Spain: Information on The Children of God sect and follow-up on arrests that took place in mid-1990
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ESP10411 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Spain: Information on The Children of God sect and follow-up on arrests that took place in mid-1990, 1 February 1992, ESP10411, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abc746.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a journalist from the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia who has covered the issue of the Children of God sect, the members of the group who were arrested in July 1990 are currently under libertad provisional (provisional liberty) (25 Feb. 1992). Their case awaits hearing in courts while the prosecution works on the charges to be pressed (Ibid.). T he trial is expected to continue this year. (Ibid.). The journalist added that the sect has not been disbanded, as its members remain free. The minors belonging to the group are in the custody of the group's adults, under the supervision of the courts. The sect may also have other members, may be operating in other places in Spain and is present in several countries (Ibid.). It has faced problems in some of those countries because of sex-related controversies involving minors (Ibid.).
According to a representative of the Conference of Evangelical Churches of Spain, the Children of God sect apparently arrived on the Spanish mainland after beginning activities in the Spanish Canary Islands (25 Feb. 1992). Its problems with Spanish justice apparently stem from sexually-related problems involving minors (Ibid.). The source added that the press and former followers of the sect have blamed the group for promoting or encouraging the prostitution of children (Ibid.).
The attached news reports (listed below) provide additional information on the sect and its situation in Spain and some other countries.
Some of the attached articles refer to the use of sexual promiscuity and prostitution for promoting the sect. One article quotes a 1978 report from Le Monde in which "a 16-year old girl admitted prostituting herself to lure men into the Children of God" (The Associated Press 11 Oct. 1978). A more recent report states that two former members of the sect in the Philippines claimed the group "encourages wife-swapping and promiscuity as well as incest and prostitution" (Reuters 3 Apr. 1987).
In the attached articles the Children of God is referred to as a movement, a sect, a Christian group and a pseudo-religious group. According to one of the attached articles, the Children of God organization was reported in 1979 as having "headquarters in Switzerland and communes in 70 countries" (UPI 22 Oct. 1985).
The article from La Vanguardia provided with your Information Request includes an inset entitled "Mo and the `systemites'" which summarizes the doctrine of the Children of God sect (9 July 1990, 28). What follows is an unofficial translation provided by the IRBDC and included for your reference:
The Children of God, also known as The Family of Love, appeared in the sixties, due to the perception of its leader David Berg, who assures he personally received messages from the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah. After these announcements, he changed his name to Moses David, or just Mo, and started preaching -an occupation he knew well, since his parents are preachers from California.
The Children of God doctrine is stated in a number of letters Mo wrote, explaining his thesis: this society is not the most appropriate and youth have the right to remain separate from it. All the structures are rotten and, because the Apocalypse is near, according to the revelations made to Mo, only those who follow the leader will have a chance of being saved.
The dangers of this sect were highlighted by different governments. By 1980 a report of the Austrian executive warned the population of the danger presented by Mo and his disciples. This is explained as Mo differentiating his followers from the "systemites," or those who are inside the social structure. In his letters, Mo summarizes the attitude to take regarding the rest of humanity: "Why keep working like beasts to acquire material goods, if the system already has enough goods? Let them be our slaves." For Mo, work is something for the "systemites."
Bibliography
The Associated Press. 11 October 1978, PM Cycle. "Moon Over Europe." (NEXIS)
Conference of Evangelical Churches, Madrid. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Reuters. 3 April 1987, PM Cycle. "Philippines Investigates Christian `Children of God' Sect." (NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 22 October 1985. "Children of God Members Held in Egypt." (NEXIS)
La Vanguardia [Barcelona]. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Journalist.
. 9 July 1990. "Mo y los `Sistemitas'."
Attachments
The Associated Press. 11 October 1978, PM Cycle. "Moon Over Europe." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Affairs. 2 September 1986. "`Pseudo-Religious Sect' Members Spread Licentious Ideas in Canton." (NEXIS)
BBC The Monitoring Report. 23 April 1981. "Nicaragua." (NEXIS)
Latin America Political Report. 19 August 1977. "By The Way: Colombia." (NEXIS)
Newsday. 10 July 1990, All Editions. "10 Commune Arrests." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 13 July 1990, BC Cycle. "Love Sect Members Try to Regain Children After Spanish Raid." (NEXIS)
. 3 April 1987, PM Cycle. "Philippines Investigates Christian `Children of God' Sect." (NEXIS)
. 29 August 1986, AM Cycle. "Four Foreign Cult Members Told to Leave on Sex Charges." (NEXIS)
. 19 January 1983, AM Cycle. Untitled (Dateline: London; Keyword: Sects). (NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 22 October 1985. "Children of God Members Held in Egypt." (NEXIS)
