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Cultic Studies Journal
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Ritual Child Abuse: Understanding the Controversies
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Psychological
Manipulation and Society: cults, cult groups, new religious movements
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Cultic
Studies Journal
Psychological Manipulation and Society
Vol. 8, No. 2, 1991
Ritual
Child Abuse: Understanding the Controversies
- David W. Lloyd, Esq.
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect
Abstract
The phenomenon of "ritual child abuse"
has created a major national controversy. The general public is confused by media reports
of notorious cases with different outcomes in California, Florida, and Massachusetts, and
other states. Professionals in the fields of child welfare, mental health,
law
enforcement, and law disagree about the definition of "ritual child abuse,"
how frequently it occurs, and what we know about the individuals and groups who commit it.
Positions have thus become polarized within the same field. This paper is intended to
explore that controversy and some of the myriad issues involved.
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Cultic Studies Journal 