Child porn collectors could move on to abuse children

There’s no concrete evidence someone who collects child pornography will ever molest a child.
But experts aren’t convinced the ‘hobby’ isn’t a stepping stone.
“There’s nothing direct that says because someone collects they will do hands-on molestation of children,” Staff Sgt. Matt Logan said.
“I have a hard time believing that, given an opportunity, that wouldn’t happen. Child pornography exists primarily for the consumption of predatory child molesters.”
Logan is a criminal psychologist in the RCMP’s Behavioural Science Group, and has done extensive work with sex offenders. He’s been called on more and more to consult on child exploitation cases.
He describes two types of child molester – situational and preferential.
Most molesters fit into the situational category. Most are male, and are indiscriminate with victims, committing sexual assault based on accessibility to a victim.
If they have a pornography collection, child porn is usually a small portion of it.
The preferential child molester can be any age, driven by fantasies centered on a specific age, gender or look of a child. Most gravitate to pre-pubescents, Logan said, although he has worked with some whose fetish was newborns.
Preferential child molesters also have a long-term pattern of behaviour, and almost certainly collect child porn. The images and erotic stories fuel fantasies that “drive the bus” to hunting and molesting a child.
Still, “pornography is not a causative factor in hands-on molestation of children. It acts as a facilitator,” Logan said.
“The deviant individual already has the fantasy, and the pornography... feeds the fantasy, so the fantasy can have sound, colour.
“A lot of their life is spent working within that fantasy.”
A collection of child porn specific to one gender, age, or physical attribute “is the mark of the preferential molester,” Logan said.
Preferential child molesters will try to get themselves into situations where their victims will be, Logan said.
They may work at community centres, volunteer with youth groups, or teach. They may use child porn to groom potential victims; to lower children’s inhibitions and lure them into engaging in sexual activity or posing for photos.

Turin part of black magic triangle?

Interesting article on the dark side of Turin, home of the famous Shroud.

Deborah Hastings of Associated Press writes:

Turin, according to the convoluted logic of occult experts, is on the 45th parallel and thereby constitutes one of three cities forming a “triangle” of black magic — London and San Francisco being the others — all united by lines of negative energy.

-snip-

To this day, soothsaying and Satanism live in Turin. Tours are offered of demonic statues, door knockers, and churches such as the Misericordia, where prisoners were given last rites before execution and visitors can view a list of those put to death, their black hoods, and a small glass used for their last drink.

On Saturday, the Statuo plaza was crowded with tourists bearing Winter Games balloons. At an outside bookseller’s stall, a man from Turin, bundled against the wet cold, proudly showed the title of a book he had written 10 years ago about devil worshippers in his home city.

“Turin is the No. 1 city for Satanic cults,” he says. “I wish I’d never got involved. If I had only known, I wouldn’t have done it.”

What he did, he said, was pose as someone interested in Satanism, and through word of mouth and friends introducing him to other friends, he eventually found a group of well-to-do black magic practicers and hung out with them.

His first name is Massimo, but he declines to provide his last name, saying he doesn’t want the witches he wrote about to know his real name. His nom de plume is Yves Clement.

Originally, he was going to write a television screenplay, but the deal fell through. He wrote a novel instead, “The Heart of Andrea.” It’s full of references to “atrocious crimes” bragged about by devotees of Satan, he said. Including human sacrifices.

Meeting such folks frightened him, he said. And though he doesn’t believe in the devil, he says the people he met believe in him. And do bad things because of that belief.

Among Italians, his comments are not atypical.

“Si,” replied Luca Infantimo, sitting on a park bench near the shrine to dead tunnel workers. “I believe there are Satanic sects and I believe there is a Satan. I cannot explain it. I had a very religious education.”

Infantimo is from Genoa, and he is visiting the city to see his girlfriend, Cristiana Sovailescu, a Romanian exchange student who is studying languages at the University of Turin.

She is an Orthodox Christian. She said she believes, too, based on things she saw in her native Bucharest.

“I’ve seen people possessed, people in church who were shouting and trying to take down the cross,” she says.

A mini primer on casting out demons

You can find it here.

Alleged victims' point of view represented on new site

While the Cornwall Inquiry investigates how institutions in the St. Lawrence River town of 46,000 handled charges of widespread sexual abuse, a new website has popped up that looks at the inquiry from the alleged victims' point of view.

