Satanic Ritual Abuse

Satanic Ritual Abuse can be defined as the psychological, sexual, and/or physical assault forced on an unwilling human victim, and committed by one or more Satanists according to a prescribed ritual, the primary aim of which is to fulfill their need to worship the Christian devil, Satan (http://www.religioustolerance.org).
In many occasions the term Satanic Ritual Abuse is used, incorrectly, as a all-encompassing for related issues, such as alleged or documented child abuse, including incest, molestation, mutilation, or other physical and/or psychological abuse, all with no connection to Satanism. In contrast, skeptics claim that ritual abuse, especially so-called satanic cult abuse, either does not exist at all or occurs very infrequently,
perhaps only at the request of a disturbed individual and never in connection with an organized network of satanic cults (e.g., Ofshe & Watters, 1994; Richardson et al., 1991). Most skeptical analysis includes the allegation that the broad majority of cases of supposed ritual abuse are created by irresponsible, impulsive therapists (e.g., Mulhern, 1991; Victor, 1993). The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, in its Fact Sheet on ritual abuse says:
["Ritual abuse" is one of the most-talked-about, rarest, and least-understood forms of alleged child maltreatment. Experts disagree about whether or not "ritual abuse" exists, the range of situations to include in the category, and the extent and significance of these situations. Some argue that the term "ritual abuse" should be abandoned because it confuses more than it clarifies. Many more questions than answers exist about this highly controversial topic.]
It then gives a description of the general understanding of the term "ritual abuse," and states:
[Experts have proposed that allegations often classified as "ritual abuse" might reflect three very different situations (Finkelhor & Williams, 1988)]
The three situations are as follow, 1) Cult-based ritual abuse, 2) Pseudo-ritualistic abuse, and 3) Psychopathological ritualism, and then continues with a section on "What is the evidence for 'ritual abuse'?"
[Supervisory Special Agent Kenneth Lanning, MS, of the FBI, concluded that there is no evidence for a widespread satanic conspiracy perpetrating cult-based ritual abuse (Bottoms, Shaver, & Goodman, 1996).
Because professionals disagree about what constitutes "ritual abuse," and no mechanisms are in place at the local, state, or national levels to track reports of ritual abuse or to investigate the validity of ritual elements, no reliable data are available about its prevalence. A recent nationwide study has concluded that many allegations of abuse now referred to, as "ritualistic" have nothing to do with supernatural beliefs, Satanists, or organized cults (Bottoms, Shaver, & Goodman, 1996).
In one national research study of sexual abuse in day care (Finkelhor & Williams, 1988), one or more ritual elements were alleged in 13% of cases. The researchers could not determine whether these allegations were true or false, or whether they might pertain to cult-based ritual abuse, pseudo-ritualistic abuse, or psychopathological ritualism.
Much more evidence exists for religion-related abuse than for "ritual abuse" (Bottoms, Shaver & Goodman, 1996).
Religion-related abuse includes such acts as "beating the devil out of a child," abusive "exorcism" and "deliverance" ceremonies, sexual abuse by priesthood, and religiously motivated medical neglect.] The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, then answers the question of What child abuse professionals believe about ritual abuse?:
[Professionals are divided over whether or not "ritual abuse" occurs. Much of the controversy in the professional community would likely disappear with the introduction of a coherent, widely accepted definition of "ritual abuse."
No reliable data are available on the prevalence of different beliefs about "ritual abuse" among professionals. However, in a nationwide study of thousands of interdisciplinary professionals, 11% of mental health professionals reported having encountered one or more allegations of child abuse that included ritual elements, as defined by the researchers. A very small group of clinicians, each alleged to have treated scores of cases, accounted for most of the reports of ritualistic child abuse (Bottoms, Shaver, & Goodman,
1996).
A very high percentage of professionals who encountered reports of ritual abuse from patients believed those reports, based largely on patients' strong affect and apparently abuse-related behavioral symptoms, even though other corroborative evidence was often lacking (Bottoms, Shaver, & Goodman, 1996).]
Undocumented allegations of ritual abuse, Satanic or otherwise, are often built solely on what therapists call "recovered memories," but which critics refer to as "false memories" therapy-induced fantasies masquerading as memories that seem very real to the person being treated. Unfortunately, this highly emotional, highly charged issue is further burdened by the fact that many supporters of Recovered Memory Therapy, tend to engage in sensationalism. In their reasoning, critics are seen as part of what they believe to be a cover-up or a widespread conspiracy. Usually, critics, and well-documented reports are promptly dismissed, in favor of largely undocumented allusions to "inside" information, which cannot be shared with skeptics. The lack of evidence of satanic crimes is often cited as further "evidence" of the "conspiracy." Sadly, real cases of abuse do exist, including some committed by so-called "mad Satanists." However, the recovered memory therapy proponents often refer to isolated, documented cases of child abuse in support of their theories, even though most such cases have nothing to do with Satanism, "recovered" memories, or any form of ritualistic abuse. It should be noted, however, that perpetrators may "pretend" or "play-act" allegedly occult practices, or use "Satanism," "voices," as part of a legal defense.
[The ritual abuse scare is the social creation of a late twentieth-century witch-hunt.
There is no verifiable evidence for claims about a satanic cult ritual abuse conspiracy. However, there is abundant evidence that an increasing number of moral crusaders are creating a form of deviant behavior, which exists only in their preconceptions. The victims of this rush to judgment include children who are traumatized by the emotional over-reaction and repeated interrogations by well-meaning child protection workers. The victims include children who are taken away from parents who have been falsely accused of ritual sex abuse. Victims also include the parents who are imprisoned and often held with exorbitantly high bail for months before going to
trial.
These allegations of satanic cult ritual sex abuse also distort and confuse investigations of cases in which real sexual abuse has occurred, often resulting in such cases being thrown out of court (Victor, 1993).]
Clearly, then, the extremes of sensationalizing satanic ritual abuse related issues on the one hand, and minimizing ritual abuse allegations on the other hand should be avoided. Cases should be evaluated on the strength or absence of the evidence. Any evidence should be evaluated on its merit. Alleged evidence based merely on so-called "recovered memories," and which is not corroborated with incontrovertible supporting evidence should be rejected.