Related articles and links |  1 of 3

Alleged abductor's religious beliefs got "stranger and stranger every day."
Nine months after being abducted, 15-year-old Elizabeth Smart has returned home. Smart, taken by knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home June 5, is reportedly healthy and alert. However, there are signs that the abduction took a psychological toll. Yesterday morning Smart's father said he had no doubts that Elizabeth was brainwashed by Brian David Mitchell, who was excommunicated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I think maybe she has been converted to a weird thing," said the girl's uncle, Tom Smart. Speaking last night to reporters, he added that Elizabeth may be suffering from Stockholm syndrome, a psychological defense mechanism in which hostages and victims of abuse begin to care for their abusers or captors.

Smart was held by Mitchell, who called himself "Emmanuel," and his wife, Wanda Ilene Barzee. They traveled by foot and bus and camped outdoors. They also often appeared in public together—with Smart often hidden under a veil and robes—but the girl apparently did not try to contact anyone for help. When officers approached her Wednesday in Salt Lake City, she denied being Elizabeth Smart. After being asked several times, she began weeping and answered, "Thou sayest."

Reports this week have indicated that Mitchell considered himself a polygamist and may have kidnapped Smart to become his second wife. However, the Associated Press reports that the girl's aunt this morning said, "That's not actually information that we've been given at this point."

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting today that seven weeks before Smart disappeared, Mitchell's mother was so scared by his increasingly strange religious beliefs and violence that she phoned the police. She then filed protective orders against the couple who she says grabbed her by the arms and threatened her.

According to the story, Mitchell had been living with his mother for six years but she had recently become disturbed by his actions. She said he had been getting "stranger and stranger every day." According to the sheriff's report, he wore purple robes and told his family in a 27-page letter about his beliefs that he would start his own church.

Pop culture:

• With a brave heart and pure soul | If conviction counts for anything, Mel Gibson's latest film project will be a success, but theologians and filmmakers are not so sure. (Sydney Morning Herald)
  
  
• Crowe custom-builds church for his wedding | His upcoming wedding to actress Danielle Spencer will feature a custom-built chapel on his ranch (Knight Ridder newspapers)

Interfaith relations and other religions:

• Let God knock down the walls | If there's one word to characterize the Holy Land, it's walls (Paul Lintern, Mansfield [Ohio] News Journal)
  
  
• Nazareth court delays destruction of controversial mosque | Nazareth Magistrate's Court ordered destruction last Thursday (Haaretz)

Gambling:

• Churches a tough foe on slots, Ehrlich Finds | At the moment, much of Maryland's religious establishment disagrees with the governor over one crucial issue: his plan to legalize slot machines (The Washington Post)
  
  
• Providing posers for prophets | Thomas Cahill came to town last week to talk about Christians and Jews and biblical prophets, but the message touched implicitly on George W. Bush and Robert Ehrlich and slot machine profits (Michael Olesker, The Baltimore Sun)

Music:

• Rapper's rhymes take positive spin | John Reuben is not your typical rap star (The Toledo [Oh.] Blade)
  
  

next page... |  1 of 3

share this page

March (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47