In broad terms theinquiry.ca is about Church authorities, politicians, law enforcement officials, lawyers and judges who collectively turn a blind eye to paedophiles, willfully place children at risk, and are indifferent to the plight of male victims of same-sex sexual abuse. In other words, broadly speaking theinquiry.ca is about the value we as a society place on the protection, well-being and security of our most precious asset, or children.

More specifically, but within those broad parameters, theinquiry.ca is about the public and highly controversial inquiry into allegations of sex abuse, a paedophile ring and a cover-up which have rocked the community of Cornwall, Ontario and the small Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall for thirteen years. The inquiry started with the calling of expert witnesses 13 February 2006.

Child porn fastest growing Internet business

Andrew Vachss writes in Parade Magazine:

Statistics show that child pornography is the fastest-growing of all Internet businesses, estimated to bring in several billion dollars a year. But while such information may enrage or frighten us, it changes nothing. Our knowledge of cold statistics will not alter the conduct of those who take pleasure or profit in the exploitation of children. Instead, if we are to wage war, we must know our enemy. We need to know more about those who create this unspeakable “product,” why they do it and the various ways it is used.

The term “pornography” may give rise to discussions about what constitutes art. It may invoke issues of free speech or censorship. But no matter how you feel about pornography in general, child pornography does not belong in that debate. No child is capable, emotionally or legally, of consenting to being photographed for sexual purposes. Thus, every image of a sexually displayed child—be it a photograph, a tape or a DVD—records both the rape of the child and an act against humanity.

Child pornography has become a business so profitable that it is no longer limited to pedophiles. Demand exceeds supply and always will. (Some pedophiles, if they had the resources, would acquire a copy of every single piece of child pornography ever produced.) The risk/gain ratio is extremely favorable. And the return on investment is extraordinary. What crime syndicate would pass up such an opportunity?

Exorcism making a comeback

Another post on Beliefnet about Exorcism. This one by John Allen. He writes:

At 73, Rome’s Father Gabriele Amorth, bald and with a face whose deep crevices suggest wisdom, looks a bit like Yoda, the diminutive sage who trained Luke Skywalker to be a Jedi knight in the "Star Wars" trilogy. Amorth, too, is keeper of an ancient craft in a cosmic battle against evil.

Fr. Amorth’s apprentices, however, wield prayer books and holy water rather than light sabers. "Don Gabriele," as the priest is known in Rome, is the official exorcist for the pope’s diocese, and the leading apostle for what he and others say is a revival in the practice of exorcism in the Western church.

A priest discovers the devil is real

Fascinating story about a priest who discovers the devil is real after his bishop asks him to investigate a strange case of demonic involvement.

Rev. Lloyd Prater writes:

Nearly twenty years ago, when I was a young rector on the West Coast, the Bishop of California called me called me with an unusual story about illness, spiritual possession, and evil. An interracial couple was being harassed by bizarre, untraceable telephone calls in odd foreign tongues. Hideous noises in the house kept them sleepless. Unexplainable foul odors made the couple reluctant to use some rooms in their home. The young woman, pregnant with their second child, was beginning to have mysterious physical symptoms including odd patterns of welts and burns on her body. She feared miscarriage.

Sexual abuse by teachers in public school system

It bothers me that so much of the focus on child sexual abuse has focused on the Roman Catholic Church. There seems to be a gleeful pouncing, an aha! because people then want to bash the faith as well.

According to evidence given at the Cornwall Inquiry, "acquaintance pedophilia" cuts across institutions and can and does occur wherever men have access to children and an opportunity to groom them with promises of special favors.

Here's an article about abuse in public schools---and how it never received the same kind of attention in the news. Thanks to Kathy Shaidle at Relapsed Catholic for the link.

The Catholic News Agency reports:

Denver, Feb. 13, 2006 (CNA) - In a continuing battle against what many of the state’s faithful call an unfair bias against Catholics, the Archdiocese of Denver has uncovered a previously unseen, but sordid list of sexual abuses by many of Colorado’s public school teachers.

The Archdiocese has lifted the lid on some 85 Colorado Department of Education reports of sexual impropriety among teachers since 1997. Reportedly, the state had revoked or denied teaching licenses, all for reasons involving sexual misconduct with minors. But critics charge, the punishment ended there.

