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Religion News Report - March 19, 2001 (Vol. 5, Issue 337)
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=== Aum Shinrikyo
1. Aum Doomsday Cult Shadows Japan
2. Key Members of the Aum Cult

=== Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
3. Uganda Cult Mass Murder Anniversary
4. Up in smoke or into thin air? Uganda's killer cult leaders a year on

=== Ho-no-hana Sanpogyo
5. Taxman sinks boot into foot cult
6. Bureaus put foot down over Honohana taxes
7. Foot cult leader failed to declare 750 million yen in income

=== Falun Gong
8. Girl Set Ablaze in Tiananmen Dies
9. Exhibition Targeting Falun Gong Begins in Hong Kong
10. Falun Gong puts spotlight on HK civil servants
11. Analysis: US, China still clash on Falun Gong

=== Scientology
12. Threat of Scientologists' Legal Wrath Prompts Slashdot to Censor a Posting
13. Scientologists Force Comment Off Slashdot
14. Slashdot buckles to Scientology loonies
15. Xenu Do, But Not on Slashdot
16. Holy? Or wholly without grounds

=== Buddhism
17. 'Buddha's hair' found in China

=== Islam
18. 400 Afghan clerics decided to destroy statues: Minister
19. Taliban Ways Under Question

=== Catholicism
20. Italy threatens to silence Vatican [Radio]
21. Few confessions

=== Mormonism
22. SLOC and the LDS Church downplay the church's involvement in the Olympics
23. From SLOC Leadership to Liquor, Church Has Long Had a Powerful Olympic Voice
24. Special Treatment for the Church?
25. Non-LDS Religious Leaders Cite Minimal Input
26. Courting Controversy
27. Sex change worshipper sues the Mormons

=== Hate Groups
28. Bertollini sues Coeur d'Alene newspaper
29. Parade foes to put best foot forward
30. Report Links Putin to Anti-Semitism
31. Estee Lauder's latest tangle
32. What's in a Name?

=== False Memory Syndrome
33. Jury awards family millions

=== Faith Healing
34. Senate Panel Backs Faith-Healing Ban When Kids At Risk
35. Mandatory medical aid for sick kids gets committee OK

=== Other News
36. Atheist leader's remains found on Texas ranch
37. China Extends Cult Crackdown to Protestants, Says Rights Group
38. Sect Not Allowed to Build Cult Hall [Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]
39. Man Shot Dead As Bulletproof Magic Fails
40. Moscow police make arrest in multiple murder
41. Poles rethink anti-sect moves after minority church complaints
42. Appeals court says Ohio motto is acceptable

=== Faith-Based & Community Initiatives
43. Conservatives call for ouster of director of faith-based charities



=== False Memory Syndrome

33. Jury awards family millions
Leader-Telegram, Mar. 17, 2001
http://www.leadertelegram.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
The late Nancy Anneatra was a victim of abuse but not at the hands of her parents or brother, Eau Claire County jurors decided Friday.

Instead, Anneatra, a former Eau Claire elementary school teacher, was the victim of false memories planted by therapists Dr. H. Berit Midelfort of Edina, Minn., and Celia Lausted of Colfax.

Because of their negligence, Midelfort and Lausted, along with Midwest Medical Insurance Co., must pay Delores and Tom Sawyer and their daughter's estate $5.08 million.
(...)

Thomas Jacobson, an attorney for Midelfort, and Thomas Misfeldt, Lausted's attorney, didn't comment.

Pamela Perskin, executive director of the Dallas-based International Council on Cultism and Ritual Trauma, is concerned about the possible ramifications of the verdict.
(...)

The case centered around the phenomenon called False Memory Syndrome, which supporters define as a psychological condition in which a person believes he or she remembers events that have not occurred.

Perskin, a children's advocate who holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and works closely with a psychologist, thinks the condition is a farce even though she believes people sometimes are falsely accused of abuse.

''False Memory Syndrome doesn't exist,'' said Perskin. ''It is an artificial term constructed by apologists for child abusers.''

The case could be appealed, but Smoler expects it to open the door for similar third-party lawsuits in the state.
(...)

In its decision Friday, the Eau Claire County jury found Anneatra's claims of childhood sexual abuse were grounded upon memories implanted by Lausted.

Those memories, the jury concluded, were inaccurate and reinforced by Midelfort.
The jury held Midelfort 80 percent responsible and Lausted 20 percent.

''I'm so happy for the Sawyers,'' said Katie Spanuello of Wauwatosa.

Eleven years ago her daughter accused husband Leo Spanuello of abusing her as a child and Katie Spanuello of doing nothing about it.

Since then the Spanuellos have become volunteers for the Philadelphia-based False Memory Syndrome Foundation.
(...)

However, Perskin is worried giving credibility to False Memory Syndrome is going to allow abusers to get away with their crime.

''(False Memory Syndrome) plays perfectly into their defense of their actions, 'I didn't do it,' '' Perskin said. ''I can't think of anyone who would make this up.''
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]

Contrary to Ms. Perskin's comments, False Memory Syndrome exists.

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