Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 15
training courses aimed at helping to find a job, etc. In these cases, the people approaching
these groups are totally unaware of the real purposes the groups pursue. The interim report
also illustrates some recruiting techniques:
Some recruiting and training techniques and some indoctrination procedures
used by many sects and cults, are often very sophisticated and are at the
base of their success. In most cases cults, by means of these techniques,
lure individuals who, in the first place are unaware of the fact that such an
approach is often a trick and, in the second place, are unaware of the nature
of the plot aimed at converting them and of the training methods (social and
psychological manipulation) they will undergo. Cults impose their particular
way of thinking, of feeling and behaving, unlike the Church‘s approach which
implies aware and responsible consent.‖13
The Pastoral memorandum being examined includes also psychological movements when
discussing the complex issue of the reasons leading to affiliation with cults: ―At times
disciples of a cult are bound by forms of emotional and psychological coercion, control, and
vigilance, up to the point at which their personal freedom is limited. These are cases in
which success is imposed and guarded.‖ Without generalizing (each group has
characteristics different from those of another group and not all groups use these mental
control techniques), it is advisable to emphasize that the pastoral approach envisages that
these guidelines be followed up by an analysis of the group being dealt with and of the
person involved. The person‘s own characteristics greatly influence his or her eventual
conditioning by the group and its leader. Even though it is true that any environment
conditions an individual to some extent, it is also true that conditioning assumes specific
characteristics in NRMs. Some experts have defined it as ―thought reform,‖ ―mind control,‖
or ―brainwashing.‖14
These issues were already discussed in the Interim Report, where “recruiting and training
techniques and indoctrination procedures‖ are discussed. After affirming that young people
and the elderly are ―easy prey‖ to these techniques and methods, which are often a
combination of affection and disappointment, it lists a number of elements such as love-
bombing, flattery, distribution of money, ―… need of unconditioned abandonment into the
arms of the founder and leader isolation: the control of the rational process of thought, the
elimination of any external information or influence…which could break the
influence…canceling of those met during their past life…conscience alteration methods
leading to knowledge disturbance…closed logical systems…keeping recruits always busy …
great concentration on the leader‖15 and so on.
In the light of this dismal situation, the pastoral memorandum in the part calling believers
to assume a balanced approach towards NRMs, ―Beyond Irenics and Sectarianism,‖ states:
There are sound reasons to affirm that cults and new religious movements
are generally closed to dialogue and concentrate on announcing their
message by means of propaganda exerting psychological pressure. They
tend to take control of their interlocutor until uncritical and total acceptance
is obtained and in some cases moral subjugation is reached.16
These ―methods‖ are to be contrasted with the respectful methods used to obtain the
convinced and responsible acceptance of the believer, who does not renounce his
intelligence and critical powers in embracing a faith, whichever it may be, and who has the
right and the duty to pose all the questions he may have and ―to justify his faith‖ before
nonbelievers. According to the Catholic Bishops, ―the phenomenon needs to be faced with
the spirit of faithfulness to the truth and with Christian charity: this is the main effort to be
made and our pastoral considerations pursue this end.‖17
training courses aimed at helping to find a job, etc. In these cases, the people approaching
these groups are totally unaware of the real purposes the groups pursue. The interim report
also illustrates some recruiting techniques:
Some recruiting and training techniques and some indoctrination procedures
used by many sects and cults, are often very sophisticated and are at the
base of their success. In most cases cults, by means of these techniques,
lure individuals who, in the first place are unaware of the fact that such an
approach is often a trick and, in the second place, are unaware of the nature
of the plot aimed at converting them and of the training methods (social and
psychological manipulation) they will undergo. Cults impose their particular
way of thinking, of feeling and behaving, unlike the Church‘s approach which
implies aware and responsible consent.‖13
The Pastoral memorandum being examined includes also psychological movements when
discussing the complex issue of the reasons leading to affiliation with cults: ―At times
disciples of a cult are bound by forms of emotional and psychological coercion, control, and
vigilance, up to the point at which their personal freedom is limited. These are cases in
which success is imposed and guarded.‖ Without generalizing (each group has
characteristics different from those of another group and not all groups use these mental
control techniques), it is advisable to emphasize that the pastoral approach envisages that
these guidelines be followed up by an analysis of the group being dealt with and of the
person involved. The person‘s own characteristics greatly influence his or her eventual
conditioning by the group and its leader. Even though it is true that any environment
conditions an individual to some extent, it is also true that conditioning assumes specific
characteristics in NRMs. Some experts have defined it as ―thought reform,‖ ―mind control,‖
or ―brainwashing.‖14
These issues were already discussed in the Interim Report, where “recruiting and training
techniques and indoctrination procedures‖ are discussed. After affirming that young people
and the elderly are ―easy prey‖ to these techniques and methods, which are often a
combination of affection and disappointment, it lists a number of elements such as love-
bombing, flattery, distribution of money, ―… need of unconditioned abandonment into the
arms of the founder and leader isolation: the control of the rational process of thought, the
elimination of any external information or influence…which could break the
influence…canceling of those met during their past life…conscience alteration methods
leading to knowledge disturbance…closed logical systems…keeping recruits always busy …
great concentration on the leader‖15 and so on.
In the light of this dismal situation, the pastoral memorandum in the part calling believers
to assume a balanced approach towards NRMs, ―Beyond Irenics and Sectarianism,‖ states:
There are sound reasons to affirm that cults and new religious movements
are generally closed to dialogue and concentrate on announcing their
message by means of propaganda exerting psychological pressure. They
tend to take control of their interlocutor until uncritical and total acceptance
is obtained and in some cases moral subjugation is reached.16
These ―methods‖ are to be contrasted with the respectful methods used to obtain the
convinced and responsible acceptance of the believer, who does not renounce his
intelligence and critical powers in embracing a faith, whichever it may be, and who has the
right and the duty to pose all the questions he may have and ―to justify his faith‖ before
nonbelievers. According to the Catholic Bishops, ―the phenomenon needs to be faced with
the spirit of faithfulness to the truth and with Christian charity: this is the main effort to be
made and our pastoral considerations pursue this end.‖17