According to a report in Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, the list revealed teachers “who prey on grade-schoolers, plying them with love notes…Teachers who download pornography on their desktop computers while students sit before them…Teachers who encourage students to meet them surreptitiously after school, on out-of-town trips, and who give them marijuana or alcohol in exchange for sex.”

"Acquaintance pedophiles" often popular community leaders

I drove down to Cornwall yesterday to get some pictures and a first story on the Cornwall Inquiry into alleged sexual abuse in the industrial town.

Pschologist David Wolfe gave fascinating testimony about child predators, specifically the "acquaintance pedophile" who grooms his (they are over 90 per cent male, and even females usually have a male accomplice)victims, usually boys, who are most vulnerable between the ages of seven and 13.

Wolfe described how carefully and effectively these pedophiles target their victims. They might do something like leave a copy of Playboy Magazine out or offer the child a beer and see how he reacts. If the boy seems excited by this, the grooming might proceed. If the boy says, "No, I'm not allowed," the pedophile backs off.

He also said that society has been in tremendous denial about the prevalence of this kind of abuse done by prominent, often popular coaches, community leaders, teachers, priests and others in positions of authority.

He exploded the myth of the evil pedophile, pointing out that most of these people might be involved in doing genuinely good things in addition to their terrible abuse.

He distinguished between these "acquaintance pedophiles" who are seldom violent unless they are in a closed off environment like a correctional facility or residential school away from prying eyes and "stranger pedophiles" who are less numerous and far more likely to use violence.

It is not in the interest of the acquaintance pedophile to scare a child. Instead they use their position of trust with the child and his (and occasionally her, but girls are less likely to be allowed to be alone with a man) victim to lure them into sexual activity. The child cannot give consent, Wolfe said, and often is so innocent about sex that they don't understand that what the pedophile is doing is wrong.

They may come to crave having a "special relationship" with this popular community figure, and crave the money, gifts or access to adult activities the pedophile offers.

Wolfe also said that pedophiles like to have ways to ditch their victims when they reach a certain age, thus they like being in a position to have a cohort of victims that will move on as they age to another classroom, a higher level of hockey competition or whatever.

He said that men and boys have been less likely to tell about their abuse. Between five to ten per cent of the male population has suffered it.

Children who report abuse have often been blamed for tarnishing reputation of popular leaders and accused of lying. Because victims have often been vulnerable because of conflict with the law or behavior problems, their accusations have not been taken seriously.

Wolfe said protocols must be in place in institutions so that those who hear about allegations have no choice but to investigate the complaint. Previously, accusations were cloaked in secrecy and veiled in denial as perpetrators were shuffled off, usually to repeat their patterns on new victims.

Prompt and open investigations into complaints may risk tarnishing reputations, he said, but sends a message to children that this kind of sexual activity is wrong despite what the predator says, and sends a message to predators to back off.

Go here for a complete transcript of the testimony.

We are at war but Christ has already won

I've been following the controversy about the Mohammed cartoons closely at my other site, and a few things seem clear to me.

The main issue I think most of the mainstream media is missing is that much of the rage has been fomented and orchestrated as a direct form of information warfare, of shock and fear tactics to intimidate a weak-seeming and decadent West.

After 9-11, when U.S. soldiers discovered American John Walker Lindt, a young man who had grown up in a privileged household in Marin County California, fighting alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan, and when John Allen Muhammed, an American who converted to Islam started shooting people and was dubbed "the beltway sniper" I realized that we're not fighting a group with a defined hierarchy and membership or a country or countries, but an ideology, a state of mind.

That state of mind could infect anyone anywhere who had the right combination of hatred and resentment coupled with a hunger for a religious justification that would make said hatred a form of moral superiority. It is not Islam, but a corruption of the faith, just as the Ku Klux Klan with its cross burnings is a corruption of Christianity.

When I look at all this, it only reminds me that our ancient enemy is at work. Tactics of fear, hatred, resentment, accusation have his fingerprints all over them.

So, what do we do?

We remember this from Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

and this from II Corinthians 10:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

May you bring your thoughts into the obedience of Christ, and know His peace, confident that He is mighty in battle and the victory belongs to Him.

The picture is of Christus Rex--Christ the King--rising from the grave from the Sistine Chapel.

A case of satanic ritual abuse in Montana?

Read about it here.

Bob Larsen meets with chief exorcist in Rome

Bob Larsen says he has performed over 6,000 exorcisms over the past 20 years. Here's an interesting profile that says the Protestant minister met with the Vatican's chief exorcist in Rome.

