Massimo Introvigne, CESNUR's founder
 
 
CESNUR
C R I T I C A L   P A G E
 
 
Last update: September 11, 2000 
 
 
The "CESNUR Case" broke out in September 1998, when we opened this page, presenting documents on the "Centre for the Study of New Religions" of patent-lawyer Massimo Introvigne, who at the time used to present himself as a "sociologist" and as "one of the  greatest experts in the world on new religious movements"; CESNUR enjoyed great credit among academics, journalists and politicians inside Italy and out. 

The material we made available not only shows that Massimo Introvigne is a leader of the radical right-wing "counter-revolutionary" movement called Alleanza Cattolica - the Italian "sister" of the Brazilian cult called  Tradition, Family and Property   (TFP). However, what is most important is that  the material we published showed how CESNUR's "research" is carried out in such a way as to delierately promote the policies and ideological goals of this movement. 
 

Militants of "Tradition, Family and Property" symbolically conquering the heart of Communism 

As one can see from the information we provide here,  Massimo Introvigne first replied by accusing us of being "agentsof the Belgian Parliament", then by launching an unbelievable campaign on Usenet  Newsgroups involving insults, obscenities and forged posts. Shortly after, he threatened our  provider into closing down our website.  

Barely one week later, the site was back on line thanks to friends in various countries. We sailed through further threats and the invention by Introvigne of a new "sociological" category especially designed for us: that of "anti-cult terrorists." 
 

     
     
    Texts by Miguel Martinez on CESNUR and Introvigne
     
    I became interested in CESNUR quite by accident. I had just got into the world of  Internet when I discovered a text by  Massimo Introvigne - whom I knew of already without however harbouring any critical feelings. In this article, the Turin "sociologist" made a series of  statements about me which were not only offensive, but  were also blatantly false. This was an especially serious matter, since the statements did not appear in a polemical context, but in something calling itself a "study". For a biographical note about me, click here. 
     
       
  • When criticism is called "terrorism" 

    • CESNUR uses public funds to label all its critics as "extreme terrorists". September 1st, 1999.   
      
  • "Only source of funds" 

    • Introvigne's lawyer denies Introvigne's claim that the Piedmont Region is CESNUR's "only source of funds".October 1st, 1999..   
 
     
    Introvigne's Confessions
         
 
     
    Back and forth
      
    Debate between Introvigne and his critics  
     
     
 
     
    CESNUR and the Far Right
     Tradition, Family and Property and the strange story of the "Lodge of Thebes", French Neo-pagans/Neo-nazis and other friends of CESNUR. CESNUR in Italy has managed to find room for itself thanks to a basic misunderstanding: in a country long a monopoly of the Catholic Church, any multinational selling imaginative therapies or ideologies from the USA looks like "progress." So it is hard here to imagine that it is a far-right Catholic group which is defending cults. However Alleanza Cattolica's idea is not contradictory: better reincarnationists than red. "If they want to make Scientology pay taxes today, they might try to do so with Opus Dei tomorrow." 
     
  • «I was one of the founders of the Thebes Group»

    • «The man of the cults, the pride of the Right, the friend of the Masons, the Catholic's who's-who «From the magazine "ADISTA", Fatti, notizie, avvenimenti sul mondo cattolico e realtà religiose, N. 43, 6 Giugno 1998, e N. 45, 11 Luglio 1998.  
     
  • "Fellow-Traveller oder Consultore?" 

    • An interesting article from Pastor Thomas Gandow, "CESNUR, Alleanza Cattolica und die Religionsfreiheit" (BERLINER DIALOG, 1997).  
     
  • "Unmasking TFP's media maneuver"

    • Research project commissioned by New Nation, 1988. Undertaken by Centre for Cultural and Media Studies, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.  
     
