Hillsong student shocked when church threatened her with a $50 fine for having sex with her boyfriend and forced her to write an essay denouncing sex before marriage
- Alyssa Harper joined the church’s Sydney college
- Another student complained that she sat next to her boyfriend.
- Forced to write an essay on sex before marriage
A former Hillsong College student has revealed she was once threatened with a fine after having sex with her boyfriend, as the celebrity-loving megachurch is under investigation by Australia’s charity watchdog.
Canadian Alyssa Harper, 22, traveled to Sydney in 2019 to join the church’s university in Australia, but was shocked when another student complained to leaders that she was sitting next to her boyfriend in public.
She was then forced to write an essay on the “dangers” of sex before marriage and told she could be fined $50 if caught in the act.
“They basically said if they’re together, sitting under a blanket in public, what could they be doing in private?” Mrs. Harper said daily telegraph.
Canadian Alyssa Harper, 22, traveled to Sydney in 2019 to join the church’s university in Australia, but was shocked when another student complained to leaders that she was sitting next to her boyfriend in public.
He explained that there was a ‘double up on your friends’ culture as parishioners believe that it shows leadership ‘you care more about Hillsong than your friends’.
The student was taken to a leader’s office and told to explain herself, where she revealed that she had sex before marriage.
She was then forced to write a traumatic essay about why sex before marriage was wrong, as she feared she would lose her visa if she was expelled from the university.
“They told us we had to read a book and we had to write an essay based on that book where we basically had to lie through our teeth and say we thought premarital sex was really bad,” she said.
He explained that there was a culture of ‘dubbing your friends’, as people believe it shows the leadership ‘you care more about Hillsong than your friends’.
It comes as the charity watchdog is investigating allegations of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion against Hillsong Church.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to reclaim tens of thousands of leaked financial records and documents showing funds were embezzled to finance lavish habits, including “the kind of purchases that would put a Kardashian to shame.”
It claimed that the information was provided to the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under the protection of the whistleblowers, but they failed to act.
Australia’s Charities and Nonprofits Commissioner Sue Woodward confirmed they are looking into the concerns.
Hillsong disputes the claims.
Brian Houston (pictured with his wife Bobbie) is also fighting allegations that he concealed his late father’s child sexual abuse, pleading not guilty to concealing the crime until his father’s death in 2004.
The Tasmanian MP claimed the documents showed former Hillsong frontman Brian Houston, who stepped down last year, was “treating private jets like Ubers”.
Over a three-month period, Houston used church money for trips that cost $179,000, including $150,000 to a luxury retreat in Cancun, Mexico, Willkie alleges.
Hillsong’s new head, Phil Dooley, is also alleged to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on business class flights for himself and his daughter.
In response to the allegations, a Hillsong statement said they were made under parliamentary privilege and were “wrong on many counts” and that it was disappointing that Mr Wilkie made no effort to contact the church first.
“Had it done so, we would have answered your questions and provided you with financial records to address your concerns,” the statement said.
Houston is also fighting allegations that she covered up her late father’s child sexual abuse and has pleaded not guilty to concealing the crime until her father’s death in 2004.
The case will resume in June.
Hillsong announced in April 2022 that it had accepted Houston’s resignation after it was discovered that he had violated the church’s moral code due to alleged inappropriate behavior toward two women.
The megachurch was founded in Australia but has become very popular in the US due to its famous members including Justin Bieber, Chris Pratt and Kourtney Kardashian.
He has come under heavy criticism for his controversial views on many issues, including “homosexuality is a sin” and his ties to anti-abortion groups.