The individual Heaven's Gate follower known as "WESLody ", AKA, Wes Simmons, has posted a rather scathing response to my recent article on the group on the website NowPublic.com.

Mark Schneider, with NowPublic, has generously allowed me to respond
to WESLody's post, for which we would like to express our sincere gratitude. 

The points posted below are from a post, which can be accessed:
Heaven's Gate Reaction To Mutilating Article By Patrick Cooke

WESLody states: 
"I received an E-mail from him a while ago. He wanted to hear some of my statements about who we were, why we chose Heaven's Gate as truth etc. I had a bad feeling of this man without even reading up on who he was.  "

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            I presume WESLody is implying, right from the start that he is able to determine a person’s motivations from some special source.  Here is the relevant content of the email I sent to him:
            "I am an investigative researcher in the field of exotheology and about to publish an article on the revival of the Heaven's Gate group, which will soon be in wide distribution throughout the UFO community.  It is very critical of the possible resurrection of Heaven's Gate and I would like to make contact with someone connected representing this group before I publish the article." 
            "If anyone receiving this email is interested in contacting me, or has an interest in an interview on a major talk show, please, respond to this email address.  I can also be reached directly at the phone number I will provide below.  I would be willing to call a representative, as well, if a number and time to call is provided.   I appreciate any consideration given to this matter."
            I could no be more straight-forward or direct with him.  Claiming he somehow sensed "bad feeling of this man" is questionable considering I clearly stated that I was "about to publish an article on the revival of the Heaven's Gate.....", which was "very critical of the possible resurrection of Heaven's Gate". 

WESLody states: 
"I told him that we weren't interested because of how the general media, except a small percent of neutral reporters, are hungry wolves. These hungry wolves seek to misinterpret, maim and mangle our peace and harmony with the Next Level. "

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            What WESLody actually stated is as follows:
            "We feel that we don't have to come onto a talk show to prove it- especially to a world that throws stones at us."
            "Some media outlets said to us that they will not take us at our word unless we give them our names and make public appearances."
            "We need not prove to anybody that we exist. If they wish to live a lie and believe that "Heaven's Gate" is defunct, well, that's their life- that's their lie."
            I never asked for anyone to "prove" anything, nor did I request names or any personal information.  In fact, on their website, Heaven's Gate Lives: Apocalypse Now, one will find many names and personal information on the new members of Heaven's Gate.   

WESLody states: 
"I apologized to him later for being a bit abrupt with him. I got no response and don't intend on accepting his response after reading his article on us. I forwarded him to another member, XFody."

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            This is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts.  I did not receive a response from WESLody, until June 15, two days after my email, and following an obvious reprimand by XFody.  I, in fact, received an email from XFody, just 6 hours after WESLody responded to my first email.  By the tone of the first letter from XFody I presumed he "would be willing to be a spokesman for the group" as stated in his letter and presumed there was no need to respond to WESLody's initial response.   

WESLody states: 
"Then I get an E-mail from XFody stating that he was offered a phone spot at a radio talk show by a man that Mr. Cooke knows. He mentions that he agreed to do it but suddenly is not doing it. I asked him why. He only answered by telling me to read the article that Mr. Cooke wrote at bibleufo.com.

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            In my first response to WESLody, on June 13, I clearly stated that I was "about to publish an article on the revival of the Heaven's Gate group, which will soon be in wide distribution throughout the UFO community.  It is very critical of the possible resurrection of Heaven's Gate and I would like to make contact with someone connected representing this group before I publish the article.  I am under a predetermined deadline to publish this article and can only delay for a short period of time.  I would be willing to include a statement from a Heaven's Gate representative in the article, if I am able to establish contact."  WESLody never asked to see the content of this article.
            In my first response to XFody, on June 14, I clearly stated: "In light of the above statements, which appeared to come from someone claiming to be from the Heaven's Gate office staff, I presumed I was hearing the official word on this matter.  I moved forward on the publishing of my article on the resurgence of Heaven's Gate and informed the show host that someone from the staff at Heaven's Gate had shut the door on a possible interview."  In a response from XFody, received June 15 he, also, did not make any request to see the content of this article.

WESLody states: 
"Mr. Cooke is a hungry wolf, ladies and gentlemen. He is a liar, a blasphemer and an undercover agent of the lower forces. When I read his article, I could see the malice and lies that he spoke of with regards to our agenda here on earth and Heaven's Gate in general. He did not speak kindly of us at all, nor did he use any rational or spiritually sane method of reporting when it came down to neutrality and respect. He said that we were "mental slaves". He wrote that we were like resurrected zombies that served a leader that controlled us from the grave.

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            I never lied or misrepresented myself in any way to WESLody, as a transcript of the emails will show.  As for the blaspheming part, I can only presume he is speaking of his "Next Level", which they seem to use as the title for their god. 
            The "hungry wolf", "undercover agent of the lower forces", and "He has made Lucifer proud" are phrases, which are often used by cult members as blanket condemnations for anyone they deem are enemies, and do not deserve comment in a serious discussion of this magnitude. 
            Of course I did not speak "kindly of us (them) at all" I made it clear that my article was "very critical of the possible resurrection of Heaven's Gate" to both him and XFody, yet no request to see the article was ever made.  

