Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2006, Page 82
Santa Muerte (Saint Death)
An ex-female wrestler, accused of killing 11 elderly residents of Mexico City, maintained an
altar to the scythe-wielding Santa Muerte, or Saint Death, who is popular with thieves and
drug smugglers, and also with some two million Mexicans, including elite politicians.
Satanism
Sixteen children removed permanently from their homes in Manchester, UK, in 1990, on
suspicion that they had been sexually abused by their parents and forced to worship Satan,
are finally telling their stories thanks to BBC efforts to get the family court to release
evidence in the case. A year-long investigation at the time proved the parents entirely
innocent, but everyone involved was enjoined by a gag order to say nothing about it.
Twelve of the children now seek compensation from the authority that still employs the
social workers who determined that the children should be separated from their parents.
Scientology
Scientology has received approval to open one of its Narconon drug treatment facilities in
Leona Valley, in Southern California, on condition that the organization hold open houses
and meet with the Town Council regularly to provide information about the center to
residents. Some are opposed to the facility, fearing it would change Leona Valley‘s small
town atmosphere. ..Tel Aviv municipal authorities, impressed by their recent visit to
Narconon facilities in the U.S., are enthusiastic about Scientology‘s plan to establish one in
the city, but the Health Ministry and the Israel Antidrug Authority have not yet approved the
program. The head of the Authority says he sees nothing in the program indicating spiritual
goals even though it was developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology‘s
related Criminon program has been established in Israeli prisons for five years. ..
Scientology is now seeking legal recognition in Bulgaria. ..Following a nurse‘s successful
employment of the Scientology ―Touch Assist‖ to relieve pain, learned at a Scientology
workshop, the Vivekananda Polyclinic, in India, has introduced Scientology training at its
nursing school. Lucknow University, meanwhile, has introduced Scientology‘s ―Technology of
Study‖ to improve student learning.
The creators of TV‘s ―South Park‖ have accused Scientologist Tom Cruise of instigating the
producer‘s yanking of a controversial episode that mocks him. Internet bloggers say Cruise
told Paramount, which controls the series, that he would not promote his latest movie,
―Mission Impossible 3,‖ a Paramount film, if the episode was aired. Scientologist Isaac
Hayes, one of the cartoon show‘s voices, quit recently, saying ―South Park‘s‖ view of
Scientology was bigoted and intolerant. The creators responded, ―This is 100 percent having
to do with his faith in Scientology. He has no problem — and he‘s cashed plenty of checks —
with our show making fun of Christians.‖ ...Scientology‘s seven-story block-long
international headquarters ―Flag Building‖ in Clearwater, FL, begun in 1999, remains
unfinished, a virtual shell. The build-out is planned for his year. Scientology says it will also
renovate other properties in town and build a 3,600-seat auditorium — L. Ron Hubbard
Hall, named for the Scientology founder — adjacent to the Flag Building. ...Officials say
that the renewed effort at home comes naturally after a period of worldwide growth. ...
Scientology will soon open a ―Life Improvement Center‖ in a downtown landmark building in
upscale Plant City, FL. Some residents and businesses are upset at the prospect. Many say
they don‘t want Plant City to become another Clearwater. A local minister told his 3,000-
member congregation to evangelize the Scientologists. The person who sold the property to
Scientology, vilified by some for doing so, said he hadn‘t known who the buyer was, since
Scientology, as it often does, bought though an agent in order to avoid an inflated price.
Scientology‟s Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has developed close
relationships with several Arizona legislators, through whom the organization is pursuing its
Santa Muerte (Saint Death)
An ex-female wrestler, accused of killing 11 elderly residents of Mexico City, maintained an
altar to the scythe-wielding Santa Muerte, or Saint Death, who is popular with thieves and
drug smugglers, and also with some two million Mexicans, including elite politicians.
Satanism
Sixteen children removed permanently from their homes in Manchester, UK, in 1990, on
suspicion that they had been sexually abused by their parents and forced to worship Satan,
are finally telling their stories thanks to BBC efforts to get the family court to release
evidence in the case. A year-long investigation at the time proved the parents entirely
innocent, but everyone involved was enjoined by a gag order to say nothing about it.
Twelve of the children now seek compensation from the authority that still employs the
social workers who determined that the children should be separated from their parents.
Scientology
Scientology has received approval to open one of its Narconon drug treatment facilities in
Leona Valley, in Southern California, on condition that the organization hold open houses
and meet with the Town Council regularly to provide information about the center to
residents. Some are opposed to the facility, fearing it would change Leona Valley‘s small
town atmosphere. ..Tel Aviv municipal authorities, impressed by their recent visit to
Narconon facilities in the U.S., are enthusiastic about Scientology‘s plan to establish one in
the city, but the Health Ministry and the Israel Antidrug Authority have not yet approved the
program. The head of the Authority says he sees nothing in the program indicating spiritual
goals even though it was developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology‘s
related Criminon program has been established in Israeli prisons for five years. ..
Scientology is now seeking legal recognition in Bulgaria. ..Following a nurse‘s successful
employment of the Scientology ―Touch Assist‖ to relieve pain, learned at a Scientology
workshop, the Vivekananda Polyclinic, in India, has introduced Scientology training at its
nursing school. Lucknow University, meanwhile, has introduced Scientology‘s ―Technology of
Study‖ to improve student learning.
The creators of TV‘s ―South Park‖ have accused Scientologist Tom Cruise of instigating the
producer‘s yanking of a controversial episode that mocks him. Internet bloggers say Cruise
told Paramount, which controls the series, that he would not promote his latest movie,
―Mission Impossible 3,‖ a Paramount film, if the episode was aired. Scientologist Isaac
Hayes, one of the cartoon show‘s voices, quit recently, saying ―South Park‘s‖ view of
Scientology was bigoted and intolerant. The creators responded, ―This is 100 percent having
to do with his faith in Scientology. He has no problem — and he‘s cashed plenty of checks —
with our show making fun of Christians.‖ ...Scientology‘s seven-story block-long
international headquarters ―Flag Building‖ in Clearwater, FL, begun in 1999, remains
unfinished, a virtual shell. The build-out is planned for his year. Scientology says it will also
renovate other properties in town and build a 3,600-seat auditorium — L. Ron Hubbard
Hall, named for the Scientology founder — adjacent to the Flag Building. ...Officials say
that the renewed effort at home comes naturally after a period of worldwide growth. ...
Scientology will soon open a ―Life Improvement Center‖ in a downtown landmark building in
upscale Plant City, FL. Some residents and businesses are upset at the prospect. Many say
they don‘t want Plant City to become another Clearwater. A local minister told his 3,000-
member congregation to evangelize the Scientologists. The person who sold the property to
Scientology, vilified by some for doing so, said he hadn‘t known who the buyer was, since
Scientology, as it often does, bought though an agent in order to avoid an inflated price.
Scientology‟s Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has developed close
relationships with several Arizona legislators, through whom the organization is pursuing its
