Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, 1991, Page 24
In addition, an emotional reaction to the allegation that demonic worship was a part of the
child maltreatment may hinder our exploration of alternative explanations. We need to be
aware of our own religious beliefs and biases and our prejudices against other sects and
religions in this area.
One proposed definition of “ritual child abuse” that may help address these concerns is:
the intentional physical abuse, sexual abuse, or psychological abuse of a child by a
person responsible for the child‟s welfare, when such abuse is repeated and/or
stylized and is typified by such other acts as cruelty to animals, or threats of harm to
the child, other persons, and animals.
This definition focuses on the acts done and the harms to the child, not on the individual‟s
motivation (which may never be known) underlying the intentional acts of psychological
abuse.
What is “Cult Ritual Child Abuse”?
The term “ritual child abuse” is often used interchangeably with the term “cult ritual child
abuse” when more than one individual is committing the abuse. Like “ritual child abuse” the
term lacks precision and has been used to describe such different situations as
a religious sect, which may have broken away from the mainstream beliefs of some
religion, whose lifestyle and secrecy endanger the physical and psychological health of its
children,
a group that involves children in acts that may be offensive to some but are not illegal
while conducting religious worship to demonic powers,
a group that physically, sexually, and emotionally abuses children and has developed a
common belief system to justify the psychopathological acts,
a group with no discernible religious or philosophical beliefs that psychopathically abuses
children physically, sexually, and emotionally,
a group that performs acts of religious worship to demonic powers in the course of
performing acts of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse on children, and vice versa, and
a group using psychological intimidation of children, including attempts to make them
perform acts of religious belief in demonic powers, while physically, sexually, and
emotionally abusing children.
The dangers in such imprecision of terms are:
1. It may divert the attention of investigating agencies (including child protective services
and child care licensing agencies) away from the illegal acts and harms done to the child
and toward investigation of the unusual beliefs and religious practices of the group.
2. We may inappropriately apply our knowledge of one cult‟s behavior to a different group.
Although little is known about small groups who abuse children, there is a widespread
assumption that the groups are Satanic cults. This may be due to the historic record of
the practices of Satanic cults rather than to any current evidence.
3. It may lead to inappropriate discrimination against groups whose beliefs and practices are
unusual but are neither illegal nor detrimental to the welfare of their child, adolescent, or
adult members. Unfortunately, some groups do things that are psychologically harmful to
their adolescent and adult members, as well as to the younger children subject to their
influence. It is not always easy to distinguish between the two types, especially if they
are secretive about their practices.
One possibility is that we define “cult ritual child abuse” to mean:
In addition, an emotional reaction to the allegation that demonic worship was a part of the
child maltreatment may hinder our exploration of alternative explanations. We need to be
aware of our own religious beliefs and biases and our prejudices against other sects and
religions in this area.
One proposed definition of “ritual child abuse” that may help address these concerns is:
the intentional physical abuse, sexual abuse, or psychological abuse of a child by a
person responsible for the child‟s welfare, when such abuse is repeated and/or
stylized and is typified by such other acts as cruelty to animals, or threats of harm to
the child, other persons, and animals.
This definition focuses on the acts done and the harms to the child, not on the individual‟s
motivation (which may never be known) underlying the intentional acts of psychological
abuse.
What is “Cult Ritual Child Abuse”?
The term “ritual child abuse” is often used interchangeably with the term “cult ritual child
abuse” when more than one individual is committing the abuse. Like “ritual child abuse” the
term lacks precision and has been used to describe such different situations as
a religious sect, which may have broken away from the mainstream beliefs of some
religion, whose lifestyle and secrecy endanger the physical and psychological health of its
children,
a group that involves children in acts that may be offensive to some but are not illegal
while conducting religious worship to demonic powers,
a group that physically, sexually, and emotionally abuses children and has developed a
common belief system to justify the psychopathological acts,
a group with no discernible religious or philosophical beliefs that psychopathically abuses
children physically, sexually, and emotionally,
a group that performs acts of religious worship to demonic powers in the course of
performing acts of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse on children, and vice versa, and
a group using psychological intimidation of children, including attempts to make them
perform acts of religious belief in demonic powers, while physically, sexually, and
emotionally abusing children.
The dangers in such imprecision of terms are:
1. It may divert the attention of investigating agencies (including child protective services
and child care licensing agencies) away from the illegal acts and harms done to the child
and toward investigation of the unusual beliefs and religious practices of the group.
2. We may inappropriately apply our knowledge of one cult‟s behavior to a different group.
Although little is known about small groups who abuse children, there is a widespread
assumption that the groups are Satanic cults. This may be due to the historic record of
the practices of Satanic cults rather than to any current evidence.
3. It may lead to inappropriate discrimination against groups whose beliefs and practices are
unusual but are neither illegal nor detrimental to the welfare of their child, adolescent, or
adult members. Unfortunately, some groups do things that are psychologically harmful to
their adolescent and adult members, as well as to the younger children subject to their
influence. It is not always easy to distinguish between the two types, especially if they
are secretive about their practices.
One possibility is that we define “cult ritual child abuse” to mean:
