Exclusive Brethren Leader Labels Jews ‘Wicked’, ‘Infidel’ in Leaked Sermons

The leader of the Exclusive Brethren, Bruce Hales, has been described in leaked church records as calling Jews “wicked” and “infidel,” asserting they are incapable of atonement for the sin of killing Jesus. These remarks, made over more than two decades, reflect a long-standing theological stance within the group that Jews remain in spiritual darkness and cannot reconcile with God. Hales, referred to as the “Man of God” and “Elect Vessel,” has repeatedly emphasized the Jews’ failure to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and their supposed role in His death.

In a 2009 ministry, Hales referred to Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, as a time when Jews “go on in their darkness trying to atone.” He described their actions as “lies and their iniquity, and their wickedness,” and claimed their sin was “not something they can eliminate.” Such statements align with the historical “Deicide charge,” a concept widely recognized as a key marker of antisemitism. Peter Wertheim, co-chair of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has condemned this accusation as “one of the clearest distinguishing markers of the disgrace of antisemitism.”

Despite these teachings, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church publicly condemns antisemitism as “abhorrent” and “completely antithetical to our views.” However, Hales’ rhetoric continues to include antisemitic tropes, such as referring to Jews as “the Jewish question” and attributing their influence to the devil. This contradiction highlights the tension between the church’s official stance and the views expressed by its leadership.

Hales’ teachings also include racist remarks about Asians, whom he calls “Orientals” and accuses of “mendacity,” as well as sweeping disparagement of Africa. These comments reflect a broader pattern of exclusionary and derogatory language that has drawn criticism from various groups and individuals.

The church is currently under scrutiny for its undisclosed $10 million campaign supporting the Coalition during the last federal election. This covert operation, revealed by The Australian, involved neo-Nazi associates who were paid to tail and harass MPs and disrupt events for opposition parties. The campaign reached the highest levels of the church, with Hales’ son, Gareth, among the senior elders directly involved. Both Hales and Gareth have been called to give evidence to a parliamentary committee regarding these activities.

The Coalition has defended the Brethren church’s involvement, but the revelations have raised significant ethical and legal concerns. The church’s actions have sparked debates about the intersection of religious influence, political engagement, and the potential for harmful rhetoric to impact public discourse. As the parliamentary inquiry proceeds, the focus remains on the church’s role in the election and the implications of its leadership’s statements and actions.

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