2020 Ritual Abuse Conference Video Presentations and PowerPoints

Recent Conference on the Ritual Abuse Problem – International Panel of Speakers and Attendees – Dr. Laurie Matthew, Dr. Sarah Nelson, Neil Brick, Dr. Randy and Pamela Noblitt.

The 2020 Online Annual Ritual Abuse Conference was on August 8 – 9, 2020. It included speakers from the United Kingdom and the United States.

2020 Ritual Abuse Conference Video Presentations and PowerPoints

https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2020-conference/2020-conference-video-presentations-and-powerpoints/

Research Review Statistics – Dr. Laurie Matthew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2UpO9z4Ns&feature=youtu.be

In the UK: 1 in 6 children suffer child sexual abuse. 21% of children in local authority care are exposed to suspected or confirmed sexual exploitation every year.

Dr. Laurie Matthew OBE is founder and Manager of Eighteen And Under providing confidential support services to abused young people. She is a founder and advisor to Izzy’s Promise for survivors of organised and ritual abuse and Ritual Abuse Network Forum.

Dr. Sarah Nelson, Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXVtD5el08o

Sarah makes reflections on belief and disbelief in ritual abuse, and on why backlash theories such as satanic panic and false memory syndrome were so readily believed, despite their numerous flaws.

Dr. Sarah Nelson has written and presented widely for decades on sexual abuse issues. She was a professional adviser to Scottish Government and Parliament.

Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors – Neil Brick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXVtD5el08o

Child and ritual abuse survivors and their advocates have been attacked by misinformation campaigns the last several years.

Neil Brick is a survivor of ritual abuse and mind control. His child/ritual abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. https://ritualabuse.us and webpage http://neilbrick.com

Presentation on Izzy’s Promise – Kieran Watson

Kieran is a manager with Izzy’s Promise, Dundee, Scotland.

Izzy’s Promise and the importance of a physical non-denominational and regulated service for RA survivors. Izzy’s Promise offers training and conducts research into causes of ritual abuse.  https://rans.org.uk/izzys-promise/

Presentation on Ritual Abuse Network Scotland (RANS) – Clare Barrie

RANS provides information and safe place to talk for survivors of ritual abuse. https://rans.org.uk/

Extreme Abuse Survivors, Social Security Benefits, and Ethical Practice – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Noblitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwCUuI-ZBZE

Information on Social Security Administration programs can help play a critical role in providing for clients’ basic survival needs and autonomy.

Randy Noblitt is a clinical psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt

Pamela Noblitt is a non-attorney claimant’s representative for individuals applying for SSDI and SSI benefits.

2020 Ritual Abuse Conference Video Presentations and PowerPoints

https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2020-conference/2020-conference-video-presentations-and-powerpoints/

The 2020 Online Annual Ritual Abuse, Secretive Organizations and Mind Control Conference

August 8 – 9, 2020

Internet conference information:
http://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/

Proof That Ritual Abuse Exists
https://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/

Large List of Ritual Abuse and Child Abuse References
https://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/studies/satanic-ritual-abuse-evidence-with-information-on-the-mcmartin-preschool-case/

Grey Faction, Satanic Temple and Lucien Greaves Fact Sheet https://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/grey-faction-satanic-temple-and-lucien-greaves-fact-sheet/

Research and Information on Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder) https://ritualabuse.us/research/did/

Judith Herman: “In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure no one listens.” Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence – From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

These presentations may be triggering for survivors.

Research Review Statistics – Dr. Laurie Matthew

https://youtu.be/Un2UpO9z4Ns

In the UK: 1 in 6 children suffer child sexual abuse. 21% of children in local authority care are exposed to suspected or confirmed sexual exploitation every year. RA Research conclusions: Survivors still suffer the backlash of 1980-90’s and the continued discourse around belief, memory and mental illness. The only witnesses to ritual and organized abuse are the abusers and the survivors. Only the survivors will try to tell so the public can learn about it so society needs to listen to them.

Dr Laurie Matthew OBE is founder and Manager of Eighteen And Under an award winning charity providing confidential support services to young people who have been abused. She is also a founder member and advisor to Izzy’s Promise the UK’s leading charity for survivors of organised and ritual abuse and of the Ritual Abuse Network Forum (RANS). She is the author of several books about ritual abuse and the Violence Is Preventable abuse prevention programmes for children and young people. She has over 40 years experience of directly supporting abuse survivors. Her recently published research has included participatory research with adult ritual abuse survivors and participatory research with young survivors of sexual abuse who were unknown to authorities

Dr. Sarah Nelson, Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee https://youtu.be/wXVtD5el08o

“The Discourse of Disbelief” Sarah Nelson MA PhD, Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee

https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2020-conference/dr-sarah-nelson-the-discourse-of-disbelief/

In this presentation Sarah makes reflections on belief and disbelief in ritual abuse, and on why backlash theories such as satanic panic and false memory syndrome were so readily believed and are still potent, despite their numerous flaws. She interconnects the disbelief by outsiders including professionals, many media and public with the disbelief and doubts of survivors themselves, and think about the interplay and mutual strengthening which has long taken place. She explains how this a neglected aspect of the discourse of disbelief yet she believes it important and relevant. She discusses the example of interplay of disbelief between survivors themselves and these outsiders in dissociative identify disorder, formerly multiple personality disorder, a condition strongly linked to the experience of the profound trauma of ritual abuse in childhood. She asks whether and how far this circle can be broken in working against ritual abuse in future.

Dr Sarah Nelson (Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee) has written and presented widely for decades on sexual abuse issues. Her research and publications include the voices of young survivors, critiques of current child protection systems, community prevention, ritual and organised abuse, media representations of abuse cases, and adult survivors’ experiences of mental and physical health services. She has also been a professional adviser to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. Her book Tackling Child Sexual Abuse: Radical approaches to prevention, protection and support (Policy Press, UK and University of Chicago press, USA)) was published in 2016.

Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors – Neil Brick https://youtu.be/5WY5hiNtCfg

Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors – Neil Brick https://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/articles/misinformation-campaigns-against-survivors-neil-brick/

Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors PowerPoint

Child and ritual abuse survivors and their advocates have been attacked by misinformation campaigns the last several years. These campaigns use various harassment and propaganda techniques to distort the research and silence the efforts of those who are working to help trauma survivors and rape victims. These techniques will be compared to past and present public campaigns that have distorted information and used unethical tactics to manipulate public opinion. Propaganda and suggestion techniques used will be discussed and analyzed.

Neil Brick is a survivor of ritual abuse and mind control. His work continues to educate the public about child abuse, trauma and ritual abuse crimes. His child abuse and ritual abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. https://ritualabuse.us has been published for over 25 years. http://neilbrick.com

Presentation on Izzy’s Promise – Kieran Watson

Kieran Watson is a manager with Izzy’s Promise – Dundee, Scotland.

Izzy’s Promise and the importance of a physical non denominational and regulated service for RA survivors.

Izzy’s Promise offers training and consultancy services; Conducts research into causes of ritual abuse and any ways of preventing or relieving the suffering caused by abuse; recruits and trains volunteers to work towards supporting survivors of ritual/organised abuse and those who support them; and networks with other agencies. https://rans.org.uk/izzys-promise/

Presentation on Ritual Abuse Network Scotland (RANS) – Clare Barrie

Presentation on Ritual Abuse Network Scotland (RANS) PowerPoint

RANS provides information and a safe place to talk for survivors of ritual abuse. https://rans.org.uk/

Extreme Abuse Survivors, Social Security Benefits, and Ethical Practice – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt https://youtu.be/HwCUuI-ZBZE

Extreme Abuse Survivors, Social Security Benefits, and Ethical Practice – PowerPoint

Many trauma survivors have debilitating psychological and physical symptoms that prevent them from maintaining gainful employment. For these individuals the Social Security Administration has programs that can play a critical role in providing for clients’ basic survival needs and autonomy. Unfortunately, the rules that govern this process are complex and confusing. Further, an important contributing factor in SSA denials is that survivors’ health care providers are often unfamiliar with SSA’s requirements which include documentation of symptoms and the limitations they impose along with professional opinions that correspond to Social Security’s definition of disability. This workshop is intended to provide an introduction to SSA requirements for healthcare providers.

Randy Noblitt is a clinical psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. He is the principle author of Navigating Social Security Disability Programs: A Handbook for Clinicians and Advocates (2020) as well as Cult and Ritual Abuse: Narratives, Evidence and Healing Approaches, 3rd Edition (2014). He is the co-editor and a contributor to Ritual Abuse in the Twenty-first Century: Psychological, Forensic, Social and Political Considerations (2008).

Information on Randy Noblitt and His Research
https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/

Pamela Perskin Noblitt is a non-attorney claimants representative for individuals applying for SSDI and SSI benefits. She is in independent private practice in Los Angeles County, California. She is co-author of Navigating Social Security Disability Programs: A Handbook for Clinicians and Advocates (2020) as well as Cult and Ritual Abuse: Narratives, Evidence and Healing Approaches, 3rd Edition (2014). She is the co-editor of Ritual Abuse in the Twenty-first Century: Psychological, Forensic, Social and Political Considerations (2008).

Please note: None of the material on these pages or at the conference is meant as therapy, or to take the place of therapy. These presentations may be triggering for survivors.

Scotland and the United States – Discussing the Ritual Abuse Problem at the 2020 Online Annual Ritual Abuse Conference – August 8 – 9, 2020

Speakers include: Dr. Laurie Matthew, Dr. Sarah Nelson, Neil Brick, Kieran Watson, Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt.

Conference information: http://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/

Research Review Statistics – Dr. Laurie Matthew

In the UK: 1 in 6 children suffer child sexual abuse. 21% of children in local authority care are exposed to suspected or confirmed sexual exploitation every year. RA Research conclusions.

Dr Laurie Matthew OBE is founder and Manager of Eighteen And Under providing confidential support services to abused young people. She is a founder and advisor to Izzy’s Promise for survivors of organised and ritual abuse and Ritual Abuse Network Forum.

Dr. Sarah Nelson, Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee

Sarah makes reflections on belief and disbelief in ritual abuse, and on why backlash theories such as satanic panic and false memory syndrome were so readily believed and are still potent, despite their numerous flaws.

Dr Sarah Nelson has written and presented widely for decades on sexual abuse issues. She was a professional adviser to Scottish Government and Parliament.

Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors – Neil Brick

Child and ritual abuse survivors and their advocates have been attacked by misinformation campaigns the last several years.

Neil Brick is a survivor of ritual abuse and mind control. His child/ritual abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. https://ritualabuse.us has been published over 25 years. http://neilbrick.com

Presentation on Izzy’s Promise – Kieran Watson

Kieran Watson is a manager with Izzy’s Promise, Dundee, Scotland.

Izzy’s Promise and the importance of a physical non denominational and regulated service for RA survivors.

Izzy’s Promise offers training and conducts research into causes of ritual abuse https://rans.org.uk/izzys-promise/

Presentation on Ritual Abuse Network Scotland (RANS) – Clare Barrie

RANS provides information and safe place to talk for survivors of ritual abuse. https://rans.org.uk/

Extreme Abuse Survivors, Social Security Benefits, and Ethical Practice – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt

Many trauma survivors have debilitating psychological and physical symptoms that prevent them from maintaining gainful employment. For these individuals the Social Security Administration has programs that can play a critical role in providing for clients’ basic survival needs and autonomy.

Randy Noblitt is a clinical psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/

Pamela Perskin Noblitt is a non-attorney claimant’s representative for individuals applying for SSDI and SSI benefits.