 
     
    CESNUR and Brainwashing 
     
    A very important debate - which I was only marginally involved in - came out in 1998, when two Italian Catholic psychologists, Alberto Amitrani and Raffaella Di Marzio, brought out documents proving that Introvigne had systematically used a misleading presentation ("misleading" is something of a euphemism) of the supposed denial of the existence of "brainwashing" by the American Psychology Association (APA). The debate perhaps is a little for specialists, but it is very revealing... 
     
     
  • "Brainwashing" in New Religious Movements

    • The debate opened by the Roman seat of G.R.I.S., Group of Research and Information on the Sects, with the director of CESNUR Massimo Introvigne. By dr. Alberto Amitrani and dr. Raffaella Di Marzio (April, 1998).  
       
    • "Introvigne dixit"

      • A textual comparison between CESNUR's statements and the content of the "APA Memorandum" of May 11, 1987.  
       
    • CESNUR's reply

      • An english translation of the original anonymous CESNUR Press Release dated April 22, 1998. This document, originally published on the official CESNUR Web site, on August 29, mysteriously, disappeared without a trace... CESNUR used threats to try to remove this press release from our website. Of course we didn't give in.  
       
    • "Liar, Liar"

      • CESNUR speaks again about the issue, 10-11-1998.  
    • "The Neverending Story"

      • GRIS Rome's commentary on CESNUR's press release, 27-11-1998.  

      The GRIS Rome documents are also available in FRENCH  and of course Italian on this same site 

    • "Blind, or just don't want to see?"

      • "Brainwashing", mystification and suspicion - by dr. Alberto Amitrani and dr. Raffaella Di Marzio, from the Roman seat of GRIS (July, 1998).   
       
      Also available in FRENCH  
  • The Blacklisting of a concept

    • "The strange history of the brainwashing conjecture in the sociology of religion", by dr. Benjamin Zablocki, October, 1997, "NOVA RELIGIO" (The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions). 
 
     
    CESNUR, Scientology and the "anti-cult movements" 
      
    Massimo Introvigne responded to the intense affection felt for him by the multinational corporation called 'Scientology' by launching an "appeal" in support of the group; however Scientology's love has caused the CESNUR director some embarrassment as well.    
     
     
  • CESNUR publicly supports Scientology propaganda in Germany

    • From an appeal sent to German authorities on August 15, 1996, signed by directors of CESNUR Massimo Introvigne (Italy) and J. Gordon Melton (America). Germany's view on Scientology, from official resources. 
  • Does CESNUR co-operate with the new CAN?

    • About the curious connections between CESNUR and the new CAN, organization accused of being a Scientology front group. By Harry & Martini, Christmas 1998.  
  • Massimo Introvigne replies

    • CAN isn't reliable; Scientology is engaged in «more or less "covert" operations». By Martini, January, 1999.   
    Also available in FRENCH 
  • Is Scientology investigating us?

    • The strange story of Mr Davide Murmora, of the mysterious MIAS (Italian Anti-Cult Movement), their lies and connections with the Church of Scientology - by Martini, Christmas 1998. 
 
     
    The many lives of Massimo Introvigne
    Luckily for him, Massimo Introvigne does not pass all his time in the boring circle of Alleanza Cattolica. His friends include Satanists, vampires and... media tycoon and politician Silvio Berlusconi.  
     
     
  • His friendship with right-wing media tycoon Berlusconi blossoms

    • Massimo Introvigne, a scholar closely involved with the political Right (Corriere della Sera, January 19, 1999). 
  • A Bunch of Silly People Dressing up and Biting Each Other on the Neck" 

    • We are publishing this news item on Introvigne's activity as a vampire fan only because it provides a pleasant diversion from the issue of cult apology. «Coffin Break To Vampires Everywhere, Fangs for The Memories»; article by Carol Bidwell, The Los Angeles Daily News - 23.7.1997
  • "What I saw at a Black Mass"

    • "A naked woman, a short coupling with the 'priest', they mumbled invocations to the Devil" - from Epoca, with a large interview with Introvigne, September 28, 1993.
 
