353 VOLUME 10 |ISSUE 1 |2019 |1 |
Correspondents
,
Reports
Note:
References for specific sources cited in
Correspondents’ Reports are available
at icsahome.com/elibrary/icsatoday/
references
Report From Italy
Cristina Caparesi
News From SOS Abusi
Psicologici
On November 3, 2018, SOS Abusi
Psicologici organized a conference
entitled The Risks of Alternative
Therapies Between Science and
Magic. The event shed light on some
well-known cases in Italy in which
followers of manipulative groups, who
had refused scientific treatments in
obedience to their guru’s requests,
suffered death or other harmful
effects. A very interesting debate
between the public and speakers
ensued. The speakers included a
lawyer who was defending several
victims of cultic organizations.
Active since 2004, and thanks to
specific regional funding, the SOS
Abusi Psicologici’s center in the
heart of Udine is continuing to give
consultations to individuals who
have personal requests as former
members or are concerned about
a loved one’s involvement with
cultic groups. Cristina Caparesi, who
is responsible for the center, says
“It’s really important for us to be
there and provide some tips and
suggestions, particularly because
when we receive calls we can tell if the
caller is someone who is worried and
doesn’t understand what it’s going
on. Moreover, we are very grateful
that the Region is still supporting the
project.”
Another center has been opened in
Gorizia to give assistance to harassed
workers.
Conference Organized by SIPR
On November 16, 2018, the
conference New Religious Movements:
Psychological Readings was organized
by SIPR (Italian Society of Psychology
of Religion) at the Catholic University
of Sacred Heart in Milan. The intention
of the conference was to promote
critical reflection on the motivations
that animate an individual’s attitude
toward religious phenomena, and
in particular to focus attention on
those religious and spiritual groups
sociologically identified as new
religious movements.
Conference Organized by Pope
John XXIII
A conference was organized at the
Lumsa University by the Catholic
association Pope John XXIII
Community. The association reported
that its Anti-cult Service had received
2,467 requests for help in 2018, with a
prevalence of contacts from northern
Italy (39%), followed by the central
(32%) and southern (29%) regions.
CRAGIPPE Project by
Educaforum APS and SOS Abusi
Psicologici
SOS Abusi Psicologici and Educaforum
APS have been active in a common
project under the regional law on
immigration known as CRAGIPPE
(Center Against Radicalization of
Adolescents and Young People, for
the Promotion of Peace and Legality),
which has financed several activities
under the project (see www.cragippe.
it/). In particular, the organizations
were able to provide two basic
courses on radicalization (24 hours
and 26 hours, respectively) to a
multidisciplinary audience of social
workers, psychologists, educators
and security forces. The overall results
were presented in a final conference
to Regional Counsellor Roberti, who
has approved the work and has
decided to support it again in 2019.
RASMORAD Project (EXIT
SCS ONLUS)
The EU project RASMORAD (Raising
Awareness and Staff MObility
on RADicalisation in prison and
probation services), led by the Italian
Penitentiary Department, came to
a conclusion by the end of 2018
with important results on common
methodologies for radicalization
risk assessment, exit strategies,
and disengagement from political
and religious violence (for more
information, see www.rasmorad.org/).
Representatives of SOS Abusi
Psicologici and EXIT SCS ONLUS
participated in important meetings
in Paris to visit the risk-assessment
center in a Paris prison. In November,
another meeting took place in
Syracuse, and a final meeting was held
in Rome in mid-December to present
results. At the end of this project, EXIT,
a social cooperative, will be closed
after 7 years, and its activities will be
carried on by Educaforum APS.
Educaforum APS has already been
authorized to both provide support
and also coordinate with the center
for harassed workers. Another major
activity that has been acquired by the
association is the training of teachers
for recognizing radicalization at
school. After 24-hour courses in Milan,
Rome, Florence, and Bologna, the next
steps will be delivered in the center
and south of Italy.
Information About
Abusi e vessazioni e-Journal
By the end of 2018, SOS Abusi
Psicologici’s online journal, Abusi e
vessazioni, will cease publication. The
articles that have been published
will be moved to the main website
of the association and authors will
be given the new link. The online
journal was started in 2012, primarily
to translate and publish articles that
were published in ICSA Today or other
relevant articles on cults. Because
many more activities are going on
at the moment, there is less time to
translate articles. We thank everyone
for their help.
