Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 107
use a number of techniques,‖ he said, ―but no physicality [sic] whatsoever [as in the
Colorado case].‖ (WRAL TV (NC), 12/1/03)
Satanism
Trial for Ritual Murder of Boys
A trial has begun in Belém, Brazil, of five members of a satanic sect accused of sexually
mutilating and murdering young boys in the Amazon town of Altimara more than a decade
ago. One of the defendants is Valentina Andrade, ―clairvoyant‖ leader of an ―occult‖
―pagan‖ sect in Argentina, and two are doctors.
The 19 victims were all poor boys between the ages of eight and fourteen six were found
dead with their sexual organs removed, allegedly for use in ―black magic‖ rites. (Jan Rocha,
BBC, 8/27/03)
Scientology
Appeal Denial of Tax Exempt Status
Scientology in St. Louis is appealing a decision by St. Louis County to deny tax-exempt
status to the group‘s Delmar Boulevard property. The county Board of Equalization has ruled
that the former Anchor Masonic Temple is not ―regularly used exclusively for religious ...
(or) charitable‖ purposes as required by law. (Deb Peterson, St. Louis Post Dispatch,
Internet, 6/30/03)
Manipulating the Web
It was discovered last year that Scientology had created a mass of websites known as ―link
farms,‖ many consisting of nothing but links and duplicated data, in an attempt to ensure
that its website, Scientology.org, scored as the top website on Google. This use of the
Google Page Rank system ―has long been a target for abuse by devious webmasters
desperate for a high listing on Google.‖
Scientology sites are actually outnumbered on the web by sites critical of the ―cult,‖ which
led Scientology to threaten Google with legal action if it did not remove links to one of the
more prominent anti-Scientology sites. Scientology critics and ―conspiracy theorists‖ note
that the Open Directory Project, a major feeder of new links to search engines, readily
accepts pro-Scientology URLs but ignores or delays the addition of links critical of the
church. (Graham Hammond, Sunday Herald and Weekly Times, Australia, Internet,
6/29/03)
Beware of Getting Too Close to Scientology
Scientology should not be shocked that its recent survey of 300 shoppers at a St.
Petersburg mall indicated that four out of five queried had negative opinions of the church,
using words like ―cult,‖ ―scam,‖ ―strange,‖ and ―brainwashing‖ to characterize it.
Indeed, Pinellas County residents are well informed about Scientology. They remember the
years of ―shenanigans‖ that preceded the current public relations campaign and increasing
involvement in Clearwater economic development and politics.
―Clearwater officials would do well to review the results of the Scientology survey and
consider whether an informed and wary public would be comfortable seeing them hold
hands with the Church of Scientology.‖ (Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 6/9/03)
Agreement on Proselytizing
Responding to public complaints and a request from civic leaders, Scientology has agreed
not to flood Ybor City (Tampa, FL) streets with recruiters. Members of the public have also
complained about the intensity of Scientology proselytizing on the eve of the grand opening
use a number of techniques,‖ he said, ―but no physicality [sic] whatsoever [as in the
Colorado case].‖ (WRAL TV (NC), 12/1/03)
Satanism
Trial for Ritual Murder of Boys
A trial has begun in Belém, Brazil, of five members of a satanic sect accused of sexually
mutilating and murdering young boys in the Amazon town of Altimara more than a decade
ago. One of the defendants is Valentina Andrade, ―clairvoyant‖ leader of an ―occult‖
―pagan‖ sect in Argentina, and two are doctors.
The 19 victims were all poor boys between the ages of eight and fourteen six were found
dead with their sexual organs removed, allegedly for use in ―black magic‖ rites. (Jan Rocha,
BBC, 8/27/03)
Scientology
Appeal Denial of Tax Exempt Status
Scientology in St. Louis is appealing a decision by St. Louis County to deny tax-exempt
status to the group‘s Delmar Boulevard property. The county Board of Equalization has ruled
that the former Anchor Masonic Temple is not ―regularly used exclusively for religious ...
(or) charitable‖ purposes as required by law. (Deb Peterson, St. Louis Post Dispatch,
Internet, 6/30/03)
Manipulating the Web
It was discovered last year that Scientology had created a mass of websites known as ―link
farms,‖ many consisting of nothing but links and duplicated data, in an attempt to ensure
that its website, Scientology.org, scored as the top website on Google. This use of the
Google Page Rank system ―has long been a target for abuse by devious webmasters
desperate for a high listing on Google.‖
Scientology sites are actually outnumbered on the web by sites critical of the ―cult,‖ which
led Scientology to threaten Google with legal action if it did not remove links to one of the
more prominent anti-Scientology sites. Scientology critics and ―conspiracy theorists‖ note
that the Open Directory Project, a major feeder of new links to search engines, readily
accepts pro-Scientology URLs but ignores or delays the addition of links critical of the
church. (Graham Hammond, Sunday Herald and Weekly Times, Australia, Internet,
6/29/03)
Beware of Getting Too Close to Scientology
Scientology should not be shocked that its recent survey of 300 shoppers at a St.
Petersburg mall indicated that four out of five queried had negative opinions of the church,
using words like ―cult,‖ ―scam,‖ ―strange,‖ and ―brainwashing‖ to characterize it.
Indeed, Pinellas County residents are well informed about Scientology. They remember the
years of ―shenanigans‖ that preceded the current public relations campaign and increasing
involvement in Clearwater economic development and politics.
―Clearwater officials would do well to review the results of the Scientology survey and
consider whether an informed and wary public would be comfortable seeing them hold
hands with the Church of Scientology.‖ (Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 6/9/03)
Agreement on Proselytizing
Responding to public complaints and a request from civic leaders, Scientology has agreed
not to flood Ybor City (Tampa, FL) streets with recruiters. Members of the public have also
complained about the intensity of Scientology proselytizing on the eve of the grand opening
