctly probing Tanya
Datta - says that he can tell that no young males have been
sexually molested by his guru. He says, "I would know it in my
heart because I am what I am - a consummate professional.
Can you understand that?"
But Goldstein unless he wishes to be sued
for medical malpractice - has no business claiming a
professional specialty he does not possess. Not being a sexual
abuse therapist, he can lay no claim to expertise in judging who
has or has not been sexually abused. Whereas, among former
devotees, there are a number of well-qualified sexual
abuse professionals like Dave Brandt, Elena Hartgering, Dr
Arlene Mazak,
Shirley Pike, Barbara Shockett and others who have investigated
and are satisfied that Sathya Sai Baba has sexually abused young
males.
The BBC documentary excellently shows that
Dr Goldstein, like his shameless peers, cares not a fig about
accountability:
Tanya Datta: Then why don’t you allow
some transparency into the investigation of them. (ed. i.e., the
allegations)
Dr Michael Goldstein: Transparency in
what sense?
Tanya Datta: Why don’t you have
thorough investigations, instead of just asking one question to
one person? (ed. i.e., Sai Baba, who Dr Goldstein says
told him “Swami is purity itself.”)
Dr Michael Goldstein: What do you mean
by thorough investigation?
Which dictionary would Dr Goldstein
prefer: Oxford? Websters? Or Fools?
Why should Ella Evers criticize
herself? Nobody accuses her of sexually molesting the young. Dr
Evans did exactly what countless Sai devotees repeatedly do (in
common with members of other cults). He side-stepped the issue,
denying all rights of others to ask serious questions. A
familiar saying of Sathya Sai Baba is that "silence is the
language of the sadhaka" (the spiritual aspirant). But in fact,
typically, it is the 'language' of totalitarians. Of those who
cover up. Of deceivers and of the self-deceived.
Silence is the language of the
cultist, and of the criminal. Profound silence is the
language of the pedophile.
Useful Documents:
ex-baba/engels/letters/evers.html
Ella Evers' letter to Dr Goldstein was copied to nine top SS Org
officials in the USA. Dr Goldstein or someone at his home
- perhaps showing contempt for her and other's efforts to raise
the issue at the top level - returned unopened.
ex-baba/engels/letters/responseevans.html Reply
(scarcely) by John C. Evans to Ella Evers' letter to nine
recipients.
ex-baba/engels/letters/faxmeloyevans.html
Fax to John C. Evans by Glen Meloy,
August 26, 2000
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/