Suggestions that abuse within a satanist belief system does not
exist have hurt and angered survivors of ritual abuse. But it could
also endanger their emotional safety. How can a child or adult
disclose their terror and pain when health and social services
professionals might disbelieve them?
Satanism, as opposed to the sensationalist term "devil-worship", is
a legal belief system and not all satanists are abusive. Indeed,
some have been victims of cruelty within mainstream religions, and
the threats of torture in hell by priests and vicars have pushed
them to the point where they feel they need to face death with
Satan supporting them.
Article continues below the advertisement
However, within this small group there is a small number of
sadistic abusers. It seems unlikely that, although Anglicans,
Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists have been proven in court to
be child abusers, satanists are the only people who are impeccable
parents! If that were the case, perhaps the whole country should
convert to satanism.
Claims that there has been no organised abuse and minimal
individual abuse in children's homes until recently are in conflict
with abundant evidence. Given that it is agreed that most abuse is
carried out by parents in the domestic home, can it really be
suggested that the need to abuse children is absent in anyone who
chooses to care for other people's children in a residential
setting? Following this through would lead to the absurdity that
all children at risk should be brought up in satanist care
homes.
Article continues below the advertisement
Ritual abuse is a small fraction of the abuse carried out. In the
Clinic for Dissociative Studies we have seen more than 200 victims
of ritual organised abuse from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and
satanist belief systems. Yet ritual crime is not on the statute
book. Raping a child falls under the offence of rape, and raping a
child while wearing a cloak and mask is no different. As one
detective said: "If you want to get away with raping a child in
Britain, do it in a group, wear a cloak and mask and no-one will
believe the child."
Dr Valerie Sinason is a child and adult psychotherapist,
adult psychoanalyst and director of the Clinic for Dissociative
Studies
