Dave Pack: You can be praised if you lie under the right circumstances

The Dark Side of Armstrongism: The Attleboro Sect - The Body of Christ - Roland Robidoux

The Attleboro Sect, also known as "The Body" or "The Body of Christ," was a small, insular Christian fundamentalist group based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and nearby Seekonk, that gained notoriety in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to its extreme practices and the tragic deaths of two infants. Below is a comprehensive overview of the sect, focusing on its history, beliefs, key events, and aftermath, with particular attention to its activities around 1980 and beyond, based on available information.

Origins and Formation (1970s–1980s)

The Attleboro Sect began in the late 1970s, founded by Roland Robidoux, a former pastor ordained in the Worldwide Church of God (WCOG) in Rhode Island in 1975. After leaving WCOG in 1977 due to internal scandals, Roland, along with his wife Georgette and defector Brian Weeks, established the Church of God in Mansfield, Massachusetts, which later moved to Norton and then North Attleboro by 1986. The group eventually adopted the name "The Body of Christ" in 1998.

By around 1980, the sect was in its early stages, operating as a Bible study group with a focus on strict Christian fundamentalism. It consisted primarily of two extended families, the Robidoux and Daneau clans, living semi-communally in Attleboro and Seekonk. The group was relatively open in the early 1980s, occasionally proselytizing for new members until 1997. At its peak in 1995, it had about 40 members, including 19 children.

Beliefs and Practices

The Attleboro Sect’s beliefs were rooted in a radical interpretation of Christianity, heavily influenced by the teachings of Carol Balizet’s Home in Zion Ministries, adopted around 1997. Key tenets included:

Rejection of Modern Systems: The sect rejected what they called "Satan’s seven counterfeit systems," including modern medicine, government, education, legal systems, and media. They believed these institutions were corrupt and opposed to God’s will.

Divine Revelations: The group placed immense importance on personal "visions" or "leadings" from God, which they believed provided direct guidance. These revelations often dictated daily decisions, including extreme actions like dietary restrictions.

Ascetic and Insular Lifestyle: Members lived communally, socialized only within the group, and avoided mainstream society. They rejected conventional practices like celebrating birthdays (due to perceived pagan origins of candles) and wearing glasses, even for those with poor vision.

Home Schooling and Isolation: Children were home-schooled to avoid secular education, and the group increasingly isolated itself from the outside world, especially after 1997.

No Medical Intervention: The sect’s rejection of modern medicine led to dangerous practices, such as refusing prenatal care, hospital births, or medical treatment for illnesses, believing God would provide healing.

Journal Keeping: Members meticulously documented their activities in journals, believing they were writing "Scripture" as God’s chosen people. These journals later became critical evidence in legal proceedings.

Leadership and Structure

Jacques Robidoux

Initially led by Roland Robidoux, the sect saw a shift in leadership in 1997 when Roland unilaterally appointed his son, Jacques Robidoux, as an "Elder" at age 23. Jacques became the de facto leader, intensifying the group’s radical practices. The sect operated without checks and balances, with leaders claiming a "direct pipeline to God," allowing them to make unaccountable decisions. This hierarchical structure suppressed individual thought and freedom, leading experts to describe the group as a "high-control destructive" organization with cult-like characteristics.

Key Events and Tragedies (Late 1990s–2000)

The sect’s extreme practices culminated in the deaths of two infants, which brought national attention and legal scrutiny:

Death of Samuel Robidoux (April 1999):Samuel, the 10-month-old son of Jacques and Karen Robidoux, died of starvation after Jacques, following a "vision" from his sister Michelle Mingo, restricted Samuel’s diet to almond milk. Karen, pregnant at the time and not lactating, could not provide sufficient nutrition. Jacques believed that God would protect Samuel or that he could resurrect him if harm occurred. The infant’s deterioration was documented in a chilling journal, later used as evidence.

Death of Jeremiah Corneau (August 1999):Jeremiah, the newborn son of David and Rebecca Corneau, died during a home birth without medical assistance. Authorities believed he could have survived with routine medical intervention, such as clearing his lungs, but the sect’s rejection of medicine prevented this. The Corneaus claimed the baby was stillborn.

