Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 62
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculus Meus
Sex Slavery Alleged
Alfredo Verano, leader of Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculus Meus, in Manila, Philippines,
has pleaded not guilty to adultery charges filed against him and a woman who is a member
of his religious cult. He allegedly treats female members of the group as ―sex slaves.‖ Last
year, the social services department took custody of 20 children from the group, saying
they suffered from bad nutrition and hygiene. (Joebeth M. Ocao, The Freeman [Philippines],
2/10/05)
Satanism
Church Moves to Counter Satanism
The Catholic Church‘s pontifical university, Regina Apostolorum, of Rome, has developed a
course for priests on Satanism and exorcism in order to counter the growth of Satanist
cults in Italy. This follows a government report that there are 1,000 such groups in the
country, attracting more and more young people. Seven members of the Beasts of Satan
were recently arrested on suspicion that they killed three members as human sacrifices and
contributed to the suicides of two others, near Milan. The priests‘ training will include
―prayers of liberation.‖ (Nouvelle Observateur, Internet, 12/14/04 Philip Pullella, The
Scotsman, Internet, no date, received 12/15/04)
Causes of Proliferation
Recent episodes of Satanism in Italy, like the one involving the Beasts of Satan, are only
the most visible manifestations of a phenomenon involving millions of superstitious, gullible,
and desperate people seeking relief from anxiety through Satanism, witchcraft, and the
occult.
Professor Carlo Climati, who will help teach priests how to deal with youth caught up in the
phenomenon, blames ―new forms of solitude‖ among young people, stemming from too
much time watching TV and too little in the company of friends and relatives, coupled with
the ease of accessing Satanism-related material and contacts on the Internet.
Professor Climati believes that Satanism is an extreme ―form of pessimism ...a way of
seeing the world as a jungle, where only the strongest survive. A world in which all limits
are absent, bad examples are on offer, and in which the perfection of television‘s role
models is countered with the search for extremes, for power at all costs.‖ These influences,
he said, have been reinforced by New Age approaches to life, which the Vatican has
characterized as ―individualistic, egoistic, and ultimately anti-Christian.‖ (Nicholas Rigillo,
The Age [Australia], Internet, 1/5/05)
Scientology
Hubbard-influenced Detox in Nepal
Former police officer Basanta Kunwar, the head of Pratigya, a drug treatment center in
Katmandu, Nepal, says he depends on the methods of the ―humanitarian‖ [L. Ron.] Hubbard
[founder of Scientology]. A man who went through the program says the center treats
drug abuse as ―something‖ of a medical problem, and not just a psychiatric one. The Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives, who attended a function at the center, praised it
for adopting the Hubbard method and providing hope to addicts. (Himalayan News Service,
Internet, 9/30/04)
Evaluating Scientology Detox
If most experts in the field state that Scientology’s detoxification program is ineffective,
why do many participants, including some firefighters affected by fallout from the World
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculus Meus
Sex Slavery Alleged
Alfredo Verano, leader of Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculus Meus, in Manila, Philippines,
has pleaded not guilty to adultery charges filed against him and a woman who is a member
of his religious cult. He allegedly treats female members of the group as ―sex slaves.‖ Last
year, the social services department took custody of 20 children from the group, saying
they suffered from bad nutrition and hygiene. (Joebeth M. Ocao, The Freeman [Philippines],
2/10/05)
Satanism
Church Moves to Counter Satanism
The Catholic Church‘s pontifical university, Regina Apostolorum, of Rome, has developed a
course for priests on Satanism and exorcism in order to counter the growth of Satanist
cults in Italy. This follows a government report that there are 1,000 such groups in the
country, attracting more and more young people. Seven members of the Beasts of Satan
were recently arrested on suspicion that they killed three members as human sacrifices and
contributed to the suicides of two others, near Milan. The priests‘ training will include
―prayers of liberation.‖ (Nouvelle Observateur, Internet, 12/14/04 Philip Pullella, The
Scotsman, Internet, no date, received 12/15/04)
Causes of Proliferation
Recent episodes of Satanism in Italy, like the one involving the Beasts of Satan, are only
the most visible manifestations of a phenomenon involving millions of superstitious, gullible,
and desperate people seeking relief from anxiety through Satanism, witchcraft, and the
occult.
Professor Carlo Climati, who will help teach priests how to deal with youth caught up in the
phenomenon, blames ―new forms of solitude‖ among young people, stemming from too
much time watching TV and too little in the company of friends and relatives, coupled with
the ease of accessing Satanism-related material and contacts on the Internet.
Professor Climati believes that Satanism is an extreme ―form of pessimism ...a way of
seeing the world as a jungle, where only the strongest survive. A world in which all limits
are absent, bad examples are on offer, and in which the perfection of television‘s role
models is countered with the search for extremes, for power at all costs.‖ These influences,
he said, have been reinforced by New Age approaches to life, which the Vatican has
characterized as ―individualistic, egoistic, and ultimately anti-Christian.‖ (Nicholas Rigillo,
The Age [Australia], Internet, 1/5/05)
Scientology
Hubbard-influenced Detox in Nepal
Former police officer Basanta Kunwar, the head of Pratigya, a drug treatment center in
Katmandu, Nepal, says he depends on the methods of the ―humanitarian‖ [L. Ron.] Hubbard
[founder of Scientology]. A man who went through the program says the center treats
drug abuse as ―something‖ of a medical problem, and not just a psychiatric one. The Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives, who attended a function at the center, praised it
for adopting the Hubbard method and providing hope to addicts. (Himalayan News Service,
Internet, 9/30/04)
Evaluating Scientology Detox
If most experts in the field state that Scientology’s detoxification program is ineffective,
why do many participants, including some firefighters affected by fallout from the World
