Sylvia Browne
Sylvia Browne (born, Sylvia Celeste Shoemaker: October 19, 1936) is a self-proclaimed "psychic" and author of many books on the subject of spirituality. Browne is a celebrity psychic, medium, and occultist, having appeared regularly on the Montel Williams television show and others. She leads her own church, the Society of Novus Spiritus. Browne advertises services through her website, employs other "mediums" and generates income through lectures, "Spiritual Salons" and telephone readings. [1]. Many have questioned her credibility in light of unfulfilled claims she has made, such as telling the parents of a kidnapped boy, Shawn Hornbeck, that their son was deceased. Shawn was later found alive with another kidnapped child.[2]. In 2004 Browne also incorrectly informed the mother of kidnapped Amanda Berry that her daughter was dead; Amanda was found alive in May 2013. [3] In fact, Browne has been proven wrong many times over, not only telling parents that their children are dead when they are alive, but also the opposite, that they are alive, when they are actually no longer living. [4] This unethical activity on the part of Browne has caused heartache and grief for parents, as well as wasted time for law enforcement officials who have attempted to follow up on her "leads". In 2006, Robert S. Lancaster created a website called "Stop Sylvia Browne", which details her incorrect predictions. There are currently few rules or restrictions pertaining to those claiming to be psychics, mediums, fortune-tellers, tarot readers, occultists, etc.; they are largely unregulated and need no license to practice. [5]
References
- ↑ http://www.novus.org/home/support_novus.cfm
- ↑ http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/articles/montel_shawnhornbeck.shtml
- ↑ http://gma.yahoo.com/psychic-said-amanda-berry-dead-silent-berry-found-212849667--abc-news-topstories.html
- ↑ http://www.csicop.org/si/show/psychic_defective_sylvia_brownes_history_of_failure
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11409477
