Nun Squares Up Against Buddhist Abbots in California Religious Lawsuit

A religious battle is playing out in California courts. On one side, a Buddhist nun claims that she was sexually assaulted by two abbots. On the other hand, the abbots claim that this nun is guilty of extortion, theft, and immigration fraud. Who is telling the truth? This question will ultimately be decided by the courts, but this story leaves room for plenty of speculation in the meantime. 

Buddhist Nun Claims She Was Raped Three Times by an Abbot

It was recently reported that a Buddhist nun had sued two abbots at the Dieu Ngu Buddhist Temple in Westminster. One of these abbots allegedly raped her three times while she was working at the temple, and the plaintiff claims that he ventured into the women-only dormitory before committing these acts. She also reports that the religious official was intoxicated when these incidents occurred. 

The plaintiff says she attempted to report these experiences but was expelled from the temple before she could do so. The hierarchy then sent her to live in a different temple, which the alleged assailant’s brother controlled. The lawsuit states that once she arrived, the nun was informed that her visa had expired – and that she’d have to leave the country. This eventually led to her expulsion from both temples, and the hierarchy continued to interfere with her efforts to report the alleged sexual assault. 

Wrapped up in this story is the manner of the woman’s arrival in the United States. She claims that she was lured to the country with promises of a religious worker visa, eventual citizenship, and another green card for her nephew. However, the plaintiff states that her actual experiences were very different. Once she arrived, she claims she was put to work for 15 hours a day, earning just a few hundred dollars per month. Her duties included office admin, selling food, cooking, claiming, and landscaping. Finally, she claims that she was confined to a tiny room with no windows, bathroom, heating, or air-conditioning. 

The Abbots’ Side of the Story

Predictably, the abbots tell a very different story. In a counter-suit highlighted by the Los Angeles Daily News, these two defendants deny most of the plaintiff’s claims. They say that the sexual assault never occurred, and that the woman committed many illegal and fraudulent acts while working at the temple. These alleged acts include stealing thousands of dollars in donations and attempting a sham marriage to get a marriage visa. 

Perhaps the most important allegation made by these abbots is that the woman tried to extort them with “damaging claims and photographs.” In other words, these monks say that they were being blackmailed. Finally, they argue that the woman was not subjected to poor working conditions and that she agreed to receive only $400 per month as part of her “vow of poverty” taken by all Buddhist nuns. 

Who is Telling the Truth?

So who is telling the truth? This “he said, she said” scenario seems destined for the courts, and we can only hope that the truth eventually comes out. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each month, various lawsuits test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there are still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.