PEOPLE OF PRAISE BANS WOMEN FROM USING PERFUME, LARGE BELT BUCKLES AND THONGS

Ex member of Amy Coney Barrett's ultra-conservative Christian group spills its secrets: Perfume and thongs are banned while single women can only wear white cotton undies - and no large belt buckles because they draw attention to crotch

 

By Martin Gould 

Daily Mail

October 12, 2020

In the secretive world of the ultra-conservative People of Praise, large belt buckles are considered a sin.

'They draw attention to the crotch region,' a former member told DailMail.com exclusively.

Perfume and cologne are banned for similar reasons. 'That would indicate you are trying to tempt someone with pheromones,' the ex-member explained.

And single women are told they can only wear plain white cotton panties. 'Certainly, no thongs —not that anyone is going to see their underwear anyway,' the member, who asked for anonymity, said.

These are just some of the rules that Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was raised under as a member of People of Praise, a mainly Roman Catholic faith group that boasts fewer than 1,700 adult members.

Barrett's hearing to see if she should sit on the nation's highest court gets underway on Monday. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee are pulling out all the stops to prevent her confirmation as they worry it would tip the balance of the court to the right for decades to come.

But Republicans, led by Judiciary Committee chairman Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, are determined to push her nomination through in near-record time in case President Donald Trump loses next month's election to Joe Biden.

If confirmed, Barrett, 48, would replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg who died last month, and give conservatives a 6-3 majority on the court.

Barrett was brought up in Metairie, Louisiana, as a member of People of Praise. Her father, Mike Coney, a former oil company lawyer, has been a leading member for decades. Her attorney-husband, Jesse, 46, whom she met while both were students at Notre Dame University, was also raised in the group.

People of Praise is headquartered in Notre Dame's hometown, South Bend, Indiana, and many of its leading members have ties to the university. According to its website, the group has branches in 14 states as well as one in Canada and two in the Caribbean. It runs three Grades 7-through-12 Trinity Schools and one elementary school.

Both mother-of-seven Barrett — who lives in South Bend — and People of Praise seem to have gone to extraordinary lengths to hide her affiliation. Articles mentioning her were removed from the group's website shortly before she was to be considered for a seat on the Federal Appeals Court in 2017.

Last month, after DailyMail.com discovered a picture of two of her children at a community picnic in a 2007 issue of the group's magazine Vine & Branches, the magazine's entire archive was removed from the web.

Barrett's ties to People of Praise only became public when the New York Times broke the story three weeks after her confirmation hearing, but before the committee had voted. The committee eventually split along party lines to confirm her. Three Democrats voted with the Republican majority in the vote in the full Senate.

Potential federal judges have to fill out a lengthy questionnaire for senators who are considering their nomination. 

One of the questions calls for them to list 'all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable or other organizations' that they have belonged to since high school. 

Barrett listed various committees she had been on at Notre Dame as well as the conservative Federalist Society and a country club in South Bend.

She also said she had been on the board of Trinity School but neglected to mention that Trinity is run by People of Praise.

Group spokesman Sean Connolly refused to confirm that Barrett is a member. 'Like most religious communities, People of Praise leaves it up to its members to decide whether to publicly disclose their involvement in our community,' he told DailyMail.com.

He did not comment on other claims made by the former People of Praise member.

Barrett has never publicly said she is a member, although she is almost certain to be asked the question during her confirmation hearing.

Her views on abortion are sure to be central in in the committee. Just last week she was forced to add details to her questionnaire revealing she signed on to an advertisement reaffirming support for the 'commitment to right to life.'

People of Praise is strongly anti-abortion. It also rejects homosexuality. 'Both are seen as being accepted by human law, but rejected by divine law,' the former member explained.

'Homosexual relationships are taboo, and any LGBTQ inclinations are seen as temptations that must be overcome through prayer. If that fails, the member must lead a life of chastity.'

Even dating is a no-no until a member has 'prayed through their state in life' and decided they are ready to 'marry for the Lord.' If they have not committed themselves to marriage, they must not date.

'Dating before you are ready for marriage is prohibited,' the former member said. 'And sex outside marriage is strictly forbidden. Violating either of these two rules will result in expulsion.

'Courtship is allowed, but only with the intended purpose of finding your partner for your marriage in the Lord.

'If a single male member who has prayed through his state in life asks out a single female who has prayed through her state in life, she must go on at least two dates with him to see if they are compatible.'

But even then, there are limits as to how close the couple can get. 'Physical intimacy between couples should only be as much as you would be willing to do if your own father is sitting there watching you,' the former member told DailyMail.com.

Members who are committed to marriage are allowed to date more than one person at a time as the entire purpose of courtship is to find a suitable spouse.

The group is probably best known for its doctrine that women must obey their husbands in everything, and its system where all men and single women must report to their mentor — called a 'head'. Husbands act as the 'head' for their wives.

The 'heads' have such influence they give direction on who a member should date or even marry, how to raise children, whether to take a new job and where to live.

The ex-member said he had heard of cases when the 'head' insisted on being involved in even the most personal parts of a member's life.

'Mental illnesses and addictions are perceived as demonic possessions or influences,' he said. 'Seeking outside therapy is allowed, but members report that their 'heads' sometimes ask to attend their therapy sessions.'

Until recently the female leader was known as a 'handmaid.' But that title was dropped after the success of the dystopian TV show The Handmaid's Tale and the negative connotations it brought to the title. 

Author Margaret Atwood, who wrote the original novel, said it was based on a group that has similar views to People of Praise.

The group has strong views on gender roles. 'There is a large emphasis on embodying masculine characteristics and mannerisms,' the former member said. 'Men are told they may not have piercings or long hair because it will make them look effeminate.'