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

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 63
Trade Center collapse, feel that it has helped them? A psychological argument rather than a
physiological one may explain the program‘s successes. This is so because there is a
similarity between the Scientology program and purification rituals found in many religious
and cultural traditions in which cleansing the body helps achieve spiritual renewal.
The language used by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who developed Scientology‘s
program, seems related to the language of psychotherapy, as when, for example: detox
patients are said to experience ―manifestations of old traumas, or toxins when they taste
or smell long-forgotten chemicals or drugs or when they re-experience symptoms,
allergies, and wounds that ―turn off‖ again when toxins are ―flushed‖ from the body.
―Hubbard himself was notoriously hostile to psychiatry but what his method seems to offer
is a potent physiological analogue to talk therapy.‖ (Amanda Schaffer, Slate, Internet,
10/21/04)
Moving in on Tragedy Town
Twenty Scientologists have been ordered out of Beslan, Republic of North Ossetia, and
forbidden to offer their religious and psychological services in the region. They arrived in the
wake of the terrorist carnage at an elementary school, saying they were psychologists, and
advertised for people to come to their ―spiritual aid centre.‖ Beslan leaders, as well as
doctors, mainline clergy, and law enforcement officials were wary of the arrival of
Scientology and other new sects in town following the tragedy.
Specialists from the Serbski Institute, who have been working with Beslan residents, say
that under Scientology influence ―people develop an increased sense of aggression, an
inadequate reaction to the surrounding world, and people and children are subject to
negative emotional outbursts. People become uncontrollable.‖ (ITAR-TASS from BBC
Monitoring the Former Soviet Union, Internet, 10/16/04 Moscow News, Internet, 10/22/04)
Active in Hungary
The political opposition warns that Scientology, registered as a church but known
worldwide as a business that resembles a cult, is at least indirectly involved in a number of
Hungarian companies, including several working on a residential park in Nagyknizsa. Some
of the firms apparently employ the WISE business management system, developed by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In addition, the local railway headquarters used a
Scientology course and test for its workers, which caused a ―scandal.‖ Scientology also
advertised language courses in local schools until the mayor banned the activity. (Magyar
Menzet, Internet, 10/26/04)
Subway Celebration Poster Promotes Scientology
A poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of the New York subway seems mainly to
promote Scientology programs. The poster, depicting a crowded Times Square subway
station, contains a call to visit the Scientology Purification Center, and the addresses of a
variety of Scientology websites festoon T-shirts and shopping bags in the picture. The
poster is the work of author-artist Kathy Jakobson, a Scientologist, who also has included in
the poster a plug for her new children‘s book. A spokesman for the New York Transit
Authority said the poster depicts the ―actuality of Times Square and what is going on there.
We have no reason to believe she tried to work in Scientology references.‖ (Gwen Moritz,
Daily News, 10/29/04)
Surveillance to Continue
A German court has rejected an appeal from the Church of Scientology to end
surveillance of its activities by domestic security services. The court said that some
Scientology activities were ―contrary to the foundations of democracy‖ and went against