MORE SOLAR TEMPLE
DEATHS REPORTED

Shrouded somewhat by media attention directed at the suicides of Marshall Applewhite and 38 of his Heaven’s Gate followers, five more members of the Solar Temple cult also committed suicide by burning themselves to death in Quebec. Two men and three women died March 22 in the fire that destroyed a St. Casmin home owned by a member of the sect. Four of the deceased were found positioned to form a cross in a bedroom of the wood-paneled house.

The Solar Temple receives continued attention because of the repeated and ongoing death pacts of its members. In 1994, 53 of its members died by suicide or murder in various locations in Switzerland and Canada. The following year, 16 more of its members were found dead in a home near the French Alps.

In the previous occurrences, adult members of the group apparently killed their children before killing themselves. But in the most recent incident, three teen-age children were found drugged and confused in a shed nearby the destroyed home. According to police spokesman, Mathias Tellier, “On Saturday, the children spoke to their parents and were given the choice of staying or leaving and they chose to take refuge outside the house.” “The children took sleeping pills, to lessen their pain or sadness over what was happening inside the house,” Tellier added.

The sun-worshiping sect believes a fiery death is a necessity to arrive in the afterlife. Those who burn themselves to death are said to be reborn in a place called “Sirius.” Many who are members of the suicide cult are said to be well-to-do professionals.

—MKG

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