She is tired of being called a cult leader over and over again. Because according to her, Our Living Room is not a cult at all, but merely a group of friends who like to delve into the spiritual. That's all. Reason why Erna Ernst has now hired a lawyer. Bottom line: she wants the police to investigate. She breaks the silence and tells her story for the first time. Heavily emotional: "All these allegations are based on pure lies, coming from four people who are conducting a smear campaign against me."
by Jan Colijn and Vincent Moes
The Hengelo book writer and cult expert Frank Krake applauds such an investigation: "Let everyone bare their bottoms, it will show what exactly is going on here."
Big Brother house
A monumental residential farmhouse in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Hengelo. Everything seems pais and vree. But the security cameras hanging in various places actually tell a very different story.
Because those cameras are there for a reason, says Erna Ernst. She and her husband, she says, are frequently besieged. On their own property even. "It is certainly no fun to live in such a Big Brother house, but we simply have no choice."
By birth, Erna Ernst (66) is a music teacher. Studied at the conservatory. And regularly played in church. She found that immense organ magical. The mother of two grown-up daughters, then still living in the polder, became inspired by the spiritual. So outside of her work at the music school in Emmeloord, she started giving reiki courses. And during those reiki sessions, more and more often the subject was also spiritual.
Wandering souls
It was the prelude to Light Meetings, as the sessions are called. During such a session, those present take their seats in a circle. Then it's all about bringing so-called wandering souls to The Light, or heaven. In the book written by herself Light Meeting she explains how she does it.
Opposite East News she further explains. "A wandering soul is someone who has died, but whose soul is still wandering on earth. During such a meeting I, as a Circle Leader, come into contact with him or her. I can then talk through another attendee, who acts as a medium. And then we lead such a soul to The Light. You can believe it or not, but that's how it works. And we are not unique in that, you know. There are lots of groups like ours."
The sessions were attended in the polder by some forty to fifty sympathizers. But in 2017, she and her "new lover" - as she calls him - moved to Hengelo. There she buys a monumental farmhouse that dates from the beginning of the last century. Light Meetings were still held in Twente for some time, but in 2019 they pulled the plug.
Retired
The reason? "I am retired," says Erna Ernst. "Also because of my health. Stress does a lot to your body. It hits my legs, so I can't walk anymore. And I have a lot of allergy attacks. Stress kills a body."
Yet now she may be busier than ever with Our Living Room. Because since last year she has been under fire. Reason: Our Living Room goes through life today as a cult and she is said to be the great cult leader.
Pure nonsense, she tells herself. According to her, this is the work of four people who are engaged in a smear campaign. Out of frustration because the loved ones of these four people, who would still be part of Our Living Room, want nothing more to do with their former loved ones.
Looking in mirror
But according to Erna Ernst, in one case the marriage had already broken down before the wife joined Our Living Room. And that husband needs to take a look in the mirror, as far as she is concerned.
This broadcaster has recently been in contact with several people who say they have been duped by Our Living Room. Because their wife or children have disowned them. This includes the story of a father who was kept away from the birth of his child.
In a number of cases, they are no longer allowed to see their loved ones or children. Or visitation arrangements with the offspring are often extremely awkward, to say the least. According to critics as a result of Erna Ernst's spheres of influence.
These aggrieved people only want to tell their stories anonymously. Because they fear unpleasant reactions in their social network or at work. Or for fear that the fragile contacts with their loved ones will be permanently destroyed.
Cult expert
Frank Krake from Hengelo is the author of several bestsellers and several years ago wrote a book about Hannelore, a girl who grew up in a cult. For this book, he spent two years researching cults, of which our country has dozens.
Since then, Krake has been nationally regarded as a cult expert. He is aware of the existence of Our Living Room. "Indeed, two years ago I received a cry for help from some of the participants in this group. They were deeply concerned and wanted to talk to me."
But whether this is a cult? "That is indeed the big question. That is a very gray area. We have freedom of religion and freedom of speech in the Netherlands. And the people who join a group, religious or not, are adults and free to go wherever they want. So who then determines whether or not a particular group is sectarian?"
Using common sense
For Erna Ernst, it is blatantly obvious: that she is now going through life as a cult leader is purely and simply due to a four people who are targeting her because their loved ones have joined her. She stresses, however, that she does not owe anyone anything. "On the contrary. At every meeting I always emphasized that everyone is free to go wherever they want. And I have always said above all to use one's own common sense. Think, you have your free will and use it."
Declaration
Reason for Erna Ernst to hire a lawyer and file libel and slander charges against her rivals. But the Justice Department refused to investigate. When asked, a spokeswoman for the Public Prosecutor's Office let it be known that the challenged statements about Erna Ernst "lack a punishable character." Reason to refrain from criminal prosecution.
But Erna Ernst doesn't leave it at that. She is seeking higher ground. Her counsel Jordi L'Homme of the renowned law firm Kötter, L'Homme and Plasman Lawyers in Amsterdam reports that he is starting a so-called Article 12 procedure via a special complaint. In that case, the court can order the OM and police to still conduct a police investigation.
"So what my client is seeking is for criminal prosecution to still take place. That the police will investigate how all this came about. Because what is alleged about my client is demonstrably false. There is libel and slander here."
Welcoming research
Cult expert Frank Krake welcomes such an investigation. "I think it is a very good thing that an independent body like the Public Prosecutor's Office is looking into this. Then the alleged victims can tell their stories. Then this lady can tell her side of the story. Let everyone bare their bottoms. And then we will find out what happened. And whether or not this is a cult? It is good that there is clarity. Because that there are people who are worried about what is happening there, that worries me. At the same time: there may be things happening that may not be wanted, but that doesn't mean they are punishable. She was never convicted."
Fighting for honor
Erna Ernst fills up as she talks about what the allegations are doing to her. Moved to tears: "This does a lot to me. It causes an enormous amount of stress, which in turn leads to physical complaints. My whole life has been destroyed. And to think that we already stopped in 2019. And then years later we are still getting all this misery on us. They are terrible lies. We are not a cult and never have been!"
She says, therefore, as long as she is able, she will continue to fight for rehabilitation: "I want to see my name cleared. Not only for myself, but also for my children. And what about my grandchildren? They will soon be able to read back these stories about me forever. Because those stories, based on terrible lies, will of course always remain on the Internet. A mother or grandmother who is a cult leader... I want the police to get to the bottom of this. The truth must come to light."