     
    The world of cult apologists
    The world of mutually legitimizing sociologists, some authentic and some not, whose livelihood depends on keeping on the right side of the 'subjects' they study - the so-called 'cults' - of course does not include only Introvigne. Another leading character is James Gordon Melton, a Methodist preacher who also collects books and runs CESNUR-USA together with a Mormon lawyer named Michael Homer.  
     
     
  • Gordon Melton of CESNUR-USA, regarded as an "expert" by the new CAN

    • Article from Esquire Magazine, June, 1997, by Jeannette Walls.   
     
  • The Cult Apologist FAQ

    • From Massimo Introvigne to Eileen Barker and J. Gordon Melton: Extremely amusing. By Tilman Hausherr, 1999.  
  • Melton is challenged

    • Three articles from The Straits Times, Singapore, July 17-18, 1997, by Tan Ool Boon. 
 
     
    Introvigne seen from close up: criticism by esoteric, integriste and far-Right milieux
    Some people have criticised us for having included this material. Apart from the fact that we are against any kind of censorship, anybody can understand that the most interesting criticism against Introvigne and Alleanza Cattolica can only come from those who know them well: Catholic traditionalists and the so-called radical Right.  
    Introvigne has tried to make use of these criticisms in order to show that he himself is not a right-wing extremist. However the reason certain minorities on the far Right criticism is quite different: Catholic traditionalists have a lot to say against a movement which they consider millenialist and to a certain degree esoteric, whereas other members of the radical Right object to Alleanza Cattolica's attempts to take their world over.  
     
     
  • Cesnur's director, Freemasonry and TFP

    • From "Alleanza... Massonica?", by Father Torquemada. Published in Sodalitium, December, 1997, n. 46, p. 64-76. Whatever one may think of the viewpoint (and the pseudonym) of "Father Torquemada", there is no doubt he knows his man: he has known Introvigne - and shared his ideas - since they were both adolescents. The full articles appear on our Italian pages.
  • Massimo Introvigne: scholar or politician?

    • Global domination and religion as a weapon. An article by Lucio Tancredi published on Orion, VII, n. 9, September, 1998. Orion is a magazine which represents every shade of opinion on Italy's variegated "radical Right" except racism. Authors include CESNUR critics like Tancredi, CESNUR scholars like Marco Pasi and Alleanza Cattolica supporters like Massimo Maraviglia. 
 
     
    The amusing case of Cronaca Vera
    Cronaca Vera is a lovely Italian tabloid, dedicated to improbable stories of every kind. It published an interview, accompanied by some unique photos, with Massimo Introvigne, where the CESNUR director claimed he was working on a secret mission to fight the Devil in the Italian region of Puglia. Introvigne denied he had ever granted the interview. The whole episode greatly amused Newsgroup readers who followed the story.  
     
     
  • Massimo Introvigne on Cronaca Vera

    • In an interview with the Italian "gutter-press", Massimo Introvigne claims secret nomination as ghostbuster. By Miguel Martinez, March, 1999.   

    Also in PORTUGUESE  and GERMAN   

     
     
 
     
    CESNUR's conferences
    Articles - some critical, some not - on recent CESNUR conferences  
     
     
  • CESNUR '98 Conference

    • Facts, impressions, meetings and "events", minor and major, at an international meeting. By Dr. Raffaella Di Marzio, from the Roman seat of G.R.I.S., Group of Research and Information on the Sects.
  • Watchtower Society did not take part in CESNUR Conference

    • By Stephan E. Wolf. From Ex ZJ Infolink, Infoservice of the Network of Former Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany, November, 1998. The Brooklyn leadership had to drop out of attending the CESNUR conference when ordinary JW's heard that their bosses intended to share in a meeting with Catholics, pagans, and others. CESNUR as usual threatened to sue the critics who had put the information out on the Net, apparently for having let the grassroots know too much.   