SMART Newsletter Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Publishing – Neil Brick Editor

SMART Newsletter Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Publishing – Neil Brick Editor

Feb 21, 2020

EASTHAMPTON, Mass., Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In 1995, the SMART (Stop Mind control And Ritual abuse Today) newsletter started publishing a small newsletter in Northampton, Massachusetts (now in Easthampton, Mass). In 1996, SMART began publishing on the Internet for the first time. SMART developed a website for survivors of ritual abuse and their helpers. SMART was one of the early educational resources for survivors of severe trauma, rape and abuse. In 1998, SMART began having weekend conferences for survivors and their helpers in Connecticut.

SMART has become one of the largest information and scientific resources on ritual abuse, cults, mind control, repressed memory, dissociation and dissociative identity disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder) on the Internet.https://ritualabuse.us/

SMART’s newsletter has provided informational resources about many child abuse cases over the years. Their newsletter has covered major events about ritual abuse and mind control. Articles have included information on Claudia Mullen, Valerie Wolf, the Extreme Abuse Surveys, MK-ULTRA, Satanic Ritual Abuse, clergy abuse including the Catholic Church sexual abuse crisis, day care cases, propaganda, sex trafficking, high profile serial child abuse and rape cases, including those of Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and Jimmy Savile.

Speakers at SMART’s conferences have included Lynne Moss-Sharman, Hal Pepinsky, Neil Brick, Adah Sachs, Alison Miller, Randy Noblitt, Wendy Hoffman, Carol Rutz, Wanda Karriker, Thorsten Becker, deJoly LaBrier, Laurie Matthews and many others. https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/

SMART has worked with other organizations including Survivorship to help educate the general public about ritual abuse and mind control crimes.https://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/

SMART continues to have yearly conferences in Connecticut. The newsletter recently published its 150th edition online at https://ritualabuse.us/newsletter/

 Neil Brick continues to publish research and research articles on child abuse, ritual abuse, mind control and dissociation. He continues to speak at conferences about ritual abuse and mind control. http://neilbrick.com

SMART’s goal is to continue publishing educational resources to help survivors of child abuse, ritual abuse, their helpers and the general public learn more about the prevalence of ritual abuse and mind control in the United States and around the world. SMART hopes that child and ritual abuse will someday be eliminated in the world and children will be safe.

Amish “culture of incest, rape, and abuse,” Epstein database “subjecting underage girls to unlawful sexual conduct, sex trafficking and forced labor,” Survivorship announces the speakers at their Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2020 Conference – Dr. Randy Noblitt, Pamela Perskin Noblitt, Dr. Karol Darsa, Neil Brick and Cristina Mardirossian LMFT

– The Amish Keep to Themselves. And They’re Hiding a Horrifying Secret 52 official cases of Amish child sexual assault in seven states over the past two decades.

– Jeffrey Epstein used database to keep track of his ‘numerous’ victims

“Epstein used his wealth and power to create the Epstein Enterprise which engaged in a pattern of criminal activity in the Virgin Islands by repeatedly procuring and subjecting underage girls and young women to unlawful sexual conduct, sex trafficking and forced labor”

– Survivorship announces the speakers at their Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2020 Conference – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt, Dr. Karol Darsa, Neil Brick and Cristina Mardirossian, LMFT  “regular conference will be on Saturday and Sunday May 16 – 17, 2020, Clinician’s Conference is Friday May 15, 2020, conference is at the Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center in Pacific Palisades, California.

https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2020-conference/

The Amish Keep to Themselves. And They’re Hiding a Horrifying Secret

A year of reporting by Cosmo and Type Investigations reveals a culture of incest, rape, and abuse.
By Sarah McClure Jan 14, 2020

….By age 9, she says, she’d been raped by one of her older brothers. By 12, she’d been abused by her father, Abner*, a chiropractor who penetrated her with his fingers on the same table where he saw patients, telling her he was “flipping her uterus” to ensure her fertility. By 14, she says, three more brothers had raped her and she was being attacked in the hayloft or in her own bed multiple times a week. She would roll over afterward, ashamed and confused. The sisters who shared Sadie’s room (and even her bed) never woke up—or if they did, never said anything, although some later confided that they were being raped too.

Sadie’s small world was built around adherence to rules—and keeping quiet was one of them. “There was no love or support,” she says. “We didn’t feel that we had anywhere to go to say anything.”

….It wasn’t until now that Sadie decided to speak up, to reveal the darkness beneath the bucolic surface of her childhood. She’s tired of keeping quiet.

Over the past year, I’ve interviewed nearly three dozen Amish people, in addition to law enforcement, judges, attorneys, outreach workers, and scholars. I’ve learned that sexual abuse in their communities is an open secret spanning generations. Victims told me stories of inappropriate touching, groping, fondling, exposure to genitals, digital penetration, coerced oral sex, anal sex, and rape, all at the hands of their own family members, neighbors, and church leaders.

….In my reporting, I identified 52 official cases of Amish child sexual assault in seven states over the past two decades. Chillingly, this number doesn’t begin to capture the full picture. Virtually every Amish victim I spoke to—mostly women but also several men—told me they were dissuaded by their family or church leaders from reporting their abuse to police or had been conditioned not to seek outside help (as Sadie put it, she knew she’d just be “mocked or blamed”). Some victims said they were intimidated and threatened with excommunication. Their stories describe a widespread, decentralized cover-up of child sexual abuse by Amish clergy.

“We’re told that it’s not Christlike to report,” explains Esther*, an Amish woman who says she was abused by her brother and a neighbor boy at age 9. “It’s so ingrained. There are so many people who go to church and just endure.”

….There’s no one reason for the sexual abuse crisis in Amish Country. Instead, there’s a perfect storm of factors: a patriarchal and isolated lifestyle in which victims have little exposure to police, coaches, or anyone else who might help them; an education system that ends at eighth grade and fails to teach children about sex or their bodies; a culture of victim shaming and blaming; little access to the technology that enables communication or broader social awareness; and a religion that prioritizes repentance and forgiveness over actual punishment or rehabilitation. Amish leaders also tend to be wary of law enforcement, preferring to handle disputes on their own.

