Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 174
News Summaries
(Vol. 3, No. 3)
Child Abuse
Claims Freedom of Religion Allows Marriage to Children
An unidentified 52-year-old man in Montreal is being prosecuted for child abuse because of
his self-proclaimed marriage to a 10-year old girl five years ago. The prosecution says he
used his position as founder of an evangelical Christian sect that ministered to the homeless
to abuse the daughter of a down-and-out-follower whom he helped land a job and regain
custody of her kids when they were eight and six. He allegedly continued to help her,
sometimes paying electricity and phone bills, even keeping the children on weekends,
financing their dental care, taking the whole family on vacation, and attending parent-
teacher meetings at school while their mother worked long hours.
The defendant argues that he is innocent of the charges thanks to freedom of religion and
his marital rights. He refuses to say whether he consummated the marriage, declaring only:
―If you‘re married you have the right. It‘s like I‘m being charged with breaking and entering
my own home.‖ He adds that he believes the mother is being pressured into testifying
against him, and that they are threatening her with loss of the children if she doesn‘t. She
says she only heard about the ―marriage‖ from the police, and was shocked. (Allison Hanes,
The Gazette, Internet, 8/19/04)
False Memory/Repressed Memory
Emotions Cloud Reality
A Harvard University study indicates that it is very difficult for therapists and law
enforcement officials to know whether a person‘s sudden recall of traumatic events that he
says occurred many years ago actually happened. Even an experienced therapist tends to
think the events described are true when expressed with intense and sincere emotion, as
they are when the self-described victim believes deeply that they did, in fact, happen.
Indeed, it‘s almost impossible to prove the memories false when the emotion, at least, is
valid.
People who told researchers they remember having been abducted by aliens — a false
memory — were very emotional when telling their stories. And when their accounts were
replayed to them, their heart rates increased, they sweated, and facial muscles tensed, all
indicating emotional stress. But they remained calm when listening to happy or neutral
stories. On the other hand, a group of persons recruited through a newspaper ad looking for
abductees did not respond emotionally to abduction stories.
Those who deeply believed they had been abducted tended to have ―a rich fantasy life, and
to endorse unconventional beliefs,‖ according to the study. The imagined abduction has
become a ―spiritually deepening experience‖ for them. The study also found that most of the
self-described abductees had moved away from their traditional religious backgrounds, but
still had strong spiritual needs. (Lee Dye, ABC News, Internet, 7/21/04)
Call for Control of Repressed Memory Therapy
The government of Victoria, Australia, will reportedly conduct an investigation into the
practice of repressed memory therapy following a government query into regulating
health professionals that was ―inundated‖ with claims from parents who say they have been
falsely accused of sexually abusing their children. Human Services Commissioner Beth
News Summaries
(Vol. 3, No. 3)
Child Abuse
Claims Freedom of Religion Allows Marriage to Children
An unidentified 52-year-old man in Montreal is being prosecuted for child abuse because of
his self-proclaimed marriage to a 10-year old girl five years ago. The prosecution says he
used his position as founder of an evangelical Christian sect that ministered to the homeless
to abuse the daughter of a down-and-out-follower whom he helped land a job and regain
custody of her kids when they were eight and six. He allegedly continued to help her,
sometimes paying electricity and phone bills, even keeping the children on weekends,
financing their dental care, taking the whole family on vacation, and attending parent-
teacher meetings at school while their mother worked long hours.
The defendant argues that he is innocent of the charges thanks to freedom of religion and
his marital rights. He refuses to say whether he consummated the marriage, declaring only:
―If you‘re married you have the right. It‘s like I‘m being charged with breaking and entering
my own home.‖ He adds that he believes the mother is being pressured into testifying
against him, and that they are threatening her with loss of the children if she doesn‘t. She
says she only heard about the ―marriage‖ from the police, and was shocked. (Allison Hanes,
The Gazette, Internet, 8/19/04)
False Memory/Repressed Memory
Emotions Cloud Reality
A Harvard University study indicates that it is very difficult for therapists and law
enforcement officials to know whether a person‘s sudden recall of traumatic events that he
says occurred many years ago actually happened. Even an experienced therapist tends to
think the events described are true when expressed with intense and sincere emotion, as
they are when the self-described victim believes deeply that they did, in fact, happen.
Indeed, it‘s almost impossible to prove the memories false when the emotion, at least, is
valid.
People who told researchers they remember having been abducted by aliens — a false
memory — were very emotional when telling their stories. And when their accounts were
replayed to them, their heart rates increased, they sweated, and facial muscles tensed, all
indicating emotional stress. But they remained calm when listening to happy or neutral
stories. On the other hand, a group of persons recruited through a newspaper ad looking for
abductees did not respond emotionally to abduction stories.
Those who deeply believed they had been abducted tended to have ―a rich fantasy life, and
to endorse unconventional beliefs,‖ according to the study. The imagined abduction has
become a ―spiritually deepening experience‖ for them. The study also found that most of the
self-described abductees had moved away from their traditional religious backgrounds, but
still had strong spiritual needs. (Lee Dye, ABC News, Internet, 7/21/04)
Call for Control of Repressed Memory Therapy
The government of Victoria, Australia, will reportedly conduct an investigation into the
practice of repressed memory therapy following a government query into regulating
health professionals that was ―inundated‖ with claims from parents who say they have been
falsely accused of sexually abusing their children. Human Services Commissioner Beth