WESLody states: 
"I extracted a quote from his article that he is so proud of- having all of the legions of demons cheering for. He has made Lucifer proud."  The article quote says... I extracted a quote from his article that he is so proud of- having all of the legions of demons cheering for. He has made Lucifer proud.  "Some may elect an option to lay down their vehicles, (their code phrase for "suicide") under the impression that the Next Level sent back a spaceship to invisibly follow the comet because it knew or didn't expect new people to embrace."

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            Yes that is an exact quote from the website "Heaven's Gate Lives: Apocalypse Now" 

WESLody states: 
"So there it is, in confusing but shockingly blunt language. Some? What does "some" mean? Considering there were survivors of the last grisly death dance that they produced, only "some", forty, of the original cult members lost their lives! This is a dire warning that must be heeded! These people, if this is not some ghastly hoax, are very casually implying that more suicides are on the horizon!"

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            And yes, that is an exact quote from the article I wrote on Heaven's Gate.  Even though, he attempts to rebut this in the next statement, how could one draw any other conclusion than the individual, who wrote those words, believed that some members would commit suicide over the presence of this commit?  It was on the basis of that statement that I wrote the article in the first place.   

WESLody states: 
"Mr. Cooke forgot to include that our website also says that "Do" never said that he would send another spaceship in this age which means that we were not planning on going anywhere. In the above quote I had chuckled. You see, it would appear to be under Mr. Cooke's misquided and puffed up opinions, influenced and pampered by Satan of course, that we seek to commit suicide seperately or worse, a mass suicide under one roof. It is an understanding conclusion, even though as false and demon inspired as it thoroughly is, that Mr. Cooke would come to. After all (A): He is a henchman for Satan. (B): He, not us, is the zombie and "mental slave" to a world that is owned and operated by Satan.

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            It is of no relevance what the late "Do" said, or did not say.  What is important is what the living members of this new version of Heaven's Gate state, which is that "Some may elect an option to lay down their vehicles", meaning; commit suicide.  Trying to ignore the obvious, by a series of vitriolic attacks on my character does not change the obvious threat in their own statements.   

WESLody states: 
"(C): He has not read the Next Level information in its entirety otherwise he would not have reacted so vehemently, which leads me to believe that he chocked up a "bit of this" from a news report, a "bit of that" from another news report and spat out a vomitting blend of slander. You see, all we say to people is to read the Next Level information and see if it applies to you. If some people drop their vehicles (commit suicide) we can't stop them NOR do we tell them OR guilt them into doing it. We try to, as neutrally as possible, give people an option to stay and be a testimony of how the Next Level is working in their lives. But, Mr. Cooke seems to be allergic to this premise and is more satisfied at twisting us around to be a bunch of "suicidal misguided morons". He is the suicidal one. He is the homicidal one. He is committing spiritual suicide by following a belief system that thrives on corruption and lying. His ego is bloated with the very fangs of the lower forces who seeks, like a ravenous wolf, to destroy the chosen few that reside in the belief structure of the Father's Kingdom.

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            I am neither a student of the teachings of "Do", nor do I care to study the words of a man, who led 40 people to their death with those teachings.  Again, WESLody states that some may commit suicide, and not only will make no attempt to discourage them from taking their own lives, but actually consider it justifiable.  How can anyone consider it normal behavior to support and teach a belief system that has, and will in the future, cause people to take their own lives?

WESLody states: 
"Speaking more of this liar and twister of truth he carries on in his article of misconceptions and lies. He makes us sound as though we don't care about the grieving families of the thirty nine people who left this world for a better one. Well, he never asked me or XFody what we thought of the grieving relatives. But, he made up his own vile conclusions of malice and mirrored spite. It is a parent's worst nightmare when they lose a child. We aren't proud that the parents and other relatives are hurting so badly. We pray everyday for them so they may heal and find the things in life they so desperately seek to find. If they understand then that's good. If they don't understand and hate us, then that's good. People have choices as to which kinds of emotions they choose to display- denial, fear, anger, envy, hatred or acceptance. Our hearts, once again, go to the families of the Class who left this world. We hope that the families will be healed from their losses."

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            On the Heaven's Gate Lives: Apocalypse Now website we find this statement: "The significance, to us, is of no coincidence that the brightest comet in decades happens around the ten year anniversary of the graduation the Class made in March of 1997."  They are referring to the mass suicide of 40 people as a "graduation".  There is no expression of regret for the loss of those precious lives, or for horror the family and friends of those victims were subjected to.  