Burial in Baxter State Park: Both infants’ bodies were buried in Baxter State Park, Maine, during a group camping trip in 1999. The sect towed the bodies in a red trailer, and Jacques Robidoux, David Corneau, and others buried them in the woods. The children’s accounts of this trip later helped authorities locate the bodies.

Investigation and Legal Consequences

The sect’s activities came to light in November 1999 when Dennis Mingo, a former member who left in 1998 due to concerns about the group’s extremism, turned over incriminating journals to the police. Mingo’s five children, whom he regained custody of, provided crucial information about the deaths and the burial site.

Investigation:

Police began investigating in November 1999 after suspecting Samuel’s death. The children’s testimony revealed details about the Maine trip and the burial of two infants. Multiple searches in Baxter State Park were initially unsuccessful, but David Corneau, granted immunity, led police to the bodies on October 25, 2000.

Legal Outcomes:

Jacques Robidoux: Convicted of first-degree murder in June 2002 for Samuel’s death, sentenced to life without parole. He later sought a new trial, claiming he was brainwashed and should have pursued an insanity defense, but appeals were unsuccessful.

Karen Robidoux: Cleared of second-degree murder using a battered women’s defense, arguing she was under the sect’s control. She was convicted of assault and sentenced to time served.

Michelle Mingo: Pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and was sentenced to time served.

David and Rebecca Corneau: Not charged in Jeremiah’s death, as it was deemed a stillbirth, but they lost custody of their four children and faced legal battles over another pregnancy.

Roland Robidoux: Never charged and died of natural causes in 2006.

Other Members: By June 2000, eight members were arrested, and 13 children were taken into state custody. Most children were placed with relatives outside the sect.

Aftermath and Impact

Child Welfare: The 19 children in the sect faced significant trauma from the breakup of their communal family. By 2002, most were adopted or placed with non-sect relatives, with reports indicating they were adjusting well. The children’s cooperation was pivotal in solving the case, as they were less indoctrinated than adults.

Public and Expert Analysis: Experts like Robert Pardon, who studied the sect extensively, described it as a "destructive" group with cult-like traits, including mind control and suppression of individual freedom. The sect’s rejection of medical care and extreme isolation were compared to groups like the Branch Davidians or Heaven’s Gate, though it was smaller and less focused on recruitment.

Legacy: The Attleboro Sect remains a cautionary tale of how religious extremism can lead to tragic outcomes. Its story has been covered in true crime podcasts, such as True Crime New England (2024) and Cults (2020), highlighting its impact on the local community and broader discussions about cults and child welfare.

Context Around 1980

The sect’s most notorious activities occurred in the late 1990s. In 1980, the group was still forming, operating as a Bible study group under Roland Robidoux’s leadership. It had not yet adopted the extreme practices that defined its later years, such as rejecting medical care or following divine "visions." By this time, the group was likely focused on communal living and strict Christian teachings, with members like Dennis Mingo describing early years as relatively benign, centered on weekly Bible studies. The shift toward radicalism began in the mid-1990s, particularly after Jacques Robidoux’s rise to leadership in 1997.

More information here:

I-Team: 'Holy God, I Killed My Own Son,' Former Cult Leader Jacques Robidoux Wants To Help Others Avoid Mind Control

Crime New England: Episode 162: The Children of the Attleboro Cult

Attleboro Sect Part 1,  Attleboro Sect: Roland and Jacques Robidoux Pt. 2

Witness describes insular, ascetic life in Attleboro sect

Children of Attleboro religious sect aided investigation

When the fog lifts  Former cult leader and convicted murderer Jacques Robidoux says he experienced a transformation in prison, and now he wants others to avoid the crooked path he trod

MISANDRY ANGIE The Attleboro Sect 1/5

Here on Banned:

Jaques Rubidoux: COG Splinter Group Leader Who Starved His 10 Month Old Son To Death Now Realizes How Wrong He Was

Church of God Couple In Prison Over Beating Children With 2"x4"s, Metal Pipes, and Whips

 

 

PCG’s “Celtic Throne” is Falun Gong’s “Shen Yun”

Celtic Throne - Israel and UK Tour

As we've followed the Philadelphia Church of God's Irish Dance troupe touring globally with its Celtic Throne production, recently performing in Israel and the UK, one thing stands out: the lack of clarity about who is behind the production.

