Inside Justin Bieber's Church: 'Cult' of Rock Gigs, Child Abuse Allegation

Just when Justin Bieber is reported to start re-devoting his life to Christ, the singer's new church, Hillsong Church, is rumored to have a string of controversies. It is allegedly a cult of rock gigs and surrounded in allegations of many things, including child abuse and homophobia. A former member tells The Sun that the church is nothing more than a cult.

According to the former member, Hillsong church was founded inside a warehouse in northwest Sydney, Australia in 1983 by ex-window cleaner Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie. Back in 1999, Brian's father Frank, who was also a pastor, admitted to him that he had sexually abused a seven-year-old boy in the country 30 years earlier.
Frank reportedly would come onto the boy's room "nearly every night of the week" and molested him. However, instead of reporting his father to police, Brian went to the alleged victim and gave him a check for £6,000. Brian reportedly said to the victim, "It's your fault all this happened-you tempted my father." It is reportedly one out of nine sexual abuse allegations reported against Frank.

In addition, Alex Pittaway claims that the church has a "zero tolerance" for homosexuality. Alex, who attended the church from the early 1990s until 2008, says, "I came out when I was 15 to a youth leader. I was terrified. They preach same-sex attraction is sinful." He continues, "They also used to say masturbation was a sin," adding that the church offered him conversion therapy to "cure" his sexuality.

He goes on saying that the church has camps of up to 400 boys in Australia which will encourage the boys to strip off and go on naked runs together at night on the beach. "The pastor would get up and say: 'Shirts off'. There would be up to 400 people in the room-some as young as 13 or 14. When they would get up people would start leering and saying: 'Go to the gym and bulk up more,' " Alex adds.

Meanwhile, others claim that the church tries to use Justin, who got involved with the church in 2012 through rock star pastor Carl Lentz, to make money for the church. The church also reportedly hopes that Justin will bring more followers.

Previously, the "Sorry" hitmaker revealed in a recent interview that he enjoyed seeing people worship. "It's just real," he said. Pastor Chris Rosebrough, meanwhile, added, "Having Bieber attend is opening up to a wider audience and will have more people interested in coming." The site further reports that the church encourages its followers to donate money in cash or via an app.

Recent rumors had it that the singer canceled the rest of his "Purpose" tour due to religious reason. However, a spokesperson for the Hillsong Church claimed to Daily Mail that they had no involvement with Justin's decision. "The recent announcement by Justin Bieber about his tour does not involve Hillsong Church. We wish Justin the best for his future," the spokesperson said.