29 VOLUME 6 |ISSUE 2 |2015
in Modern Society,” people had the
opportunity to listen to Narya Tossetto,
the representative of Ananda Assisi,
Italy, which was founded in 1968 by
Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple
of Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda
Europa, a network of seven spiritual
communities, with hundreds of centers
and meditation groups in the United
States and in Europe, was founded in
Italy in 1983 and has been flourishing
at its present location near Assisi since
1986. There are about 80 residents
at Ananda, some living within the
community and others, including
families and children, in homes nearby.
Narya Tossetto shared important
information about a case against the
Ananda Assisi community and its
various corporate structures that Italian
media has reported on since 2002. The
investigation began with a complaint
lodged by an individual who had lived
in the community for about two years.
The complaint noted that Ananda was
a sect that held people against their
will, forced them to work without being
paid, conspired to engage in criminal
activities, and coerced handicapped and
vulnerable individuals it made other
accusations including the charge that
Ananda was a pseudo religion.
The case was dismissed in 2009
but in 2014 the Italian state made
restitution to Ananda members for
wrongful imprisonment and trial. In his
written opinion, the judge addressed
two very important issues: First, that,
according to the Italian Constitution, the
Ananda community conformed to the
guidelines for a religious organization
and was therefore to be recognized as
such and accorded the protections of
the constitution for its practices and
activities. Second was that testimony
given by the priest who was in charge
of the Church’s Office of Investigation
of Sects was a priori biased and had no
weight in a court of law.
Legal Proceedings
On October 21, 2014, the leader of
the Association Re Maya, now named
“Scienza per Amore,” was indicted for
fraud, together with 12 followers. The
first hearing will be in May 2015.
Cristina Caparesi
News from the Italian Associations
SOS Abusi Psicologici ended 2014
with satisfaction because the regional
administration approved and funded
the association’s new program for
2015. In substance, all the main
activities will remain unchanged for
2015: information, prevention, support
of victims, and monitoring of and
research on the cultic phenomenon.
The professionals employed in the
support center have been confirmed:
Teresa Dennetta, lawyer Cristina
Caparesi, mediator and educator
Gabriella Salanitro and Paolo Ballaben,
psychotherapists and Elisa Mattiussi,
psychiatrist. Volunteer members of
the association have been included for
administrative purposes.
The new program will see the
realization of a conference entitled
Correspondents
,
Reports
in Modern Society,” people had the
opportunity to listen to Narya Tossetto,
the representative of Ananda Assisi,
Italy, which was founded in 1968 by
Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple
of Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda
Europa, a network of seven spiritual
communities, with hundreds of centers
and meditation groups in the United
States and in Europe, was founded in
Italy in 1983 and has been flourishing
at its present location near Assisi since
1986. There are about 80 residents
at Ananda, some living within the
community and others, including
families and children, in homes nearby.
Narya Tossetto shared important
information about a case against the
Ananda Assisi community and its
various corporate structures that Italian
media has reported on since 2002. The
investigation began with a complaint
lodged by an individual who had lived
in the community for about two years.
The complaint noted that Ananda was
a sect that held people against their
will, forced them to work without being
paid, conspired to engage in criminal
activities, and coerced handicapped and
vulnerable individuals it made other
accusations including the charge that
Ananda was a pseudo religion.
The case was dismissed in 2009
but in 2014 the Italian state made
restitution to Ananda members for
wrongful imprisonment and trial. In his
written opinion, the judge addressed
two very important issues: First, that,
according to the Italian Constitution, the
Ananda community conformed to the
guidelines for a religious organization
and was therefore to be recognized as
such and accorded the protections of
the constitution for its practices and
activities. Second was that testimony
given by the priest who was in charge
of the Church’s Office of Investigation
of Sects was a priori biased and had no
weight in a court of law.
Legal Proceedings
On October 21, 2014, the leader of
the Association Re Maya, now named
“Scienza per Amore,” was indicted for
fraud, together with 12 followers. The
first hearing will be in May 2015.
Cristina Caparesi
News from the Italian Associations
SOS Abusi Psicologici ended 2014
with satisfaction because the regional
administration approved and funded
the association’s new program for
2015. In substance, all the main
activities will remain unchanged for
2015: information, prevention, support
of victims, and monitoring of and
research on the cultic phenomenon.
The professionals employed in the
support center have been confirmed:
Teresa Dennetta, lawyer Cristina
Caparesi, mediator and educator
Gabriella Salanitro and Paolo Ballaben,
psychotherapists and Elisa Mattiussi,
psychiatrist. Volunteer members of
the association have been included for
administrative purposes.
The new program will see the
realization of a conference entitled
Correspondents
,
Reports
