Latin Americans Easy Prey for Cults
(Published January 2000 in La Raza)
Sociologists state that, usually, very emotional people are the ones who latch onto "cults" more easily. It is the personal situation that is very important for the experts. Emotional people, those who have a need for affection and are badly situated, are easier to drag in. In the South, it is more common that a Hispanic person is pulled in by a "religious cult". In Miami, all kinds of cults flourish. In Chicago, they are less common except for Latinos like José Manuel, who belonged to one of these communities for almost three years as a member of the Christian Apostolic Order.
The lack of contact with the parishioner is one of the main reasons that Catholicism fails these individuals, who renounce their religion to be integrated in cults. Fernando G. Reigosa, professor of Clinical Psychology, states that, "The individual belongs, he feels useful, he feels equal to others members, he is not a mere spectator like in the Catholic Church. Normally the cults are dedicated to distancing the people from their environment and to showing them a different way of life, where everything is easier and the affection is free and unconditional."
Cults seek people who are willing to give everything, usually humble people who devote themselves completely. They fall into these webs, pulled in by the affection, and then it turns out to be impossible for them to leave since they have given all of their goods to the group and their lives only makes sense inside the community.
The Christian Apostolic Order, very far-reaching in the U.S., is defined as "a flock of people from various countries and origins, with very different pasts and histories, a people who have met with a very special purpose, a flock that has chosen a different path, one that continues to march to the voice of a different shepherd, a tribe where everyone works and lives together, sharing all things of the community". In their doctrine, they are dedicated to interpreting passages of the Bible. It is prohibited that men have a mustache or beard, and that men kiss women. Men and women kiss amongst themselves on the lips.
Legally it is difficult to label these organizations as "dangerous groups" or "cults" since individuals participate freely. Nothing obligates them, at first, to stay with these communities since they overwhelm the people with affection without obliging them of anything. In little time, though, these individuals realize that they are the same ones who come to donate part of their earnings or work for the group without being directly asked to do so. They remain totally numb and radically change their way of life.
A former-member of a "cult" like José Manuel, at present, does not criticize; he continues considering them kind people after three years. When he speaks of his former companions of the group, he does so as if he is referring to his friends. "The friendship that is offered to you is complete; it is difficult to renounce their unconditional affection. You perceive that this friendship is sincere and complete," assures José Manuel. Normally this is the way they lure more members, using the principle that they give without receiving anything, which is surprising to the individual who feels deceived and amazed by these people's behavior.
"I realized that I was moving away from my family and it did not matter to me. They occupied my time with different activities; we always had something to do. They were three hard years for my nearby relatives," confesses José Manuel. "I knew that I had to leave the group. I doubted its sincerity and affection. I did not know what to make of separating from them. I called a lot of attention in seeing so much distance from my family."
The only way out that José Manuel found was to lie, assuring them that he had financial problems. He stayed away from the community services and all of the meetings, assuring them that he had to work more. It was then that the members of the "cult" began to hound him with telephone calls and letters. "They oftern insisted that they would give me the money, that I did not need to worry, that the church would pay my debts. I did not know what to do since they were very kind. They even implied that it was not necessary to return the money they wanted to lend me."
Sociologists and psychologists maintain that the growth of this type of group is constant and that Latin Americans are easy prey. Fernando G. Reigosa states that, "People from other countries who come to work in the U.S., who are badly situated and without family, are the candidates preferred by the cults. This is an example of it what is happening in Miami, a phenomenon that is being transferred to the rest of the country."
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