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Arizona Cops Say 'Church' Really a Brothel

Even the 'mystic mother' herself faces prostitution charges in Arizona

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2011 1:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – They weren't called "johns." They were "seekers." It wasn't "sex." It was a "sacred union." And those "neo-Tantric healing therapies" offered in exchange for "donations"? Better left unsaid. That's pretty much all you need to know about the Phoenix Goddess Temple, which got raided this week in Arizona and was accused of being a brothel instead of a church, report ABC News and CNN. Prosecutors have charged more than 30 people, including founder Tracy Elise. No "madame" title for her, though. It's "Mystic Mother."

"They were committing crimes under the guise of religious freedom," says a Phoenix police spokesman. "It's a sad situation when people are trying to hide behind religion and church to commit a crime."

That's no church, say Arizona vice cops.
That's no church, say Arizona vice cops.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 33 comments
JOHNSPEAKS
Sep 12, 2011 6:40 AM CDT
I don't understand why we allow -Gays- and their sexual perversions but we don't allow a man and a women to exchange their -God- given right to procreate???
Cat-Lover
Sep 11, 2011 6:09 PM CDT
The line I like in this story is "They were commiting crimes under the guise of religious freedom." All churches and all religions are guilty of that by their claims of morality and values based on anything they want.
Nxxxx
Sep 11, 2011 4:09 PM CDT
"It's a sad situation when people are trying to hide behind religion and church to commit a crime." Sounds just like a church.
 

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