Newtown has Reputation as Satanist Hub

In this 1996 article, Perry DeAngelis found that although the Newtown Police Dept. covered for Satanism, 45% of local respondents to a telephone survey had heard of Satanic cult activity in Newtown.

I have lived all but four of my thirty two years in Connecticut.  In that time I have heard about the haunted cemeteries, Revolutionary War ghosts and hidden psionic labs (more on all these in future issues).  

Satanism in Connecticut, specifically Newtown, has been one I’ve often heard.  It was only a few months ago when a friend came to me with tales of further satanic atrocities perpetrated in Newtown as told to her by a local nun.  Once again the shadow of Lucifer’s wing had apparently darkened the skies over this innocent hamlet.  This was a respected nun at a well known school.  If she too could fall under the sway of these rumors, then indeed they could not be ignored.  Understanding the obvious connection between a woman of the cloth and satanic sensitivity, this was still a person of irreproachable reputation.  And she was not alone.  

When I was in middle school, and again in secondary education, teachers commented about Satanists in Newtown.  Indeed, one went so far as to describe a dance held off Pine Tree Road in the night wood.  How my teacher came by these details, I do not know.  At the time I was not inclined to ask.

From teachers to housewives, nuns to carpenters, the tale would not die.  It seemed to have a tremendous half-life.  When I found it still burning brightly all these years later, it was time to discover the truth.  I set about to discover just what was rearing its ugly head in Newtown.

I visited  the headquarters for the forces of Light, the Newtown Police Department.  This led to a conversation with Detective Robert Tvardzik, the department’s Communications Officer.  He stated, as alluded to earlier, that the only activity in recent memory even approaching satanic activity had been some vandalism attributed to local youth.  No arrests were ever made, and he was convinced that Newtown was not the focal point for this hemisphere’s demonic legion.

 My above findings were what I expected to find in Newtown Connecticut.  This does not mean, however, that Satanism does not exist.  It does.  The United States Army publishes a pamphlet (#165-13) entitled, ‘Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups – A Handbook for Chaplains,’ in which it states that there are an estimated ten to twenty thousand members of the Church of Satan in the nation.  This is an impressive estimate, since these groups are so tight-lipped about numbers.  The largest US satanic denomination is the Church of Satan, based in San Francisco, and they stead fastly refuse to release their membership numbers.  This is not unlike any fringe group (the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazi’s, Flat Earthers, etc).

    The faithful claim that two types of Satanism exist.  The mainstream Satanists refer to themselves as Religious Satanists, claiming to be the rightful heirs to the title of Satanists.  The other group is their fringe, and is generally referred to as Gothic Satanists.  This is the Satanism of film and legend, with its black masses, child sacrifices and violent sexual excess.  The former group claims to be benign and are only practicing a form of organized hedonism.  This ‘if it feels good – do it’ philosophy is what drives the faith, not a battle with the Judeo-Christian god and his flock.  There are nine ‘Satanic Statements,’ that form the core of the belief of the faith.  These are put forth in ‘The Satanic Bible,’ by Anton Szandor LaVey (b. 1930), and published in 1969. 

In abridged form they are as follows:

 1. Indulgence, not abstinence. 

 2. Vital existence, not spiritual pipe dreams. 

 3. Undefiled wisdom, not hypocritical self-deceit. 

 4. Kindness to those deserving of it, not love wasted on ingrates. 

 5. Vengeance, not turning the other cheek. 

 6. Responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires. 

 7. Man as just another animal – the most vicious of all. 

 8. Gratification of all one’s desires. 

 9. The best friend that the Christian Church has had as they have kept it in business for centuries.

SURVEY ON SATANIC BELIEFS IN NEWTOWN

     The Connectictut Skeptical Society conducted a random telephone survey of 100  Newtown residents to determine what their beliefs are concerning satanic cult activity.  Of those called, 52 declined to participate in the survey. [The actual Satanists?] The results of the other 48 people who responded are listed below.

    Although almost half of those responding had heard rumors of local satanic cult activity, only 12% believed that such activity was common in Newtown, and fewer believed cults represent more than a minimal threat.  Despite this, almost 40% believed that the Newtown police should give at least medium priority to investigating cult activity.   Interestingly, responders were more than 4 times as likely to believe that satanic cults are common in the US in general than in their own home town.

Have you ever heard of Satanic cult activity in Newtown? 

    Yes  45.5% 

    No  54.5%

Satanic Cults represent how much of a threat to Newtown? 

    none  60.6% 

    minimal  30.3% 

    moderate 0% 

    significant 9.1%

Satanic cult activity in  the US is 

    non-existent 10.4% 

    rare  39.5% 

    common  45.8% 

    wide spread 4.2%

Satanic cult activity in Newtown is 

    non-existent 42.4% 

    rare  42.5% 

    common  12.1%

The Newtown Police Department should place how much 

of a priority on Satanic cults? 

    none  39.4% 

    low  21.2% 

    medium  15.2% 

    highest  24.2% 

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Thanks to O for sending this.

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