When Evil Came to Rochdale

Sadly, there is no doubt that some adults will use anything within their power to frighten and control children. Heaven help the adults charged with trying to make sense of the things terrified, damaged children tell them

I am Pagan and I have vivid memories of "the Satanic Panic." I had young children at the time and so did several of my Pagan friends, and we felt that there was a real danger of losing our kids if we were open about our faith. Of course, Satanism has nothing to do with the Pagan faiths such as Wicca, Druidry, the Norse tradition, etc. Satan, under one name or another, features in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but not in Paganism. We don't believe in him (or give the idea any thought, to be honest), therefore we neither fear nor worship him.

However, the evangelical Christians who seemed to be driving the panic didn't differentiate between Satanism and Paganism as religious concepts. To them, we were (and are) all devil-worshippers. Nor did the police or Social Services apparently have any awareness or, at times, much common sense. For instance, I remember one family being accused of possessing an inverted cross, until it was pointed out that it was the struts of a children's kite!

There was also a discussion programme where a young woman, supported again by supposedly God-fearing Christians, described in detail how she had been raped by Satanists and had given birth to several children who had then been sacrificed. She also claimed to have seen other human sacrifices. She seemed obviously disturbed but her claims were treated with great seriousness and she was encouraged to elaborate on them. These stories continued in the media until the police stated that she had been examined, she had never given birth and there was no evidence that the Satanic cult had ever existed.

Some people in authority, here and in the USA, who should have been more sceptical seemed to go a bit insane at that time. The sad thing was the damage that was done to innocent families.

The Rochdale cases were dismissed but I have no doubt that sadly, awful things are going on.

I do not think claims and stories of Satanic abuse should be dismissed as fabrication. What, in our seemingly 'safe' little worlds proves to us that this does not happen? Why complacently assume such stories must be dramatic inventions? Of course there are such utterly evil people out there. However, such people probably have a certain amount of power, and may have more control of our institutions than we think. Having said that, Social Services, it would seem, also has too much power, sometimes seizing children for very slender reasons, subsequently settling matters in secret courts, so we do not know what is really going on. Witches, celebration of Halloween, magic, Harry Potter - all of that is totally different from devil worship. These things are not evil because they depart from mainstream beliefs. Wicca, Druidry, and other forms of paganism are diametrically opposed to 'Satanism' for a theological force of evil does not have a place in such belief, which is about love for Nature and the expansion of the human spirit. But Satanism most definitely exists, and is, by definition, evil. It seems hard to be sure what, exactly, is going on in this story, but I think an open mind coupled with common sense is a good approach. Lurid books and skulls do not make a Satanist - they are cleverer than that.

Namsnanny

Commonground

In 2013, after the sudden death of my husband, children's services became involved with my family. I remember seeing a report, after a new social worker visited my home. She had written "Query Satanism- skulls etc" I never saw her again, and I assumed that the social workers who were already working with us had dismissed her concerns.

I dread to think what they would have made about us then.
As my children collected interesting debris on our frequent walks to a local beach. Which comprised of many things, but several different sizes of bleached sheep and or bird sculls and skeletons, became the favourites.
They were arranged in size order on top of the piano, for all to see!😄

Do you remember the fashion, not so long ago, when skulls were printed on t shirts etc.?

Thankfully none of my DGC liked it! 💀☠

zakouma66

Nannashirlz

More to question what is happening full stop in Rochdale lot of questions about this town

I expect thousands of folk are going about their business just like you and I?

I’m sure thousands are innocent citizens but it only takes a dozen creeps or criminals who get caught to give a place a bad name.

Nannashirlz

More to question what is happening full stop in Rochdale lot of questions about this town

I expect thousands of folk are going about their business just like you and I?

Maremia

If Witches&Co were not allowed, how did they cope with Hallowe'en?

Not to mention the fact that there are some fairly violent and gruesome things in the bible!

If Witches&Co were not allowed, how did they cope with Hallowe'en?

More to question what is happening full stop in Rochdale lot of questions about this town

Commonground

In 2013, after the sudden death of my husband, children's services became involved with my family. I remember seeing a report, after a new social worker visited my home. She had written "Query Satanism- skulls etc" I never saw her again, and I assumed that the social workers who were already working with us had dismissed her concerns.