….When the police and social workers later showed up on her doorstep, most likely after being tipped off by a local non-Amish person, Abner told authorities that “things which we were speaking about had been brought up and dealt with in the church,” according to a police detective’s notes. He also silenced his daughters. “You say nothing,” Sadie and another relative remember him demanding.

….It’s common for Amish victims to be viewed by the community as just as guilty as the abuser—as consenting partners committing adultery, even if they’re children. Victims are expected to share responsibility and, after the church has punished their abuser, to quickly forgive. If they fail to do so, they’re the problem.

When the rare case does end up in court, the Amish overwhelmingly support the abusers, who tend to appear with nearly their entire congregations behind them, survivors and law enforcement sources say. This can compound the trauma of speaking out. “We’ve had cases where there’ll be 50 Amish people standing up for the offender and no one speaks for the victim,” says Stedman.

….Lizzie’s is not the only account of an Amish victim being taken to an alleged “mental health” facility staffed by Amish or Mennonites (a similar, although typically less strict, group) that provides Bible-based counseling—and, in many cases, is not state licensed. Several years ago, Esther was sent to a facility for “counseling” after she tried to seek help for another Amish woman who was being sexually assaulted. When she protested, church leaders threatened to excommunicate her permanently.

No one would tell her why she was there. Instead, she was pressured to sign papers that would allow staff to communicate directly with her ministers, she says (she eventually gave in and signed). “From the first evening, they wanted to put me on medication,” she recalls. She said no, since “a lot of these people who get stuck in these facilities come home drugged and no longer have a life. They’re zombies.” (She’s aware of about 30 other Amish sexual assault victims, including two of her sisters, who have been sent away to such facilities.)

….Still, as more and more women start to come forward, an ecosystem has also risen up to help them. Two years ago, Lizzie, who has long since left the Amish, and another former Amish woman named Dena Schrock launched Voices of Hope, a group for abused women. Lizzie met Sadie at one such gathering, and they’re now friends.

Others find solidarity in The Plain People’s Podcast, a show launched in 2018 that features stories of Amish and Mennonite sexual abuse. Jasper Hoffman, a former Mennonite and the podcast’s cohost, says she receives “hundreds of messages” from people wanting to share stories or get help reporting an abuser.

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a30284631/amish-sexual-abuse-incest-me-too/

Jeffrey Epstein used database to keep track of his ‘numerous’ victims
By Priscilla DeGregory and Gabrielle Fonrouge January 15, 2020

Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein kept a harem of abused and trafficked girls as young as 11 that was so large he needed a computer system to keep track of them, according to a new lawsuit filed Wednesday against his estate.

The civil lawsuit, filed by Virgin Islands’ Attorney General Denise George, also alleges Epstein abused victims on his private Caribbean islands, Little Saint James and Great St. James, as recently as 2019 — expanding the scope of his abuse by 14 years.

“Epstein used his wealth and power to create the Epstein Enterprise which engaged in a pattern of criminal activity in the Virgin Islands by repeatedly procuring and subjecting underage girls and young women to unlawful sexual conduct, sex trafficking and forced labor,” the lawsuit reads. “This complaint describes intentional conduct so egregious, persistent, and injurious that it shocks the conscience and offends a civilized society.”

The lawsuit reiterates much of what’s already known about Epstein’s alleged decades of abuse but brings to light a new detail on how he used computer databases to keep track of his victims, and how his private islands were the “perfect hideaway and haven” for trafficking and abusing young women and underage girls….

“As recent as 2018, air traffic controllers and other airport personnel reported seeing Epstein leave his plane with young girls, some of whom appeared to be between the age of 11 and 18 years,” the papers say.

The suit argues Epstein ran a decades-long sex trafficking scheme from his private Caribbean estates where minors were “lured and recruited” to travel by helicopter, plane and boat to the islands under fradulent promises and were then raped and abused by Epstein and his associates, the papers say.

Epstein promised the girls modeling contracts or told them they’d be paid “substantially” to provide massages — a ruse that brought the victims close to Epstein, who’d then pressure and coerce them into engaging in sex acts, the suit states.

https://nypost.com/2020/01/15/jeffrey-epstein-used-database-to-keep-track-of-his-numerous-victims/

Survivorship announces the speakers at their Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2020 Conference – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt, Dr. Karol Darsa, Neil Brick and Cristina Mardirossian, LMFT

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif., Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The regular conference will be on Saturday and Sunday May 16 – 17, 2020 and the Clinician’s Conference is Friday May 15, 2020.

https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2020-conference/

The conference will be at the Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center in Pacific Palisades, California.

This conference provides attendees the opportunities to learn about severe abuse research and resources.

Conference Speakers will include:

Dr. Karol Darsa will speak about the 5 Common Mistakes in Trauma Treatment – She will discuss how trauma treatment is becoming one of the top areas to specialize in and how it is important to have proper training to work with unprocessed trauma to achieve good outcomes for clients. Dr. Karol Darsa, licensed psychologist and founder and executive director of Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center. She has about 20 years of clinical and administrative experience in trauma and mental health disorders.

Dr. Randy Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt will speak about Extreme Abuse Survivors, Social Security Benefits, and Ethical Practice – They will discuss how many trauma survivors have debilitating psychological and physical symptoms that prevent them from maintaining gainful employment. This workshop is intended to provide an introduction to SSA requirements for healthcare providers and survivors. Randy Noblitt is a clinical psychologist and professor of clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. Pamela Perskin Noblitt is a non-attorney claimants representative for individuals applying for SSDI and SSI benefits.

