Cult Receives Government Funding

[bloodrayne]

Government 'Funding Doomsday Cult School'

A doomsday cult led by a banned "prophet" has been granted $332,000 in government funding to run a private school since 1996, it was reported today.

The Australian newspaper said William Kamm, also known as Little Pebble, was a former bank worker who once predicted a tsunami would hit Australia's east coast. He believed his converts from the Order of St Charbel would survive the apocalypse once he was appointed as the last Pope.

In the meantime, Mr Kamm's cult recently secured a $75,000 capital works grants for St Joseph's School in Cambewarra, on the NSW south coast.

The newspaper reports that the federal government had granted the school $332,000 and plans to increase grants, now $3,527 per student, by an extra $1107 per student by 2008.

Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson said he was unable to review funding as the school was accredited by the state.

Mr Kamm was denounced by the then Archbishop of Melbourne George Pell when it was revealed he asked his female converts to bear his children, claiming he possessed the "holy seed" to a breed a new race.

NSW Education Minister Andrew Refshauge told The Australian newspaper child protection authorities would be asked to review the school.

"I want to be assured that all students at the school are being taught in a safe environment," Dr Refshauge said.

"We will be waiting for a report back for the Board of Studies."

The school's principal, David Williams, said the school would not survive without federal funding.

He said while Mr Kamm had an office in the school compound and parents "backed" him, the school operated independently of him.

"Our fees are very low - $200 per year," Mr Williams said.

"We do it very tough here."

Meanwhile, the newspaper said funding for the school has concerned other Catholic groups which fear the cult could be building bunkers as a strategy to protect Mr Kamm.