Michael Wurmbrand is the son of the famous Jewish-born communist, Richard Wurmbrand, who converted to Christianity and suffered extraordinary persecution in communist Romania.
In February 2014, Michael Wurmbrand wrote to Voice of the Martyrs, the prominent Christian organization founded by his deceased father, to drop their association with his name because of suspected fraud and pedophilia in its leadersip:
My parents died in 2000-2001 and I am now 74 years old.
Against my express request NOT TO DO SO, the mission Voice of the Martyrs of Bartlesville (VOM), Oklahoma, USA and its international affiliates, continue to use Richard Wurmbrand, Sabina Wurmbrand, my parents’ persona, pictures, writings and books, my persona also to obtain your donations!
Tom White, the past Voice of the Martyrs Chairman for more than 20-years, committed suicide in April, 2012, only two to three hours after an accusation of child sexual molestation (pedophilia) of a 10-years old girl was formally filed by her parents with the local police, and while the Bartlesville, OK. police were searching to arrest him. This terrible event made world news. At the time of his committing suicide, Tom White had a $140,000+, plus perks, yearly salary and very substantial travel and expense accounts used in his extensive and frequent international travel year after year. Since the suspected perpetrator was dead, the police closed any further investigation of the sexual molestation. The police chief and the former mayor of the town of Bartlesville, OK. were personally serving on the Board of Directors of Voice of the Martyrs. A few other directors are related to each other or get salaries from the organization.
I asked in writing of the Voice of the Martyrs Board of Directors for an independent investigation, to be undertaken from outside of VOM. The investigation in the famous legal action in England of Jimmy Saville, the BBC children program head while alive, started with only 2 cases BUT there were more than 600 pedophilia complaints after Saville died. In the last 4 years, the state of Arizona, for instance, failed to investigate 6,000 cases of children molestation. Being the son of Richard Wurmbrand, a person of my background and position could have more inside information, than I can discuss publicly. I asked therefore for an independent investigation!….”
This is one more instance of the highest levels of conservative anti-communist circles being associated, rightly or wrongly, with pedophilia.
Here are some other recent scandals in conservative Christian circles.
Some Protestant foes of the Roman Catholic Church derided Wurmbrand’s ecumenism as a false-front for a New World Order co-optation of Christianity. (LINK DELETED)
[ADDED: I should clarify that I consider this accusation deluded and semi-litarate.]
It is important to consider that the allegation of pedophilia has not been followed by any public testimony from victims, which is usual in such cases.
There was a third-party statement by a Christian minister in the area to the effect that he had spoken to the father of the alleged victim and was sure that the abuse had taken place.
However, that isn’t evidence.
The minister in question was Wade Burleson, pastor of the Southern Baptist Emmanuel Enid church. In a comment on his blog, defending his unsubstantiated statement, he described his past government affiliations.
Wade Burleson said…
Ken,
I have worked as a chaplain for the Tulsa Police Department (1987-1992), the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department (1992-2012), the Department of Justice (1995), the FBI and DEA special task forces (1995-2012), and have had training in hostage negotiation, criminal interrogation and the like. You can trust me when I say the man on the phone was who he says he is–though not one ounce of my training is even needed to immediately ascertain the truth. Of course, for me to tell you how I know would give too much information that I have pledged to keep confidential.
His blog post was addressed to the ten-year old girl and confirmed her abuse, but it didn’t produce any evidence.
The post was reproduced at Christianpost.com, where astute readers faulted it for its theatricality and lack of substance.
[I will add more on this as I research the story.]
The local police-chief who was in charge of the investigation was on the board of Voice of the Martyrs at the time and shut the case down, without disclosing anything further.
That report, shared with the press, showed that VOM chief Tom White died from a mixture of alcohol and prescription drugs.
The quick cover-up of the case can be interpreted either in VOM’s favor (the charges were false and concocted to destroy the organization, so there was no evidence) or against it (the charges were true but hushed up to save VOM).
White took his life before a warrant had been issued, suggesting that he had been tipped off in advance, presumably by Tom Holland, the police-chief.
Holland himself is facing two cases of discrimination.
He has been ranked 14 among America’s top 100 worst bosses.
Oddly, he was brought into the Bartlesville Police Dept. to clean it up. It had a bad reputation for corruption.
This is significant because city documents show that VOM was on the receiving end of a corrupt subsidy via tax-payers for improvements that the city had asked it to perform.
There are other questions.
According to its 2008 income tax returns, VOM has gross receipts of over $44,000,000, but spent only around $9 million for services directed for persecuted Christians, which is its stated mission as a non-profit.
That mission is what earns it tax-exempt status from the government.
VOM’s director at the time of the 2008 returns earned a six-figure salary ($140000/year).
Total salaries at VOM in 2008 amounted to over $2,000,000.
One of VOM’s principals in 2008 turns out to have been convicted twice for embezzlement.
(I am not naming him or linking the article, since I haven’t researched this personally).
Put not your trust in princes nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help…