Secretive Christian Sect Embroiled in Global Child Sex Abuse Scandal Refuses to Reveal Wealth, Leaving Victims in the Dark
- Survivors of the Two by Twos sect demand financial transparency to access compensation for historical child sex abuse
- The group, also known as the Truth or the Way, has been accused of hiding millions of dollars in trusts and private accounts
- Leaders claim the sect has no money, but documents reveal a complex web of finances, including a $1.55 million property sale
- Victims’ advocates estimate the sect’s global assets could exceed $500 million, but the group remains tight-lipped about its wealth
The Two by Twos, a secretive Christian sect at the centre of a global child sex abuse investigation, is under fire for refusing to disclose its wealth, leaving victims struggling to access compensation.
Survivors of the sect, also known as the Truth or the Way, claim that a lack of financial transparency is preventing them from getting the help they need. “It’s an unknown quantity [how much money the sect has],” said Jillian Hishon, a former member who runs a survivor hotline. “They get left money in wills and estates. There is no tracking of it, that’s why it’s so hard to know.”
Documents obtained by the ABC reveal that the sect relies on followers and private trusts to pay for property, insurance, and internal investigations into abuse allegations. In January 2023, senior leader Graeme Dalton wrote to members explaining that a convention site near Mudgee in New South Wales was due to be sold, with the proceeds to be used for “any improvements at other grounds… or the support of workers and needs overseas”. However, when questioned by the ABC, Mr Dalton backtracked, claiming the convention grounds were “privately owned or privately managed under trust arrangements” and the “fellowship does not direct or receive funds”.
The sect’s use of private trusts and member-funded expenses appears to be replicated internationally, with advocates estimating that there may be thousands of trusts connected to the sect worldwide, with combined assets possibly exceeding $500 million.
Former member Laura McConnell-Conti told the Victoria Parliament’s Inquiry into the Recruitment Methods and Impacts of Cults that the sect “refuses to register church entities or corporate entities and implement legally binding accountability structures anywhere in the world”. She added that the sect’s use of family trusts and wealthy donors had resulted in survivors being unable to access redress through the Federal Redress Scheme.
Ms Hishon said survivors wanted leaders to acknowledge the sect’s resources and assist victims. “They need to stop saying that ‘We’ve got no money, we don’t have bank accounts’ and admit to what they have,” she said. “We know that they’ve been left lots and lots of money in estates. They get given lots of money.”
The sect’s leader, Graeme Dalton, said the fellowship was still intending to participate in the National Redress Scheme, but advocates remain skeptical. “We will continue to monitor progress and provide any additional assistance as requested,” Mr Dalton said. However, with the sect’s wealth remaining a mystery, victims are left wondering if they will ever receive the justice they deserve.