David Yonke writes in the Toledo Blade.

In December, Mr. Larson met at the Vatican with the Rev. Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic Church's foremost expert on exorcism. According to Mr. Larson, Father Amorth told him: "We are doing the same mission for our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Rev. James Bacik, Catholic theologian and pastor of Toledo's Corpus Christi University Parish, said "the biblical background for exorcism is Jesus, who functions as an exorcist, especially in the Gospel of Mark where he casts out unclean spirits and liberates people from the domination of demonic forces."

It is significant, Father Bacik added, that "Jesus is more powerful than any of the demons."

The Catholic Church recognizes two types of exorcism. One is performed at every baptism when the priest recognizes the power of Satan, anoints the person with oil, and prays for protection over the power of evil. The second is the kind that Mr. Larson typically conducts, casting evil spirits out of a person. But the person must first undergo physical and psychological tests before a priest will perform the rite of exorcism, Father Bacik said.

Mr. Larson said the influence of demons varies according to location, with some parts of the United States and certain countries having more demonic activity than others.

"I've never had a problem finding demons in the Pacific Northwest, for example, because it has been such a non-church, non-religious area. Demons are more free to operate," he said. "Ironically, the other place is the Bible Belt. The devil is where he's not expected to be. It's what happens when people have too much religion and not enough spirituality."

There is a finite number of demons in the world because God created a set number of angels, he said. The evil spirits are those who followed Lucifer when he rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven.

But demons are becoming more active, Mr. Larson said, as seen in the increased incidents of violence, drug abuse, sexual abuse, and criminal behavior among Americans today.

"There has been exponential growth of demonic activity today than when I started 30 years ago," he said. "It's rampant."

Voodoo practioner smuggles human skull into U.S.

Imagine finding this in someone's luggage:

FORT LAUDERDALE -- A woman was charged with smuggling after federal security screeners found a human skull in her luggage at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late Thursday.

The woman had flown into Fort Lauderdale on Lynx Air International Flight 210 from Cap Haitien, Haiti. Her bag was being searched at the U.S. Customs counter when the grisly discovery was made. Agents said she did not disclose the skull -- complete with teeth and hair -- was in the luggage.

Myrlene Severe, a Haitian-born permanent U.S. resident, said the skull -- a male's -- was to be used in rites as part of her Voodoo beliefs. She also said she bought the skull from an unknown man in Haiti in the belief the head would ward off evil spirits.

The 30-year-old Severe was charged Friday afternoon with smuggling "a human head with organic matter inside," according to a criminal complaint.

``It still had teeth, hair and bits of skin and lots of dirt,'' said Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami.

Read the whole thing in the Sun-Sentinel.

Thanks to Dust My Broom for the link.

Newfoundland porn ring uncovered

From Global National TV and Canadian Press:

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- An investigation into a porn and prostitution ring that allegedly involved 40 young girls in Newfoundland has prompted the police chief in St. John's to suggest that the province has lost its innocence.

The Defilers breaks a few of the rules

Here's a story on Christian chick lit. Which The Defilers is not. (Thanks to Dave Long over at Faith in Fiction for the link.)

Religious books have emerged as "the most impressive growth category" over the past four years, according to a 2005 trends report by the Book Industry Study Group. The category — which lumps together Bibles, inspirational titles and religious fiction — recorded the biggest gains in 2004 with an 11 percent increase, reaching $1.9 billion in sales, according to BISG, the industry's trade association.

Why now?

In part, many Americans are hungry for spiritual comfort in today's troubled, post-9/11 world, say Christian writers and editors.

"So much stuff Oprah picks just depresses you," says Christian fiction writer Kristin Billerbeck. "The world is so heavy right now, readers want hope. Christian books leave me feeling hopeful."

Beyond comfort, secular retailers, publishers and booksellers are taking note of the commercial success of religion-themed works like Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ"; the Mitford series of novels featuring an Episcopal rector; C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia" Christian fantasy books; and nonfiction best-sellers like Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life."

"America is a deeply religious culture and certainly our European peers are astonished at how religious Americans are, at least on a superficial level. I think New York publishers have underestimated that core element of American life," says Jana Riess, religion book review editor at Publishers Weekly. "Now that they recognize, 'Wow, millions of people in America would like to see more religious content in film, TV and books,' they are scrambling."

