EUROPE/ITALY - “The aim of occult and satanic organisations is to try eliminate the presence of God from society” says Rev. Oreste Benzi, who for years has worked to rehabilitate young people caught in the trap of satanic sects

Rome (Fides Service) - With regard to recent news of crimes committed by members of satanic groups in various parts of Italy, Fides asked the opinion of Rev. Oreste Benzi, Fonder of the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, who has worked for years to help young people escape from the trap of satanic sects. «In recent years I have come up against the activities of occult satanic groups and the horror of their rites including sexual abuse of the young persons involved. Very often these Satanists are respectable persons above all suspicion and their aim is to destroy morally and psychologically anyone who works against them and tries to stop these occult activities»
Why do satanic groups exist and what is the aim of these followers of the Evil One?
«“The aim of occult and satanic organisations is to try eliminate the presence of God from society”» Rev Benzi said. «On the part of the authorities it takes courage and coherence to find and disperse these organisations and on the part of the public a great sense of civic responsibility to denounce these facts».
«The phenomenon of Satanism is connected with equally harmful and dangerous evils such as prostitution, paedophilia and trafficking of children. Very often it is the most helpless, like children, who fall prey to a network of sects. Once a person is caught it is very difficult to escape».
«In Italy there are an estimated 600.000 members and what is more concerning, most of them are young people, adolescents. Our country needs a new law on secret societies and satanic sects the existing one is to generic» Rev. Benzi concludes. (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2004 - Righe 23; Parole 298)