WESLody states: 
"As for Mr. Cooke, ladies and gentlemen, this man shouldn't be practicing journalism. He puts negative spins and twists on the truth. Heed my warning of this man. He will take what you say or represent and slaughter your beliefs with an axe. Spiritually speaking, this man is a murderer of the Next Level information. His actions make him out to be a helpless hand puppet of Satan. Do you know what it's like to be backstabbed? Well, this man walks that walk, with a knife. This man is guilty of homicide. If he has half an ounce of intelligence, he will know what I'm talking about without pampering him with a translation of. He already has a pamperer- Satan. His article shown me what his actual spiritual agenda is to the world. That agenda is meglomania. That agenda is truth twisting. That agenda is backstabbing by "slamming your beliefs" without any sense of a conscious or heart. That agenda is murder.

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            This is simply viler rhetoric attempting to turn the attention away from their own, very dangerous agenda, and make me look like a demonic entity sent by Satan to destroy the truth of their holy mission on Earth.  Again, I am not concerned with their attacks on me, but what their teachings have wrought in the past and the obvious possibility that more may die in the future as a result of their callous disregard for human life.   

WESLody states : 
"These hungry wolves (those who seek to slaughter the very souls by twisting truths to meet their own fancies) have no soul. Mr. Cooke has no soul and he knows it. He knows it and doesn't care. Since he doesn't care, and knows that he can never get to the Next Level, he gets jealous- another Satanic tool to be proud of! With jealousy comes rage and with rage comes the very article masterpiece that Mr. Cooke's Satanic talons stirred and weaved about, within the very caverns of the Lower Forces of Hell. You see, in the book of Genesis of the bible, Cain slew his brother Abel. Cain's attributes can be reflected in some people either literally, emotionally or spiritually. Patrick Cooke hits a two out of three on that one. His farce of an article is called "Heaven's Gate- The Deadly Delusion Continues". Well, as you must know by now, Mr. Cooke is a bonafied deadly delusion and he has proven his allegiance to Satan.  I mentioned earlier in my paragraph that I had apologized to Mr. Cooke for being abrupt. I apolized then, but I'm not apologizing now. I also have a second apology for Mr. Cooke. "I'm sorry that he is such an ardent and staunch spouse, supporter, crusader and promoter of Satan. It is so sad that he allows himself to be so dominated, brainwashed and even controlled by him." Be proud of yourself, Mr. Cooke, be very proud. Satan believes in you. Make him proud, very proud. You got all of these credentials everyone speaks of? It shows in your article. The only credentials you have are signed, sealed and certified by Satan. You're an educated man? It shows in your childish behavior executed in your article. Satan is your educator and owner. Quit leading helpless sheep to a slaughter."

* Patrick Cooke's response:
            If, I did not care, I would just sit back and wait for more horrific headlines to hit the headlines about another Heaven's Gate suicide.  And, I am not talking about a mass suicide; just one more person dying, one more family is desperate grief, is worth a lifetime of effort to stop it.  As I stated in my article, nothing would have made me happier than to find out this was a hoax.  I was shaken to discover it was not. 

            But, my feelings and my character are of no importance, whatsoever, in this matter.  WESLody claims I am a liar, a murderer, a twister of truth, a blasphemer, a ravenous wolf, a backstabber, an undercover agent of the lower forces, a henchman and a helpless hand puppet of Satan, a zombie and mental slave to a world that is owned and operated by Satan, spit out a vomiting blend of slander, exhibit childish behavior, have puffed up opinions, put negative spins on the truth, and shouldn't be practicing journalism.   
            He tries to make others believe I am demon inspired, raging, malicious, suicidal, homicidal, megalomaniacal, jealous, have no soul or care, have all of the legions of demons cheering, make Lucifer proud, am influenced and pampered by Satan, follow a belief system that thrives on corruption and lying, have satanic talons stirred and weaved about, within the very caverns of the Lower Forces of Hell, am an ardent and staunch spouse, supporter, crusader and promoter of, and am dominated, brainwashed and controlled by Satan. 
            And, he charges that I am literally, emotionally, and spiritually exactly like Cain, have an allegiance to Satan, that my writings are a deadly delusion, and my ego is bloated with the very fangs of the lower forces.

            I don't see how I could possibly be represented in a more vicious and condescending manner.  But, if my efforts to prevent the repeat the tragedy of ten years ago, or just the loss of a single precious life, means that I must carry all these slanders with me for the rest of my life, it would be well worth it. 
            I have not seen a single word of honest rebuttal to anything I published in my article and do not expect that I ever will.  I only hope that my words will have some effect on the current members of Heaven's Gate and serve as a warning to the world of an obvious possibility that we may be on the verge of another tragedy in the making. 

Here are links to a website and blog entries from those claiming
to represent a Heaven’s Gate revival:

The Website:
Heaven's Gate Lives: Apocalypse Now
 
Blog entries:
* The entries linked below appear on the website “NowPublic”, described as a participatory news network.
The Aftermath of Heaven's Gate: Part One
The Aftermath of Heaven's Gate: Part Two
More on Heaven's Gate
"Heaven's Gate is Resurrected with New Converts"
Heaven's Gate's Self-Appointed Messenger