I dread to think what they would have made about us then.
As my children collected interesting debris on our frequent walks to a local beach. Which comprised of many things, but several different sizes of bleached sheep and or bird sculls and skeletons, became the favourites.
They were arranged in size order on top of the piano, for all to see!😄

JamesandJon33

I once took a child home from school, as he was ill. There were two, floor to ceiling book cases in their living room, each side of the fireplace. Chockablock with porn and horror films.

This is awful. I assume they were videos, so a while ago?
Not that it makes any difference, as now people go on the internet for this type of material.
Which actually means they can keep it hidden better.

I added the wrong quote, but tickingbird is quite right.

tickingbird

Parents are negligent if allowing children to watch gruesome horror films.

Maddyone In general I avoid programs such as this, as they often seem to be salacious. This program was actually very good, as it consolidated 3 cases across the decades of acusations of Satanic abuse.
The last case was in Hampstead(I think) and there was an earlier program telling the story from the accused parents point of view and how hard it was for them to get either protection from police against threats from those who believed them to be paedophiles.

I once took a child home from school, as he was ill. There were two, floor to ceiling book cases in their living room, each side of the fireplace. Chockablock with porn and horror films.

In 2013, after the sudden death of my husband, children's services became involved with my family. I remember seeing a report, after a new social worker visited my home. She had written "Query Satanism- skulls etc" I never saw her again, and I assumed that the social workers who were already working with us had dismissed her concerns.

grandMattie

Wasn’t there sometime that in Shetland way back? Absolutely awful for the adults…

1990s, Orkney. Totally unfounded.

Wasn’t there sometime that in Shetland way back? Absolutely awful for the adults…

Sarnia

zakouma66

Im sorry, I think we may be talking at cross purposes here. There was a case or cases whereby children had said something and it preciptated an enquiry and their removal. The accusations were not proven.

This is not connected by the abuse of children by men of Pakastani heritage.

No. 2 different cases. The grooming gangs are another story. This programme shows what happened to families in Rochdale, the Orkneys and Hampstead when young children made some worrying remarks resulting in a truly horrific time for the families whose children were named as being involved. The judiciary in all cases found no evidence to support the children's claims but very traumatic for all concerned.

Exactly that. 2 entirely different cases, both involving the word Rochdale.

There was quite a spate of this.

In America, parents tried to sue a rock band, as it was said that their songs contained satanic subliminal messages.

Lots of children in the uk were taken into care as having been abused by devil worshipping parents - all unsubstantiated rubbish

maddyone

I don’t know anything about this. When was it on?

28th April at 10pm on Channel 5. You should be able to get it on Catch-up.

zakouma66

Im sorry, I think we may be talking at cross purposes here. There was a case or cases whereby children had said something and it preciptated an enquiry and their removal. The accusations were not proven.

This is not connected by the abuse of children by men of Pakastani heritage.

No. 2 different cases. The grooming gangs are another story. This programme shows what happened to families in Rochdale, the Orkneys and Hampstead when young children made some worrying remarks resulting in a truly horrific time for the families whose children were named as being involved. The judiciary in all cases found no evidence to support the children's claims but very traumatic for all concerned.

Clawdy

I was teaching at a primary school at the time , and all the staff were given a talk by a woman from social services. She said if any child wrote a story about witches or ghosts, we must see it as a red flag. And all school library books about witches or wizards were removed. It was a very odd time.

That would seem to have been an over-reaction, Clawdy.

Even before Harry Potter books came The Worst Witch, The Witches - and Macbeth!

And how many small children dressed up as witches and the witch's cat at Hallowe'en?

Of course, we mustn't be complacent about young children being exposed to unsuitable material and experiences but a common sense approach needs to be taken.

keepingquiet

Which channel is this on?

I also watched one about satanic abuse claims in Hampstead- quite harrowing but left me feeling what really happened here?All very strange.

It was aired on 28th April at 10pm on Channel 5. Following on from Rochdale was a similar situation on the Orkneys and then Hampstead. All mentioned on the programme.

I was teaching at a primary school at the time , and all the staff were given a talk by a woman from social services. She said if any child wrote a story about witches or ghosts, we must see it as a red flag. And all school library books about witches or wizards were removed. It was a very odd time.