The Exit and Support Network recently highlighted the Philadelphia Church of God's deceptive practices in concealing the true organizers of the show. This mirrors the concerts at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, fully funded by the Worldwide Church of God but presented under the guise of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation to obscure its true backers.

Armstrongism has a history of employing "justified lying" in its public outreach efforts.

WHAT’S BEHIND CELTIC THRONE PRODUCTION?

You would never know that there’s a “church” behind Celtic Throne production–in fact they go to great lengths to hide it. In media interviews, they never mention the name of the “church” which is Philadelphia Church of God. And in the play bills, they portray it as being backed by a “Cultural Foundation.” The website? Nary a mention of the “church” underwriting it or its intended religious purpose.

Philadelphia Church of God on X, PCG News, is FULL of activities:summer camps
acquisition of properties in other countries a global Irish dance production (which you have to BUY tickets to attend) construction of a massive new farm, including a huge barn and landscaping project in Edmond firewood and flower sales fundraisers

Lacking in all of these activities is anything related to the scriptural commands from Christ as in Matthew 25:34-41.

When I was a member, and to my knowledge still today, the PCG has never:helped communities that have faced a natural disaster provided meals, shelter, clothing for the poor in their community had any community outreach program that served prisoners (other than an incarcerated member or two)
served the non-members sick or elderly in the community they live in given away a single copy of the Bible, the living Word of God

In fact, the third tithe the PCG demands from its wrung-out members for ‘the fatherless and the widow’ was rarely doled out, and when it was, it was often given as a loan that had to be paid back, clearly violating the biblical instruction. (More than one headquarters employee has resigned or been asked to leave for their disagreement with how PCG was utilizing funds under their tax exempt status.)

Everything the PCG does essentially distills down to a self-aggrandizing agenda that transfers wealth from the general membership and concentrates it among a few privileged individuals and families at its “headquarters” locations, under the auspices of “the work.”

Today the PCG believes that its multi-million dollar, ego-driven Irish dance production literally IS “the work.” (Spoiler alert: church head, Gerald Flurry believes he’s the current Davidic King sitting on the throne portrayed in the show.)

How’s “the work” going? (By the way, you have to PAY to watch it, violating the command in Proverbs 23:23: “Buy the truth and sell it not…”)

PCG characterizes Celtic throne as a,”…trailblazing new show, a fusion of Irish dance, music, theater and cinema…” The PCG’s “Celtic Throne” is Falun Gong’s “Shen Yun”, a highly sanitized cultural experience that is more akin to a subtle recruiting and indoctrination tool.

Further, the Celtic Throne production is a colossal, “church” funded act of self-infatuation to allow a handful of elite “headquarters” families an opportunity to garner fame and massage their ever-growing egos on the international stage. Even the Jerusalem Post made this observation: “They really are family – well, five families, to be exact. It’s the Irish dance version of the Von Trapps.”

How effective have they been at their mission?

“The storyline may be tough to follow and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – some ancient Irish guy going from Jerusalem to the Emerald Isle…”

The cerebral self-stimulation they call “the work” hits home as nothing more than “two hours of high-octane dance.” Cited article: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-857316

The PCG today wouldn’t recognize itself from 20 years ago. At that time, their purported purpose was to deliver a “watchman’s warning message” and to restore the teachings of its spiritual founder, Herbert Armstrong, whom they considered “God’s apostle.” Today, the church has quite literally re-written those teachings, and transformed into yet one more secular “church” cloaked under a 501(c)(3), amassing concentrated wealth and bestowing privileged lifestyles to its elite members (fancy performance halls, exclusive coaching, private jet travel, ostentatious homes on a private compound), on the backs of the rank and file who are giving away up to 40% of their post-tax income.

Dig deeper and you’ll find stories of families ripped apart, suicides, broken marriages, preventable deaths and general confusion, depression, and disillusionment.

It’s questionable whether the Philadelphia Church of God has any of God’s presence in it at all.

By Ivan (former PCG member)
June 23, 2025