However, while The Defilers may qualify as edgier, more realistic fiction--and the main character carries a gun instead of a purse--there is nothing in it that is likely to offend believing Christians.

I wrote the novel because, years ago, I wanted something to read while on vacation. The novels on the rack in the drugstore were full of gratuitous sex and violence. A Christian novel I borrowed from my church was so nice, and so dull that 100 pages into the book I realized that nothing had happened in the story. It was devoid of conflict, and all the ingredients of great storytelling.

So, I thought, with my journalism experience, I might try to write something I would like to read....suspenseful, engrossing, thought-provoking and edgy, but from an orthodox Christian worldview. (But non preachy!)

Child killer sought rights to satanic books in prison

From Iowa, a story of a convicted child killer who sought the right to obtain books on satanic rituals while in prison.

Federal court records show that in 1995 when [Roger]Bentley was serving prison time for lascivious acts with a child, he and another inmate sued the state for access to so-called religious items for Satan worshipping.

Here's a more detailed story from Bentley's trial. Don't read the story if you are sensitive or squeamish. It is really awful.

When I turned to Christ as Savior, one of the reasons was a profound and terrible realization of how much evil there is in the world, and how powerless I was to fight it on my own. Thank God that Jesus Christ triumphed over evil on the Cross.

Redemption and hope

Now that TheDefilers.ca has a new web design, and features stories that touch on some of the darker subject matter of the novel, I've realized I need to also include hope and redemption and the triumph of good over evil.

Some people might plug in some key words and be attracted to the site because they are attracted to darkness. Some may come over because they are in bondage to it. I wrote The Defilers because I know what it is like to be a captive, a slave to sin, lost in confusion and spiritual darkness. I know how painful it is to not be able to do the good things that you know are wise. While my sin may be small potatoes compared with the kinds illustrated in the news stories highlighted here, any kind of sin defiles you and impairs your relationship with God.

As Job once cried out, "I know my Redeemer lives." I know He lives and if you want to know Him, He has opened a way for you to do so. If you would like to know Christ, go here. If you're curious, why not take an Alpha Course?

The picture shows the beautiful interior dome of the Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa.

If you are struggling with spiritual bondage and want to break free, I recommend the ministry of Neil Anderson and his Steps to Spiritual Freedom. If you are Roman Catholic, why not consider the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Find out who you are in Christ here. Everytime I read and meditate upon the Scriptures that tell me about God's promises, my faith grows and so does my confidence and joy. You can experience abundant life, freedom and joy, too. Don't let the world's defilers get you down.

More on the Italian satanic cult

Here's a more detailed story on the satanic cult recently sentenced in Italy.

Jim Kouri writes:

According to Reuters, the Satanic killings sparked fears in Italy of a spread of devil cults, and the Vatican last year started a course for Roman Catholic priests on Satanism and exorcism in response to what the Church said was a worrying interest in the occult, particularly among the young.

The files of a number of other mysterious murders and suicides in northern Milan, particularly those that occurred when the moon was full or new, are being re-opened to see if they are related to the this cult. Links have already been established in two of the cases: the murder of another of Volpe’s girlfriends, Maddalena Russo, which took place on Friday the 13th in September, 1995; and the supposed suicide of another band member, Giuseppe Bontade, in 2000.

According to the leading Catholic exorcist at the Vatican, Father Gabriele Amorth, there are two types: those who adore the Devil, celebrate Satanic masses, have their own priests and hierarchy; and those who don’t believe in Satan, but engage in actions that are either iniquitous or against nature. The latter is more dangerous, said Fr. Amorth in an interview with journalist A.S. Guimaraes.

Italy remains shocked at the brutality of the killings and Catholic Church officials at the Vatican say they are concerned over recent research that showed Satanism was on the increase.

Father Aldo Bonaiuto, one of the Vatican’s team of anti-occult priests, said, "This trial has shown that justice is taking its course. However, the cruelty and gruesomeness linked to the world of Satanism is also very apparent from this case."

Here's a story I did on a priest from Canada who attended the exorcism school.

Ex-cop busted for child porn

This story is interesting because of the international internet connections for child porn. The cop's story is tragic. But the plight of children victimized by porn is even more so.

Members of Italian satanic cult receive sentences

While many cases of supposed satanic ritual abuse, or SRA, have been shown to be part of a form of devil hysteria, that doesn't mean that some people aren't involved in dangerously occult and even murderous activity, as this story from Italy reveals.