Satanic abuse: does it really exist?

From Mr Peter Saunders Sir, A great deal has been written about the existence and extent of certain types of child abuse and the type that seems to attract most publicity and denial is the most pernicious of all. I am talking about "ritual", or "satanic" abuse.
Some years ago the Department of Health commissioned an inquiry to determine whether such abuse occurred in this country and the report that followed, compiled by Professor Jean La Fontaine basically said it was all fantasy and that "ritual" abuse did not exist. The report itself would have been better described as fantasy because the author made no attempt to interview witnesses and victims. A strange approach to a government report. But maybe we and the government were not "ready" to face the diabolical truth. There's our first clue.
In the 10 years since Professor La Fontaine's discredited, though often quoted, findings hit the headlines, there have been several court cases where this kind of organised abuse has been proven. The link between Satanists and paedophile rings has intensified and there is plenty of evidence suggesting that the pornographic underworld is making a packet out of this nasty, salacious trade. There's our second clue big money is involved.
Organisations like the British False Memory Society are always quick to deny abuse of most kinds but their recent pronouncements that "ritual" abuse is some kind of Protestant Evangelist plot invented to keep Christian Denominations apart, is nothing short of farcical. In fact it is very alarming because these people are actually given credence by some.
So we have firm evidence that this kind of abuse takes place and we have those who say it is fantasy. Why? The answer is not simple but just as the sexual abuse of children was taboo until relatively recently some people plainly do not want to face up to the reality of man's potential for inhumanity. It's a bit like the holocaust deniers. It's too awful to address so we say it doesn't happen.
Well I am sorry to burden the reader with facts but it does. Our charity hears from the victims. We work alongside those who try to put victims' lives back together. We try to bring hope and talk of healing. Denial is easy. Facing the truth can be so much more painful.
Yours faithfully PETER SAUNDERS National Association for People Abused in Childhood London, EC2A 3NH