Neil Brick will speak about Misinformation Campaigns Against Survivors. He will discuss how child and ritual abuse survivors and their advocates have been attacked by misinformation campaigns the last several years. Neil Brick is a survivor of ritual abuse and mind control. His child abuse and ritual abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. https://ritualabuse.us  has been published for over 24 years. http://neilbrick.com

Cristina Mardirossian, LMFT will discuss Identifying the Personality Systems of Mind Control Survivors and Trauma Treatment – She will talk about how therapists are increasingly starting to see that many of their clients have histories of complex and chronic abuse. Cristina Mardirossian is the owner and director of Pasadena Trauma Therapy, Inc. Cristina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Pasadena, CA.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survivorship-announces-the-speakers-at-their-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2020-conference—dr-randy-noblitt-and-pamela-perskin-noblitt-dr-karol-darsa-neil-brick-and-cristina-mardirossian-lmft-300988096.html

Survivorship announces their Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2020 Conference

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif., Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The regular conference will be on Saturday and Sunday May 16 – 17, 2020 and the Clinician’s Conference is Friday May 15, 2020.

https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2020-conference/

The conference will be at the Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center in Pacific Palisades, California.  Complimentary lunches will be provided for conference attendees.

This conference provides attendees the opportunities to learn about severe abuse research and resources.

Previous speakers at these conferences have included:

Dr. Alison Miller https://ritualabuse.us/smart/alison-miller/   Dr. Alison Miller spoke about organized abuser groups, internal keys to safety and building internal cooperation.

Dr. Randall Noblitt https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/  Dr. Randy Noblitt has written about an empirical look at the ritual abuse controversy and cult and ritual abuse.

Neil Brick https://ritualabuse.us/smart/neil-brick/ Neil Brick has spoken about hate groups and the changes in awareness of severe child abuse crimes.

Video information about the conference is at The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference Promotional Video https://youtu.be/e-BgRG1a300

Survivorship is one of the oldest and most respected organizations supporting survivors of extreme child abuse, including sadistic sexual abuse, ritualistic abuse, mind control, and torture. Survivorship provides resources, healing, and community for survivors; training and education for professionals who may serve survivors; and support for survivors’ partners and other allies. The organization functions as a support for survivors who may be isolated emotionally or geographically. Through community outreach and training, Survivorship also raises awareness about these difficult issues. The purpose of the conference is to help survivors of ritual abuse and their allies. The conference is for survivors, co-survivors, supporters, helping professionals and others interested in this topic.

SOURCE Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control Conference  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survivorship-announces-their-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2020-conference-300952520.html

 

Dr. Barto sentencing sexual assault two dozen children, Shambhala Buddhist org. allegations of sexual assault, Syracuse Diocese ritual abuse, Bill eliminates statute of limitations child sex abuse “ritual abuse of a minor”, Ritual Abuse Conferences 2019

– Dr. Johnnie Barto, a sexual predator pediatrician, gets up to 158 years in prison

– Shambhala discloses allegations of sexual assault, child abuse within Boulder-born Buddhist organization’s ranks

– Bill giving victims more time on child sex abuse lawsuits, criminal cases gets support

– Ahead Of Diocese Report, Reaction To Syracuse Abuse Compensation Program

– The 2019 Annual Ritual Abuse, Secretive Organizations and Mind Control Conference

– The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference

Dr. Johnnie Barto, a sexual predator pediatrician, gets up to 158 years in prison
“He held himself out as a pillar in his community — a family pediatrician, an elected member of the school board, a regular attendee at church,” the state attorney general said.

Dr. Johnnie Barto heads into Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, on March 18, 2019, for his sentencing in the sexual assault of more than two dozen children.
March 18, 2019 By Corky Siemaszko

A Pennsylvania pediatrician who admitted to molesting several generations of children was sentenced Monday to spend the rest of his life in prison after 18 now-grown women took turns pleading with the court to throw the book at him, with many calling him a “monster.”

Dr. Johnnie “Jack” Barto, 71, was hit with a sentence of 79 to 158 years in prison, virtually guaranteeing that he will die behind bars, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said….

Barto’s sentencing came a day after several women — who said the doctor molested them when they were children — described in a lengthy interview with NBC News how the Johnstown community rallied behind him in 2000, the first time he was accused of abusing children.

Twenty years ago, this predator could have been stopped,” Jennifer Goetz, 42, said on the steps of the Cambria County Courthouse.

Goetz, who said she was about 8 when Barto violated her in 1984, said, “Today is a bittersweet day for me.”

Erika Brosig, who said she was 12 when Barto molested her in 1994, said the doctor had enablers who also need to be called to account.

“Parents were making complaints frequently about Dr. Barto,” she said. “We want to find out who did know and what was the level of their responsibility.”….

arto was hit with the staggering sentence two months after he first pleaded guilty to molesting the two relatives, and no-contest to three other allegations brought by children he was accused of sexually abusing at his practice.

Under questioning, Barto also admitted to sexually assaulting dozens more children during the four decades he practiced medicine in and around Johnstown, Shapiro said.

Barto targeted girls and boys, most between the ages of 8 and 12, the chief prosecutor said. The youngest victims were a toddler and a 2-week-old.

Most of the assaults happened after Barto got his medical license back in 2000. It had been suspended after he was accused the first time of sexually abusing three children in 1998. His license was restored in 2000 by the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine.

“When he was first accused in 1998, Barto thought he was immune from prosecution and played a long game to make sure the families thought well of him and allowed their children near him,” Shapiro said.

Despite the rumors that Barto was still molesting children, he managed to elude law enforcement until Dec. 21, 2017, when a 12-year-old girl told her mother that at the end of an examination, the doctor had her sit on his lap while he molested her, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

Barto was arrested by the Richland Township police Jan. 18, 2018. That same day, The Tribune–Democrat newspaper reported, a “Support for Johnnie ‘Jack’ Barto” page went up on Facebook, complete with testimonials from local parents whose children were his patients.

The page quickly came down after Barto finally admitted his guilt.

Shapiro noted that in addition to the 31 incidents of assault charged, at least a half-dozen other cases could not be charged because of the criminal statute of limitations laws in Pennsylvania….

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sexual-predator-children-s-doctor-gets-158-years-prison-people-n984491

Shambhala discloses allegations of sexual assault, child abuse within Boulder-born Buddhist organization’s ranks
Report by An Olive Branch includes unsubstantiated allegations, details failure to address issues

By Jackson Barnett The Denver Post March 19, 2019

Shambhala, the Buddhist organization founded in Boulder in the 1970s, released a report Tuesday detailing — but not substantiating — new allegations of sexual assault and child abuse within the organization, along with an internal failure to adequately address that abuse….

