Maryland Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education
Institutions
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In its 1998 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 22 establishing a task force to study alleged activities
of "dangerous cults" on the campuses of the University of Maryland System. The task force is charged
with submitting a report to the legislature by September 30, 1999. ICRF has been publishing relevant information so that the public and interested parties
may be informed on the activities of the task force.
ICRF has maintained since it found out about the passage of HJ 22 in April 1998, that this resolution is not constitutional
and that the creation of such a task force threatens the rights of religious freedom, speech and association for
citizens who are a part of the University of Maryland System by creating an environment of fear, discrimination
and intolerance on Maryland campuses. On Monday, August 16, 1999, ICRF, together with several other parties, filed a complaint in Federal Court charging the
task force with violations of the US and Maryland Constitutions. The Chronicle of Higher Education is currently
conducting a forum on this issue. ICRF also filed a motion for temporary
restraining order and a motion for preliminary injunction, which was denied by a Federal
Court judge prior to the issuing of the task force's report.
The task force began public hearings on May 25, 1999 at the Chancellor's Office of the University of Maryland System
and has several meetings since on various campuses around the state and in Annapolis. The task force received a
wide array of testimony from anticult acitivists, proponents of religious freedom, members of new, alternative
and minority religious movements, parents, and several scholars. On August 9, the task force concluded testimony
and began discussions leading to preparation of its report. The task froce held its final meeting on September
15, 1999 and submitted its report along with
an executive summary to the legislature and
the Governor of Maryland. ICRF is in the process of preparing a response to the report.
Dr. Jeffey K. Hadden, Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, has also published an excellent special report on this task force on his Religious Movements
Homepage.
More information on the task force and copies of all testimony which has been submitted to the task force may be
obtained by contacting Maitland Dade, University System of Maryland, Telephone: 410-269-5085 or 301-261-2143.
Submitted to the task force on May 25,1999
By Bruce J. Casino, submitted June 11, 1999
Given July 27, 1999 by James T. Richardson, J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and Judicial Studies, University
of Nevada, Reno
Submitted by Alex Colvin July 27, 1999
August 9, 1999 by Hana Lyn Colvin
Dr. Jeffey K. Hadden, Professor
of Sociology at the University of Virginia, has published an excellent special report on this task force on his
Religious Movements Homepage.
Contains additional testimonies not listed on this page
Contains additional testimonies not listed on this page
By Dr. Jeffey K. Hadden
Press release from ICRF
Article published in the Chronicle of Higher Education
Posted on the Chronicle of Higher Education
Letters to the Editor, Baltimore Sun, 9/4/99