    Available also in GERMAN 

 
     
    CESNUR and the Catholic Church
    Most CESNUR supporters outside Italy are probably unaware that CESNUR here is constantly organizing lectures and seminars in Catholic institutions of every kind, teaching the "theologically correct" viewpoint on "new religious movements." To do so, CESNUR describes itself as a Catholic organization, under the patronage of a bishop. This is why we publish this document.  
     
     
  • Warning Catholics: CESNUR doesn't act for Vatican

    • From a note signed by Mons. Michael L. Fitzgerald, Segretary for the Pontificio Consiglio per il dialogo interreligioso, City of Vatican (September 27, 1996).   

    Also in FRENCH , GERMAN  and PORTUGUESE 

 
  • The Transylvanian Society of Dracula (with photos)

    • It's an international association which promotes studies on... vampires. The American chapter of the TSD is run by Gordon Melton, the Italian one by Introvigne, who publicizes the TSD on a "secret page" at CESNUR's site...   
     
 
     
    CESNUR's friends 
    These are links to some sites which for various reasons are close to CESNUR. Unlike us, they tend not to make links to sites they disagree with in any way. We use the term "neo-Fascist" here in a technical, not a derogatory sense.
  • Institute for the Study of American Religions (ISAR)

    • "An independent research facility tucked into the top floor of the United Methodist Church in Isla Vista, California" (John Mardas, interview with J. Gordon Melton in "Speak Magazine", No. 2, Summer 2000) is  run by the Reverend J. Gordon Melton, a member of the board of directors of CESNUR International.
  • La Casa di Elrond

    • "News and support for the counter-revolutionary battle." A typical page of an Alleanza Cattolica militant, with links to CESNUR and Una Voce Grida...! The website is called "Corneliu" in honour of the founder of the Rumanian Iron Guard.
  • Una Voce Grida...!

    • This is the website of a small Catholic Charismatic group run by Tarcisio Mezzetti. However, the best known follower is certainly Andrea Menegotto, a CESNUR member with many ties to Introvigne. A look at their manifesto shows what they mean by scholarship: "Information and comments on the hidden dangers of popular/journalistic culture of our times, on new religiosity, the world of magic, of superstition and of the occult, for use in the New Evangelization, in order to fight error, distinguishing without discriminating, and in order to bring the people of God back to the faith."
  • Homepage of CADR - Centro Ambrosiano di Documentazione per le Religioni - Sezione Nuovi Movimenti Religiosi

    • CADR is a small group made up by Alleanza Cattolica militants Paolo Di Giovanni, Aldo Carletti, Manzoni and Trolli, who are trying to introduce CESNUR's point of view into the Catholic institutions of the diocese of Milan. Notice that the homepage of CADR is hosted on the website of Una Voce Grida...! The URL in fact is http://members.tripod.com/~unavocegrida/CADR.htm.
  • Circolo Carlo Magno of Alleanza Nazionale

    • This branch of the former neo-Fascist "Alleanza Nazionale" party regularly hosts all the activities of Alleanza Cattolica and CESNUR. Here we can see a lecture by PierLuigi Zoccatelli (militant of both Alleanza Cattolica and CESNUR) presenting his book "Al supermercato delle religioni: dal New Age al Next Age." A book published by Di Ci, in a series... edited by Massimo Introvigne. The "book information" page on this site suggests only the following books: one by Jean-François Mayer (CESNUR) and two by Introvigne on cults, plus the incredible hate-book, Islam: anatomia di una setta ("Islam, Anatomy of a Cult"), by Stefano Nitoglia. All four books are published by the far-right publisher, Effedieffe.
  • Istituto Storico della Destra

    • This 'Historical Institute of the Right' has the following words of praise for Alleanza Cattolica: "it is committed to training a counter-revolutionary élite, in order to restore the spiritual kingdom of Christ through the 'common good' based on 'natural law."
  • Homepage of Alfredo Mantovano, Member of the Italian Parliament.