Allegations of abuse within Shambhala — now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia — first were brought to light last year by Buddhist Project Sunshine, which published anonymous allegations of sexual abuse by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the organization’s leader, and other high-ranking teachers.

In July, Mipham acknowledged he had caused “harm” in relationships and would step aside from his leadership position. Shambhala then retained the Canadian law firm Wickwire Holm to conduct a third-party investigation. The firm, in a report released last month, found two credible claims of sexual abuse and a pattern of inappropriate behavior by Mipham, but its investigation was criticized for being too narrow in scope by former Shambhala members….

The report that contained self-reported accounts of abuse found several “themes” of abuse, including sexual misconduct by Shambhala teachers and staff, child abuse and abuse of power. People who self-reported also claimed backlash, concerns about speaking up and efforts by Shambhala to protect teachers and the organization from accusations.

Unverified firsthand stories included acts ranging from unwelcomed kisses from older teachers to child molestation. The report did not include the names of those accused nor the locations where the alleged abuse occurred. An Olive Branch said it reported crimes that had been brought to its attention to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. The report also found that many people did not trust Shambhala to execute proper procedures to address abuse….

An Olive Branch also noted that Mipham in 2015 was excluded from signing Shambhala’s pledge to understand and abide by the policy and not have sexual relationships with students….

Beyond the Buddhist organization’s own internal reviews, an investigation by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office into “possible criminal activity” at the Shambhala Mountain Center near Red Feather Lakes remains ongoing. And Boulder police earlier this year arrested a former Shambhala teacher, William Karelis, 70, on charges of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust….

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/03/19/shambhala-an-olive-branch-abuse-report-sakyong-mipham/

Ahead Of Diocese Report, Reaction To Syracuse Abuse Compensation Program
By Gabe Altieri (WSKG) March 19, 2019….

This month, the Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese hopes to release a report on how its settlement program for people who have been abused by clergy has gone.

It’s called an independent reconciliation and compensation program, or IRCP. The Syracuse Diocese covers part of Central New York and the Southern Tier including Binghamton and Cortland.

WSKG looked into how this program went for the diocese and those who participated. A listener note: this story contains graphic details of sexual abuse.

Remembering Abuse

….What happened to Lightbody is detailed in her testimony to the independent mediator who ran the victims compensation program for the Syracuse Diocese.

….This was the early 1970s. She was about ten years old.

“It was not typical, what you consider typical sexual abuse,” Lightbody said. “What he did to me was ritual abuse which involves physical abuse, sexual abuse, mind control and brainwashing.”

….Here’s what we know about her alleged abuser: his name is Paul Slavetskas. He served at Blessed Sacrament in Johnson City from March 1973 until September 1974.

Slavetskas died in 2015.

The Syracuse Diocese put his name on a list of priests with credible accusations against him. That was released in December. Lightbody’s testimony is the only known abuse claim against him.

https://www.wrvo.org/post/ahead-diocese-report-reaction-syracuse-abuse-compensation-program

Bill giving victims more time on child sex abuse lawsuits, criminal cases gets support
PHOEBE TOLLEFSON Mar 14, 2019

….The bill, HB 640, would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal cases and extend from age 21 to age 27 the time frame during which a victim can sue over alleged abuses.

It makes no change to current law that allows victims to sue after the statute of limitations has expired, but within three years of recognizing their abuse. Experts say victims can repress memories of abuse and struggle to come to terms with its lifelong impacts.

The bill beefs up penalties against mandatory reporters who fail to act by making it a felony in cases involving sexual abuse allegations.

….The bill pertains to victims younger than 18 of the following crimes: sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated sexual intercourse without consent, indecent exposure, sexual abuse, ritual abuse of a minor, incest and sexual exploitation.

https://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/news/state/bill-giving-victims-more-time-on-child-sex-abuse-lawsuits/article_c29b4d2a-887f-5738-8bf2-df5771d405cf.html

The 2019 Annual Ritual Abuse, Secretive Organizations and Mind Control Conference August 17 – 18, 2019 DoubleTree near Bradley International Airport Windsor Locks, CT Internet conference information: http://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/

The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference
When:

Regular Conference – Saturday and Sunday May 4 – 5, 2019

Clinician’s Conference (CEUs are available) Friday May 3, 2019

Where: Courtyard Marriot Long Beach Airport Long Beach, CA

https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2019-conference/

Survivorship Conference Speakers
Clinician’s Conference – Friday May 3, 2019
Deception by Organized Abuser Groups: Helping Yourself and Your Clients Think Through the Issues by Alison Miller

The Use of Music and other Auditory Stimuli in Psychological Therapy with Extreme Abuse Survivors by Randy Noblitt

Regular Conference – Saturday and Sunday May 4 – 5, 2019
Deception by Organized Abuser Groups: Helping Your Front People and Your Insiders Recognize the Lies and Tricks Which Keep You Enslaved by Dr. Alison Miller

Talking About Triggers Without Being Triggering by Dr. Randall Noblitt

Barriers encountered by RA Survivors when accessing Support in Offline Spaces (Services) By Joseph Lumbasi

A Survivor’s View of Recovery from Ritual Abuse by Neil Brick

R. Kelly posts bail – 10 Felony Counts, Cardinal Pell – Pope’s top financial adviser convicted of child sex abuse, The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference

– R. Kelly leaves Chicago jail after posting 100K bail for criminal sex charges
– ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Executive Producer Reacts to R. Kelly Charges and Singer Being Unable to Make Bail
– Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ top financial adviser, convicted of child sex abuse
– Anglican Church priest arrested for series of sex crimes committed during time with Fresno church
– The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference

R. Kelly leaves Chicago jail after posting 100K bail for criminal sex charges
Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY Feb. 25, 2019

R. Kelly has been freed from jail in Chicago after posting bail following multiple charges of criminal sexual abuse, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirms to USA TODAY.

