Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, 1991, Page 55
Teenage “Mischief”
In their chapter on “Satanic Vandalism,” under “Desecration of Religious Property,” the
authors of the report try to make light of the malicious vandalism of churches, synagogues
and cemeteries by minimizing -using terms such as “occasionally” and “fewer than 100” -
and trivializing the issue. Statements such as: “Law enforcement agencies have no evidence
that any of these occurrences are coordinated in any way,” and “It seems odd that a
clandestine murderous Devil-worshipping cult that has maintained its secrecy for years
would go about advertising its existence in such a public fashion,” employ the conspiracy
red herring in an effort to divert attention from the real issue, which is the malicious
desecration of religious sites using satanic symbols.51 “It‟s mischief,” Gerald Larue told an
Illinois reporter. “They kind of want to shock the older generation by writing 666 on
tombstones.”52
The report somewhat cryptically adds, “It is interesting to note that all of the reports
obtained by CSER are desecrations of Christian sites which, of course, are more numerous
than any other type of religious setting in this country.”53 What does this state4rnent imply?
That the vandals wished to wreck cemeteries -any cemeteries -but because they could
only find Christian ones they are being unjustly labeled satanic? Surely a desecration that
includes satanic graffiti can be recognized as more specifically focused than one that merely
involves the breaking or overturning of headstones. Or do the authors mean to suggest that
because Christian sites are so numerous, the vandals couldn‟t find the sites they really
wanted to desecrate? What else are Satanists going to attack, if not Christian sites -or
Jewish ones, if the Satanists involved are of the growing neo-Nazi contingent? (When Jewish
cemeteries were vandalized in Europe several months ago, the French authorities saw fit to
question members of a satanic cult. And an ominous fusion of Satanists with Nazi Skinheads
is a growing trend in this country.) Assuming that the authors of the report would agree
that desecration of Jewish sacred sites by neo-Nazis is a vicious hate crime, why is such
action suddenly downgraded to “mischief” when committed by Satanists against Christians?
A related issue is grave robbing. Again, CSER‟s assertions are not backed up by facts:
“Grave robbing allegations are common, although most are not corroborated by
independent police investigation.”54 This is patently false. Consider, for example, the
following account of a grave-robbing incident reported in the February 1987 issue of Police:
Special Investigations Bureau Prison Gang Unit, Los Angeles County Sheriff‟s
Department, deputies were thrust into occult investigation after two Los
Angeles mausoleums were broken into and 10 bodies were cut up and
desecrated ...Deputies investigating the mausoleum desecration discovered
the bodies had been lifted out of their coffins, bones and hands had been
removed, and several heads had been placed outside the mausoleum.
The vandals, who had not been apprehended at the time the article was written, had
removed a crucifix and altar candles and left occult graffiti at the scene. They were first
believed to be members of Los Angeles “stoner” gangs, but gang informants told police to
look instead for “these weird people who hang around the graveyard, play records
backwards, and do what the devil tells them to do.”55 This is only one of many cases in
which this repulsive crime has been accompanied by satanic “calling cards.” The CSER
reports authors don‟t seem to care about the anguish suffered by the families of those
whose graves are robbed or desecrated and the parishioners whose churches are
vandalized. Their attitude appears to be that these people should realize that it is all done in
fun by high-spirited kids protesting their parents‟ “hypocrisy.”
The report devotes four short paragraphs to the issue of animal mutilation and sacrifice.
After reluctantly conceding that there are “some documented cases of willful mutilation,”
the authors portentously caution their readers that “whenever animal bodies are found...
Teenage “Mischief”
In their chapter on “Satanic Vandalism,” under “Desecration of Religious Property,” the
authors of the report try to make light of the malicious vandalism of churches, synagogues
and cemeteries by minimizing -using terms such as “occasionally” and “fewer than 100” -
and trivializing the issue. Statements such as: “Law enforcement agencies have no evidence
that any of these occurrences are coordinated in any way,” and “It seems odd that a
clandestine murderous Devil-worshipping cult that has maintained its secrecy for years
would go about advertising its existence in such a public fashion,” employ the conspiracy
red herring in an effort to divert attention from the real issue, which is the malicious
desecration of religious sites using satanic symbols.51 “It‟s mischief,” Gerald Larue told an
Illinois reporter. “They kind of want to shock the older generation by writing 666 on
tombstones.”52
The report somewhat cryptically adds, “It is interesting to note that all of the reports
obtained by CSER are desecrations of Christian sites which, of course, are more numerous
than any other type of religious setting in this country.”53 What does this state4rnent imply?
That the vandals wished to wreck cemeteries -any cemeteries -but because they could
only find Christian ones they are being unjustly labeled satanic? Surely a desecration that
includes satanic graffiti can be recognized as more specifically focused than one that merely
involves the breaking or overturning of headstones. Or do the authors mean to suggest that
because Christian sites are so numerous, the vandals couldn‟t find the sites they really
wanted to desecrate? What else are Satanists going to attack, if not Christian sites -or
Jewish ones, if the Satanists involved are of the growing neo-Nazi contingent? (When Jewish
cemeteries were vandalized in Europe several months ago, the French authorities saw fit to
question members of a satanic cult. And an ominous fusion of Satanists with Nazi Skinheads
is a growing trend in this country.) Assuming that the authors of the report would agree
that desecration of Jewish sacred sites by neo-Nazis is a vicious hate crime, why is such
action suddenly downgraded to “mischief” when committed by Satanists against Christians?
A related issue is grave robbing. Again, CSER‟s assertions are not backed up by facts:
“Grave robbing allegations are common, although most are not corroborated by
independent police investigation.”54 This is patently false. Consider, for example, the
following account of a grave-robbing incident reported in the February 1987 issue of Police:
Special Investigations Bureau Prison Gang Unit, Los Angeles County Sheriff‟s
Department, deputies were thrust into occult investigation after two Los
Angeles mausoleums were broken into and 10 bodies were cut up and
desecrated ...Deputies investigating the mausoleum desecration discovered
the bodies had been lifted out of their coffins, bones and hands had been
removed, and several heads had been placed outside the mausoleum.
The vandals, who had not been apprehended at the time the article was written, had
removed a crucifix and altar candles and left occult graffiti at the scene. They were first
believed to be members of Los Angeles “stoner” gangs, but gang informants told police to
look instead for “these weird people who hang around the graveyard, play records
backwards, and do what the devil tells them to do.”55 This is only one of many cases in
which this repulsive crime has been accompanied by satanic “calling cards.” The CSER
reports authors don‟t seem to care about the anguish suffered by the families of those
whose graves are robbed or desecrated and the parishioners whose churches are
vandalized. Their attitude appears to be that these people should realize that it is all done in
fun by high-spirited kids protesting their parents‟ “hypocrisy.”
The report devotes four short paragraphs to the issue of animal mutilation and sacrifice.
After reluctantly conceding that there are “some documented cases of willful mutilation,”
the authors portentously caution their readers that “whenever animal bodies are found...
