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Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 2) - Page 8

© Sylvia Gillotte, attorney

In a 1995 article entitled “Cultural and Economic Barriers to Protecting Children from Ritual Abuse and Mind Control,” Dr. Catherine Gould states that “(I)n 1992 alone, Childhelp USA logged 1,741 calls pertaining to ritual abuse, Monarch Resources of Los Angeles logged approximately 5,000, Real Active Survivors tallied nearly 3,600, Justus Unlimited of Colorado received almost 7,000, and Looking Up of Maine handled around 6,000.” This constitutes an alarming number of helpline inquiries, even discounting the numbers or allowing for duplication.

Dr. Kathleen Faller has conducted a review of the empirical research on ritual abuse. She notes that there is great similarity in claims of abuse which are individually made by both children and adults, and that studies demonstrate some independent corroboration for such allegations. Given that historical accounts of ritual abuse date back several centuries, and that children as young as two and adults as old as ninety from across the globe continue to describe accounts of abuse consistent with ritual trauma, it should be considerably alarming that so little has been done to increase professional awareness of the problem.

While we may never be able to fix or eradicate the problem, we must move beyond denial and begin to understand the dynamics of this abuse so that our investigative paradigms can shift accordingly. Unless we directly address the problem, we can rest assured that future generations will reap a harvest that has geometrically increased proportionate to our own ignorance and negligence.

V. THE “HOW” AND “WHY” OF RITUAL TRAUMA

Inasmuch as there are numerous reports consistent with ritual trauma that cross both centuries and cultures, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of ritual trauma either as a form of child abuse or a technique of mind control. The North American continent has been populated by such a diverse number of cultures that ritualistic child abuse in America likely originates from many sources. However, it would appear that the vast majority of victims seeking assistance in this country today are of European heritage, so it is likely that many ritualistic practices date back to early pagan belief systems on that continent which continue to be secretly practiced through generations of adherents.

In a predominately Judeo-Christian society, satanic symbols can convey an archetypal and powerful message to victims, particularly when used in conjunction with severe trauma and torture. Therefore, it is not necessary that organized perpetrators have any spiritual belief system behind their practices or activities. Suffice it to say that whether motivated by religious belief, sexual desire, power, or mind control of the victim, cults use a ritualized setting to abuse, exploit, and manipulate children and other victims. As a group, therefore, their internal and external structure functions to provide access to children and protect members from criminal prosecution.

The copyright of the article Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 2) - Page 8 in Ritual Abuse is owned by Sylvia Gillotte, attorney. Permission to republish Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 2) - Page 8 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.