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Re: Theos-World FW: In Defense of Radha Burnier

Aug 26, 2003 09:09 PM
by Bart Lidofsky


Eldon B tucker wrote:
Here's an response from Pedro Oliveira to Bart's message. Since Pedro isn't
subscribed, the message bounced to me. I wrote him about it and he said he'd
like it forwarded to the list.
Thank you, Eldon. I have a couple of early comments, but I want to reserve complete comments until I check out a couple of sources that may back up Pedro's account. I have met Pedro, and, from my own experience and all accounts, find him to be an honorable person. I therefore have no reason to doubt his sincerity or honesty. I am therefore assuming his information is correct.

Having worked with Radha Burnier for four and half years (1992-1996)
at Adyar I would like to set the record straigth regarding numerous
accusations against her in this forum. She is the constitutionally
elected President of the Theosophical Society, with International
Headquarters at Adyar, since 1980, and re-elected ever since by the
overwhelming majority of members of that Society.
A) Most members of the Society have no idea what is going on politically. Any communication between members other than the official channels has been strongly discouraged. It is virtually impossible for any member opposing the administration to get their objections heard, except by a handful.

B) NOBODY here has questioned the legality of what Radha did. The International Bylaws clearly give the President the ability to withdraw the charter of any section, at any time, for any reason. She can quite legally withdraw the charter of a section because she doesn't like the color of the President's eyes, if she wants. It doesn't mean that she SHOULD.

CANADA: In December 1991, at the General Council meeting, Radha
Burnier put before the Council the fact that the then Canadian
Section of the TS had ammended its Rules and in doing so had
eliminated each and every reference to the International Headquarters
at Adyar. The Rules of the TS say that every Section (as well as
every Lodge/Branch) derives its Charter (and existence) from the
Parent Society. After examining the question the General Council
decided that by ignoring the Rules of the TS and eliminating all
references to the International Headquarters from its rules, the
Canadian Section had cut itself off from the Parent Society. There
was no "excommunication".
The Canadian Section was forced to do this by the Canadian Government in order to retain their not-for-profit status. According to members of the dissolved section with whom I have discussed the issue, there was absolutely no attempt by Adyar to work out some sort of solution.

In the cases of Yugoslavia and Denmark, I am curious as to whether or not there was evidence that there was gong to be an attempt of transfer of property to either New Acropolis, the Arcane School, or the Lucis Trust (and if the Danish group's property has been transferred to either the Arcane School or the Lucis Trust since. Mort?).

Bart Lidofsky







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