Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 130
News
Exorcism
Death Sentence in Japan Exorcism Deaths
A Japanese court has sentenced to death 54-year-old exorcist and cult leader Sachiki Eto
for the murder of six followers. He and two senior members of the group, who were
sentenced to life in prison, reportedly beat the victims with sticks, and kicked them,
claiming that violence was part of an exorcism. During the trial, Eto‘s lawyers argued that
she had diminished responsibility because she was suffering from mental problems at the
time of the crime. (AFP, Internet, 5/10/02)
Palo Mayombe
Probation in Grave Robbing for Ritual
A Newark New Jersey man, Franklin Sanabria, Jr., has received probation for stealing a
body from an Orange cemetery, one of a series of body thefts that authorities say are linked
to Palo Mayombe, a religion whose priests use human remains in their rituals. In 1999,
police charged a Palo priest with stealing the 83-year-old remains of an infant from a crypt
in Arlington (NJ) Cemetery.
Palo priests, known as Paleros, conduct ceremonies around a steaming cauldron filled with
human bones, sticks, railroad spikes, tools, and other symbolic items. A human skull, put in
last, is said to give spiritual powers to the mixture. Palo Mayombe is a religion brought to
Cuba by slaves from West Africa that has been transported to the U.S. in the past few
decades.
Palo priests are said typically to use bones and skulls smuggled into this country from Latin
America, and there is reportedly a black market in such objects skulls can be sold for
thousands of dollars. (William Kleinknecht, Newark Star Ledger, Internet 5/1/02)
Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association
Cult Decline Predicted after Leader’s Arrest
After 28 years of conflict, the decline of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries
Association is generally anticipated, according to the Catholic bishop of Cebu island. He
spoke following the arrest of PBMA leader Ruben Ecleo, Jr., who is charged with
possession of illegal drugs and firearms, and is suspected by authorities of murdering his
wife.
The powerful and institutionalized PBMA, with hundreds of thousands of followers, has been
a real threat to the Catholic Church, but according to retired Diocese Bishop Miguel Cinces,
it was nothing but a ―religious organization abusing its members and taking advantage of
the gullible to make money.‖ Rubin Ecleo, Jr., like his mother and father a politician, was in
constant conflict with the local bishop, who imposed sanctions on PBMA members equivalent
to excommunication for what he described as heretical beliefs. Cinces says that followers
think of Rubin Ecleo as ―God.‖ (Cebu Sun Star, Internet, 6/24/02)
Polygamy
Conviction of Polygamist for Having Sex with Underage Wife Upheld
The Utah Court of Appeals has upheld David Ortell Kingston's convictions for having sex
with his 16-year-old niece, ruling that references to his polygamist lifestyle did not unfairly
prejudice jurors against him. The girl claimed that he took her as his 15th wife in a secret
family ceremony on Nov. 15, 1997, and had sex with her on four occasions between
January and May 1998. Kingston, 36, is serving up to 10 years in prison.
News
Exorcism
Death Sentence in Japan Exorcism Deaths
A Japanese court has sentenced to death 54-year-old exorcist and cult leader Sachiki Eto
for the murder of six followers. He and two senior members of the group, who were
sentenced to life in prison, reportedly beat the victims with sticks, and kicked them,
claiming that violence was part of an exorcism. During the trial, Eto‘s lawyers argued that
she had diminished responsibility because she was suffering from mental problems at the
time of the crime. (AFP, Internet, 5/10/02)
Palo Mayombe
Probation in Grave Robbing for Ritual
A Newark New Jersey man, Franklin Sanabria, Jr., has received probation for stealing a
body from an Orange cemetery, one of a series of body thefts that authorities say are linked
to Palo Mayombe, a religion whose priests use human remains in their rituals. In 1999,
police charged a Palo priest with stealing the 83-year-old remains of an infant from a crypt
in Arlington (NJ) Cemetery.
Palo priests, known as Paleros, conduct ceremonies around a steaming cauldron filled with
human bones, sticks, railroad spikes, tools, and other symbolic items. A human skull, put in
last, is said to give spiritual powers to the mixture. Palo Mayombe is a religion brought to
Cuba by slaves from West Africa that has been transported to the U.S. in the past few
decades.
Palo priests are said typically to use bones and skulls smuggled into this country from Latin
America, and there is reportedly a black market in such objects skulls can be sold for
thousands of dollars. (William Kleinknecht, Newark Star Ledger, Internet 5/1/02)
Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association
Cult Decline Predicted after Leader’s Arrest
After 28 years of conflict, the decline of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries
Association is generally anticipated, according to the Catholic bishop of Cebu island. He
spoke following the arrest of PBMA leader Ruben Ecleo, Jr., who is charged with
possession of illegal drugs and firearms, and is suspected by authorities of murdering his
wife.
The powerful and institutionalized PBMA, with hundreds of thousands of followers, has been
a real threat to the Catholic Church, but according to retired Diocese Bishop Miguel Cinces,
it was nothing but a ―religious organization abusing its members and taking advantage of
the gullible to make money.‖ Rubin Ecleo, Jr., like his mother and father a politician, was in
constant conflict with the local bishop, who imposed sanctions on PBMA members equivalent
to excommunication for what he described as heretical beliefs. Cinces says that followers
think of Rubin Ecleo as ―God.‖ (Cebu Sun Star, Internet, 6/24/02)
Polygamy
Conviction of Polygamist for Having Sex with Underage Wife Upheld
The Utah Court of Appeals has upheld David Ortell Kingston's convictions for having sex
with his 16-year-old niece, ruling that references to his polygamist lifestyle did not unfairly
prejudice jurors against him. The girl claimed that he took her as his 15th wife in a secret
family ceremony on Nov. 15, 1997, and had sex with her on four occasions between
January and May 1998. Kingston, 36, is serving up to 10 years in prison.