Correspondents
,
Reports
Note:
References for specific sources cited in
Correspondents’ Reports are available
at icsahome.com/elibrary/icsatoday/
references
Report From Italy
Cristina Caparesi
News From SOS Abusi
Psicologici
On November 3, 2018, SOS Abusi
Psicologici organized a conference
entitled The Risks of Alternative
Therapies Between Science and
Magic. The event shed light on some
well-known cases in Italy in which
followers of manipulative groups, who
had refused scientific treatments in
obedience to their guru’s requests,
suffered death or other harmful
effects. A very interesting debate
between the public and speakers
ensued. The speakers included a
lawyer who was defending several
victims of cultic organizations.
Active since 2004, and thanks to
specific regional funding, the SOS
Abusi Psicologici’s center in the
heart of Udine is continuing to give
consultations to individuals who
have personal requests as former
members or are concerned about
a loved one’s involvement with
cultic groups. Cristina Caparesi, who
is responsible for the center, says
“It’s really important for us to be
there and provide some tips and
suggestions, particularly because
when we receive calls we can tell if the
caller is someone who is worried and
doesn’t understand what it’s going
on. Moreover, we are very grateful
that the Region is still supporting the
project.”
Another center has been opened in
Gorizia to give assistance to harassed
workers.
Conference Organized by SIPR
On November 16, 2018, the
conference New Religious Movements:
Psychological Readings was organized
by SIPR (Italian Society of Psychology
of Religion) at the Catholic University
of Sacred Heart in Milan. The intention
of the conference was to promote
critical reflection on the motivations
that animate an individual’s attitude
toward religious phenomena, and
in particular to focus attention on
those religious and spiritual groups
sociologically identified as new
religious movements.
Conference Organized by Pope
John XXIII
A conference was organized at the
Lumsa University by the Catholic
association Pope John XXIII
Community. The association reported
that its Anti-cult Service had received
2,467 requests for help in 2018, with a
prevalence of contacts from northern
Italy (39%), followed by the central
(32%) and southern (29%) regions.
CRAGIPPE Project by
Educaforum APS and SOS Abusi
Psicologici
SOS Abusi Psicologici and Educaforum
APS have been active in a common
project under the regional law on
immigration known as CRAGIPPE
(Center Against Radicalization of
Adolescents and Young People, for
the Promotion of Peace and Legality),
which has financed several activities
under the project (see www.cragippe.
it/). In particular, the organizations
were able to provide two basic
courses on radicalization (24 hours
and 26 hours, respectively) to a
multidisciplinary audience of social
workers, psychologists, educators
and security forces. The overall results
were presented in a final conference
to Regional Counsellor Roberti, who
has approved the work and has
decided to support it again in 2019.
RASMORAD Project (EXIT
SCS ONLUS)
The EU project RASMORAD (Raising
Awareness and Staff MObility
on RADicalisation in prison and
probation services), led by the Italian
Penitentiary Department, came to
a conclusion by the end of 2018
with important results on common
methodologies for radicalization
risk assessment, exit strategies,
and disengagement from political
and religious violence (for more
information, see www.rasmorad.org/).
Representatives of SOS Abusi
Psicologici and EXIT SCS ONLUS
participated in important meetings
in Paris to visit the risk-assessment
center in a Paris prison. In November,
another meeting took place in
Syracuse, and a final meeting was held
in Rome in mid-December to present
results. At the end of this project, EXIT,
a social cooperative, will be closed
after 7 years, and its activities will be
carried on by Educaforum APS.
Educaforum APS has already been
authorized to both provide support
and also coordinate with the center
for harassed workers. Another major
activity that has been acquired by the
association is the training of teachers
for recognizing radicalization at
school. After 24-hour courses in Milan,
Rome, Florence, and Bologna, the next
steps will be delivered in the center
and south of Italy.
Information About
Abusi e vessazioni e-Journal
By the end of 2018, SOS Abusi
Psicologici’s online journal, Abusi e
vessazioni, will cease publication. The
articles that have been published
will be moved to the main website
of the association and authors will
be given the new link. The online
journal was started in 2012, primarily
to translate and publish articles that
were published in ICSA Today or other
relevant articles on cults. Because
many more activities are going on
at the moment, there is less time to
translate articles. We thank everyone
for their help.