Earlier Monday, Cook County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari told USA TODAY that the R&B singer, who spent the weekend in jail, posted $100,000, or 10 percent of the $1 million bond set Saturday.

The terms of Kelly’s release prohibit him from having any contact with females under the age of 18.

Earlier in the day, Kelly pleaded not guilty to 10 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He appeared in an orange jumpsuit during his arraignment on four separate indictments.

The indictments describe the case of four women – three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged sexual abuse. Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, has denied wrongdoing….
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/02/25/r-kelly-pleads-not-guilty-criminal-sex-abuse-case/2978510002/

‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Executive Producer Reacts to R. Kelly Charges and Singer Being Unable to Make Bail
2/25/2019 by Jackie Strause

The ecosystem that enabled R. Kelly’s alleged toxic behavior, including sexual abuse claims dating back decades, partly explains why the Grammy-nominated R&B singer can’t make bail, Surviving R. Kelly executive producer Dream Hampton said Monday.

“He has gone broke holding women in his studio,” Hampton said during a CBS This Morning interview when reacting to the charges Kelly now faces. “This lifestyle that he has, moving women — girls — state-to-state where their parents can’t find them, he’s gone broke doing this.”

Kelly was arrested Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four females, three of whom were minors. He remains jailed after a judge on Saturday set his bond at $1 million. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, said meeting Kelly’s $100,000 bail payment while he awaits trial is complicated, blaming mismanagement and bad contracts for why the singer isn’t wealthy despite decades of success. According to CNN, Kelly also owed more than $169,000 in unpaid child support and $166,000 in unpaid rent on his Chicago recording studio, which he has since vacated.

On Monday afternoon, Kelly pleaded not guilty on the sex abuse charges and remained jailed as of the time of this story.

Lifetime’s hit docuseries Surviving R. Kelly has played a key role in Kelly’s indictment. After its debut in January, Chicago prosecutors began seeking information and sent a call out for alleged Kelly victims to come forward. The explosive claims in the six-part doc included sexual abuse allegations from multiple women, several who were underage at the time of the alleged assaults, who were interviewed on-camera….

Hampton, a filmmaker and activist, and her team spoke to many women for Surviving R. Kelly to paint the doc’s horrifying, detailed picture of how Kelly’s alleged abuse spanned 30 years. Many women were featured in the doc, and Hampton says she and her team spoke to many more who would corroborate claims, but who wouldn’t participate on camera for fear of being harassed. Hampton has said she believes Kelly’s behavior went on for so long because many of his victims were black women and society has a “knee-jerk reaction to protect black men” at the expense of black women….

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/surviving-r-kelly-executive-producer-reacts-r-kelly-charges-1190440

Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ top financial adviser, convicted of child sex abuse

Rod McGuirk, Associated Press Feb. 25, 2019

MELBOURNE, Australia – The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy’s credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up.

Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ top financial adviser and the Vatican’s economy minister, bowed his head but then regained his composure as the 12-member jury delivered unanimous verdicts in the Victoria state County Court on Dec. 11 after more than two days of deliberation.

The court had until Tuesday forbidden publication of any details about the trial.

The convictions were confirmed the same week that Francis concluded his extraordinary summit of Catholic leaders summoned to Rome for a tutorial on preventing clergy sexual abuse and protecting children from predator priests.

The jury convicted Pell of abusing two 13-year-old boys whom he had caught swigging sacramental wine in a rear room of Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral in late 1996, as hundreds of worshippers were streaming out of Sunday services.

Pell, now 77 but 55 at the time, had just been named the most senior Catholic in Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne.

The jury also found Pell guilty of indecently assaulting one of the boys in a corridor more than a month later.

He faces a potential maximum 50-year prison term after a sentencing hearing that begins on Wednesday. He has foreshadowed an appeal.

Pell had maintained his innocence throughout….

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/25/cardinal-george-pell-convicted-child-sex-abuse/2986107002/

Anglican Church priest arrested for series of sex crimes committed during time with Fresno church

By Corin Hoggard and Jason Oliveira
2/15/19 FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) —

Fresno Police have arrested an Anglican Church priest for a series of sex crimes during his more than a decade with the local church.

Jesus Antonio Castaneda Serna was arrested early Sunday at the Central Fresno church he started — Holy Spirit.

Twenty-two parishioners have come forward to say they’d been victimized by the Anglican Priest but according to police many of the victims are undocumented and afraid to report the crimes to law enforcement.

The arrest comes after a 13-month investigation. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyers believes the sex crimes date back years and could have hundreds of victims….

Two victims did speak to detectives and say Serna would invite them to his Shaw Avenue office where he would perform what he called a “healing ritual” that involved a massage table, oils and would then turn into sexual contact.

The two male adult victims said Serna told them the repeated rituals would remove a curse or earn them forgiveness for their sins….

https://abc30.com/fresno-police-arrest-anglican-church-priest-for-series-of-sex-crimes/5156232/

The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2019 Conference

When:
Regular Conference – Saturday and Sunday May 4 – 5, 2019
Clinician’s Conference – Friday May 3, 2019

Where:
Courtyard Marriott Long Beach Airport
Long Beach, California

Survivorship is one of the oldest and most respected organizations supporting survivors of extreme child abuse, including sadistic sexual abuse, ritualistic abuse, mind control, and torture. Survivorship provides resources, healing, and Survivorship community for survivors; training and education for professionals who may serve survivors; and support for survivors’ partners and other allies. The organization functions as a support for survivors who may be isolated emotionally or geographically.

Survivorship, an organization for survivors of ritual abuse, mind control and torture, will be having a conference from May 3 – 5, 2019 at the Courtyard Marriott in Long Beach, California. The purpose of the conference is to help survivors of ritual abuse and their allies. The conference is for survivors, co-survivors, supporters and helping professionals.

