NCJ Number
124985
Journal
Roundtable Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 11-13
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper provides a definition of cultic abuse in the context of other types of sexual abuse, describes the obstacles of meaningful dialogue, and articulates mental health concerns to help advance interdisciplinary communication on the problem of cultic sexual abuse of children.
Abstract
Cultic sexual abuse can be defined as part of a rite within a religious or quasi-religious belief system. There are certain characteristics noted in children's descriptions of cultic abuse which include the use of symbols; wearing costumes; threats of severe physical harm and death; physical restraint or isolation of the victim; torture and sacrifice of animals, infants and older people; charts and songs; the use of needles, drugs, and potions; use or consumption of blood, urine, feces; sexual abuse involving churches, alters, and graveyards; ceremonies; indoctrination; sexual penetration with objects; supernatural powers; group sex; sex with adults or sex with other children; and elements of pornography and prostitution. In general, cult cases involve multiple perpetrators and multiple victims, and most of the reported cases of cultic abuse have been in daycare centers. Some cases also occur within families, without the parents knowledge, or may involve parents who take their children to ritual events outside the family. Obstacles to meaningful dialogue include the absence of consensus about what cultic sexual abuse is, incomplete knowledge about the phenomenon, the difficulty in comprehending the kinds of experiences child and adult victims describe, and the lack of corroborating evidence. The emphasis has tended to be on the sexual and abusive behavior rather than the ritual behavior because of the bewilderment about victims' accounts. Legally this may be good advise, but therapeutically it could be disastrous. Those who are abused in cults need affirmation that they are not alone in these experiences, they need a context in which to talk about their abuse, they need to learn that the perpetrator is not all powerful, and they need to be believed. 5 references.