‘Exploited’ Follower Wins $1.5 Million From Church

The Church Universal and Triumphant and its spiritual leader were ordered by a jury this morning to pay more than $1.5 million to the church’s former architect, who had claimed his faith was exploited to milk him of his assets.

Gregory Mull, 64, had contended that Elizabeth Clare Prophet and the Calabasas-based church gained mental control of him through sleep deprivation, fasting and high-speed prayers. He claimed that as a result, his marriage broke up, his successful architecture business had to be sold and he was left penniless.

He also said that the church ruined his health when it labeled him the “Beast of Blasphemy” and prayed against him. Mull has multiple sclerosis.

After the verdict was announced, Mull said he thought the Los Angeles Superior Court jury had been fair, although he had hoped to get at least $33 million more.

“I was a victim of this cult for six years,” he said.

Mull said he might use the money to expose the church’s practices, which he said have caused many people to lose everything.

Church attorney Ken Klein said the decision will be appealed.