Source Materials / **News and Magazines** # **Protesting at the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois** ##### *Chicago Sun-Times*, Sunday, January 8, 1989, p. 9. #### **Daniel J. Lehmann, Religion Writer** \[1] [↓ PDF](https://leland-jensen-info.netlify.app/1989-01-08-sun-times-bahai-temple-protests.pdf) *** ### Baha'i Dissidents Fire Up Battle With Faith's Leaders A small but fiercely committed band of dissidents routinely rolls into Wilmette for Baha'i gatherings, hurling charges of theft and corruption at leaders of the faith.\[2] Mainline Baha'is entering the nationally recognized temple in the North Shore suburb gape, glare or silently shoot past the antagonists, dismissing their allegation as ludicrous. They view the dissidents as misguided zealots, hungry for money and power. Friction among the world's 4 million Baha'is isn't new. Leadership disputes periodically have split the religion since its founding some 125 years ago. The faith itself is an offshoot of the Shiite branch of Islam. A group called Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant claims current Baha'i leadership has usurped its authority, refused to recognize whom they say is the faith's legitimate leader and taken denominational funds. For added drama, they claim, the dispute is the opening round of Armageddon. Led by a once-honored Baha'i from Missoula, Mont., who predicted a world-ending nuclear war for 1980, the dissidents demonstrate outside the Wilmette temple when Baha'is gather to pray. After the death of the last universally recognized Baha'i leader, Shoghi Effendi, in 1957, leaders known as the Hands of the Cause "took over the faith to exploit it," said Leland Jensen, 74, a spokesman for the dissidents. "They're a bunch of crooks, just like Jimmy Bakker for being indicted for building big houses and buying big cars with ministry money," Jensen said. Baha'i spokesman Ronald B. Precht in Wilmette countered that the dissidents "seem to have their eyes on acquiring a large amount of money. . . . Our greatest concern is a misunderstanding of the teachings of the Baha'i faith. The dignity of our belief is impuned by this group using our name." The religion is a synthesis of several faiths, founded in 1863 by the Iranian Mirza Husayn Ali. Called Bahaullah, or "splendor of God," his teachings stress the oneness of God, religion and mankind, and venerates all prophets as valid. He said a universal faith would transcend racial, religious and social differences, promoting world peace. In his will, Bahaullah named his eldest son, Abbas Effendi, known as Abdulbaha, or "servant of Baha," the sole interpreter of his writings and Baha'i leader. Abdulbaha in turn singled out his grandson, Shogi Effendi, as "guardian of the faith." Jensen's splinter group contends Abdulbaha adopted American Charles Mason Remey. Remey subsequently adopted Joseph Pepe Remey, who now lives in Italy and claims he is the rightful heir and leader of the Baha'is. "There is nothing we know of about any adoption," Precht said. Further, Shogi Effendi left no will indicating a new guardian and "all the Hands signed a statement saying so, including Charles Mason Remey," Precht said. Remey voiced his claim in 1963 and was expelled, Precht added. The Hands, appointed by Effendi, set up a supreme governing body in Haifa, Israel, called the Universal House of Justice. As specified in Bahaullah's writings, it is elected by national spiritual assemblies from around the world, which in turn are elected by local spiritual bodies. "The guardian of the Baha'i faith is the king promised to sit on David's throne forever, and the Hands broke the covenant by ignoring the next guardian," said Jensen, a former chiropractor. One of Jensen's followers produced a genealogy listing Bahaullah and Abdulbaha, and therefore the Remeys through adoption, as direct male descendants of the ancient Israelite King David. "The money and property belonging to the guardian have been stolen" by the faith's leaders in Israel, he said. Jensen pledged to pursue his cause through legal action in Israel. A court fight, in Jensen's view, would be the opening round of Armageddon. Jensen reads his role and that of Remey into the biblical prophecies of Daniel and Revelations, leading to a conflict in the Persian Gulf that spreads into world war. Precht said the Baha'i community is forced to take Jensen's challenges seriously. The demonstrations in Wilmette, which started last fall, demand a response: "The teachings of the faith are quite clear" on leadership and administration, Precht said. "As Baha'is we are committed to unity and peace, not division and war. Read Baha'i texts and judge for yourself."   *** **Endnotes** **1.** \[Editor's note: Following this article Dr. Leland Jensen wrote a 48 page epistle to Daniel J. Lehmann dated April 18, 1989. He did not reply nor did he write any additional articles about the protests or any of the information in the letter. The Epistle to Daniel Lehmann was also included as an attachment to his June 8, 1989 Epistle to Guardian Joseph Pepe Remey. ("See my epistle to Dan Lehmann, enclosed", p. 26.)] **2.** \[Editor's note: Protests and picketing at the Temple in Wilmette by Baha'is in the Midwest occurred on a regular basis during the late 1980's and early 1990's including the appearance of Dr. Jensen on one occasion.] *** **Sources** - *Chicago Sun-Times*, Sunday, January 8, 1989, p. 9. Transcribed from copies on file and proofread from online sources. **Note:** This excerpt is frequently cited in discussions of Dr. Leland Jensen and is provided here as supplementary reference material for researchers, teachers, and students. 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