Adelaide ISKCON Investigation Update

YES DEAR READERS. IT IS A MIXED BAG HERE IN ADELAIDE AT THE MOMENT.

Tragically, the Australian GBC still stubbornly support the local Temple President against the expressed wishes of all but about 3 members of the community. The Temple President is a man who believes it is appropriate to turn a blind eye to the sexual abuse of women and indeed punish victims.

Fortunately these great souls, Jaya Nair and Sad Gosai, pictured here with me, both committed Adelaide devotees devoted to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, are determined to carry on with the program of freeing their local Temple from such unwholesome influences.

They will use whatever means they can to restore the integrity of the Temple management and make the yatra an attractive place for those seeking Truth through the process of Krsna Consciousness taught to us by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

As our local GBC men refuse to engage in a discussion to listen to the concerns of devotees and all appeals to the international GBC have borne no results at all, Jaya and Sad Gosai will be providing more documents to the office of Senator Nick Xenaphon who has been in touch confirming his concerns. Through his office staff, he has requested more information on the local situation. Thus the meeting with the Senator will take place after more preparation. I am moving to Victoria in the new year but will return for these meetings.

In other related news, the comprehensive report has been submitted to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in ISKCON Australia. Now is the time to practice patience and allow the Commission time to deal with this vast amount of information.

Seeing how they have dealt with similar cultures of cover-ups and denial in other organizations like the Catholic Church, the Salvos, the Anglicans etc, we can feel confident that in time, the "leaders" will be made accountable for their mishandling of child sex abuse cases and their criminal negligence in failing to protect vulnerable children from known predators in Hare Krsna communities. We hope that survivors will feel some relief knowing that their ordeals will be properly heard and acknowledged.

So everything is going on.

In Australia, many devotees are in holiday mode over the hot summer period. Best wishes to you and all your family members. Overseas, some readers are watching snow fall from inside their heated homes. Best wishes to all of you as well.

Hare Krishna! SDD