Conference speakers will include Dr. Alison Miller, Dr. Randy Noblitt, Joseph Lumbasi and Neil Brick.

https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=235304

https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2019-conference/

German Catholic priests ‘abused thousands of children’, Ritual Abuse Conference Videos – Neil Brick, Alison Miller, Wendy Hoffman

German Catholic priests ‘abused thousands of children’
More than 3,600 children in Germany were assaulted by Roman Catholic priests between 1946 and 2014, a leaked report has revealed.

The study was commissioned by the Church itself, and was due to be published on 25 September.

According to the report, some 1,670 clergymen in Germany committed some form of sex attack on 3,677 minors, German outlet Spiegel Online reported.

A Church spokesman said it was “dismayed and ashamed” by the findings.

The report is the latest in a long series of revelations that have uncovered decades of sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests around the world.

According to the new study, only 38% of the alleged perpetrators were prosecuted with most facing only minor disciplinary procedures, German media said. About one in six cases involved rape.

Most of the victims were boys, and more than half were aged 13 or younger.

Predatory clerics were often moved to new communities, where no warning was issued about their actions.

The study was compiled by three German universities, using 38,000 documents from 27 German dioceses. Its authors said the true extent of the abuse may be even greater, as some records were “destroyed or manipulated”…. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45500072

Video Presentations from The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2017 Conference https://survivorship.org/presentations-from-the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2017-conference

Neil Brick – Survivorship Conference 2017 – How to Avoid Being Mind Controlled at a Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGoaYw3pEZs

Neil Brick – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Freedom from Mind Control https://youtu.be/SxBO2HU4R_M

Alison Miller – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Confronting the Spiritual Issues in Ritual Abuse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smVS24Fv__k

Video Presentations from The Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control 2017 Conference https://survivorship.org/presentations-from-the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2017-conference

Neil Brick – Survivorship Conference 2017 – How to Avoid Being Mind Controlled at a Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGoaYw3pEZs

Neil Brick – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Freedom from Mind Control https://youtu.be/SxBO2HU4R_M

Alison Miller – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Confronting the Spiritual Issues in Ritual Abuse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smVS24Fv__k

Alison Miller – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Working Through Your Traumatic Memories and Destroying the Mind Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5CS_3GqeVU

Wendy Hoffman – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Dirty Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq75igmOzXk

Alison Miller – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Working Through Your Traumatic Memories and Destroying the Mind Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5CS_3GqeVU

Wendy Hoffman – Survivorship Conference 2017 – Dirty Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq75igmOzXk

Explosive Report on Catholic Church Abuse, Protections for pedophile priests, Ritual Abuse Conference – Dr. Randy Noblitt and Neil Brick

–  Why the Explosive Report on Catholic Church Abuse Is Unlikely to Yield Criminal Charges

–  Tear down the protections for pedophile priests

–  The Credibility of Ritual Abuse Allegations

– Changes in Awareness of Severe Abuse and Child Abuse Crimes Over Twenty Five Years

–  Child and Ritual Abuse Conference Helps Educate Survivors and Their Helpers 

Why the Explosive Report on Catholic Church Abuse Is Unlikely to Yield Criminal Charges
By Dan Levin Aug. 15, 2018

The searing grand jury report issued Tuesday in Pennsylvania that accuses bishops and other Roman Catholic Church leaders in that state of covering up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests has prompted growing calls for justice, while leaving Americans wondering about the broader impact of the revelations on the church and other institutions.

But a web of legal barriers stands in the way of prosecuting most of the cases, and efforts to ease those barriers have repeatedly run into political opposition and fierce lobbying by the church and other groups. Pennsylvania lags behind many other states in coming to grips with the problem, despite a series of grand jury investigations stretching back 15 years….

The nearly 900-page grand jury report is unlikely to lead to any new criminal charges or civil lawsuits over the abuse that it catalogs, because the statute of limitations has expired on those cases. Current state law allows victims of abuse as children 12 years to sue after they come of age at 18, meaning they must do so by age 30. Criminal complaints must be filed by the time the victim is 50. Those rules leave the vast majority of abuse survivors, who came forward later in life — the grand jury said they include people as old as 83 — with no legal recourse. Only two of the cases in the report have so far led to criminal charges….
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/us/pennsylvania-sex-abuse-statute-of-limitations.html

Tear down the protections for pedophile priests
By Editorial Board August 20
IN AN extraordinary communique to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, Pope Francis on Monday acknowledged the “atrocities” committed by pedophile priests and the church hierarchy that systematically covered up their crimes, recognized the inadequacy of efforts “to beg pardon” and admitted that the victims’ “wounds never go away.” In so doing, the pontiff provided a powerful rationale for dropping the church’s long-standing opposition to allowing decades-old cases of rape and molestation by priests to be subject to prosecution and lawsuits.

At last, after years of half-measures and tone-deaf remarks, the pope seems to have woken up to the scale of abuse and corruption sanctioned by the church. The question now is whether he is willing or able to turn the tide of institutional resistance in the Vatican and dioceses worldwide that too often has blocked victims from seeking justice and recompense….

Many states have extended or dropped limits on the number of years within which prosecutors are able to charge child sexual abuse felonies. In other states, including Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania, efforts to extend criminal statutes of limitations have failed. And the church has spent millions of dollars fighting changes in statutes of limitations to give victims, who often cannot speak for decades about the abuse they suffered as children, more time to bring civil lawsuits.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/tear-down-the-protections-for-pedophile-priests/2018/08/20/f2d6376a-a4ab-11e8-97ce-cc9042272f07_story.html

The Credibility of Ritual Abuse Allegations
Presenter: Randy Noblitt, PhD
https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2018-conference/the-credibility-of-ritual-abuse-allegations/

Changes in Awareness of Severe Abuse and Child Abuse Crimes Over Twenty Five Years Presenter: Neil Brick
https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2018-conference/changes-in-awareness-of-severe-abuse-and-child-abuse-crimes-over-twenty-five-years/

Child and Ritual Abuse Conference Helps Educate Survivors and Their Helpers; Speakers included Dr. Randy Noblitt and Neil Brick
https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=227656