    • Alfredo Mantovano, magistrate, is not only one of the top leaders of the former neo-Fascist party Alleanza Nazionale; he is also a leader of Alleanza Cattolica.
  • Homepage of David Botti

    • This militant of Alleanza Cattolica is especially disliked by users of Italian Newsgroups. In his role as moderator of it.politica.cattolici, he censors any post remotely critical either of CESNUR or of the political Right. To make up for this, he posts every message from CESNUR - sent via Menegotto - even when written in English.
  • Luci sull'Est: Towards the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

    • A TFP offshoot devoted to spreading the message of Fatima. Here you can download "Revolution and Counter-Revolution" - the book that inspired Massimo Introvigne - for free, but in Italian only.
  • Centro Lepanto

    • Named to celebrate the victory over the Muslims, this group is a TFP offshoot independent however from Alleanza Cattolica. Its founder, Prof. Roberto de Mattei, regularly quotes Introvigne in his writings and shares CESNUR's point of view on cults. Centro Lepanto claims that its purpose is "to defend the principles and institutions of Christian Civilization and to represent a point of attraction for thought and action of the conservative and traditional area."
  • Istituto per la Dottrina e l'Informazione Sociale [Institute for Social Doctrine and Information)

    • An important offshoot of Alleanza Cattolica. In February 1996, it started to publish a weekly page on Secolo d'Italia, the official daily of the former neo-Fascist party Alleanza Nazionale, called Dizionario del Pensiero Forte. Massimo Introvigne wrote the article on "Anti-Cult movements and Campaigns" for this "Dictionary", where he "dealt directly with the problem of the attack of persecution which weak thought has been launching against religious freedom" (Andrea Morigi, Cristianità n. 271-2, p. 24).
  • Istituto per la Storia delle Insorgenze (ISIN) (Institute for the History of the Insorgenze)

    • This is run by Marco Invernizzi, who also happens to be the officer of Alleanza Cattolica entrusted with Lombardy and Veneto. A certain Marco Albera is actually a simultaneous member of Alleanza Cattolica, CESNUR and ISIN. ISIN does a necessary job of exploring a lost page of history - the uprisings in 1799 against Napoleon; however its express purpose is to delegitimize the secular state and create a new "historical memory" for Italy.
  • Scuola di Educazione Civile

    • The purpose of this 'School', established by Alleanza Cattolica militants Leonardo Gallotta and Massimo Martinucci, is no less than that of providing "the correct interpretation of historical, political and social events." To celebrate the inauguration, in 1996, Gallotta presented the Archbishop of Ferrara with a copy of Revolution and Counter-Revolution.
  • Per una politica dei valori

    • This site is dedicated to "value-based politics", i.e. to politics in line with Alleanza Cattolica's mission.
  • Alessandro Pagano

    • Homepage of the regional deputy of Forza Italia (the party of media tycoon Berlusconi) and Alleanza Cattolica militant Alessandro Pagano.
  • Pietro Macconi

    • Homepage of the regional deputy of Alleanza Nazionale (former neo-Fascist party) and Alleanza Cattolica militant Alessandro Pagano.
  • The Gordon Melton Scientology Affidavit

    • Gordon Melton, not yet a CESNUR leader but already Pastor of the Emanuel United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois, after having attended a Scientology wedding, certifies that "the Church of Scientology is very much a religion in the fullest sense of the word." Evidence is not lacking: "the Church of Scientology regularly holds its Sunday worship service which, though not the main focal point of the week as in the Methodist Church, nevertheless provides the community worship for the group."
  • SYZYGY: Journal of Alternative Religion and Culture

    • Published by Evelyn Dorothy Oliver; James R. Lewis; Joseph Waligor; Massimo Introvigne; Eileen Barker; David G. Bromley; Charles L. Harper; Evelyn Dorothy Oliver; J. Gordon Melton; Susan J. Palmer; Gary Shepherd; John M. Bozeman. The review has hosted articles by authors of many different kinds.
  • Elle Di Ci Publishers

    • Edited by Massimo Introvigne of CESNUR and Alleanza Cattolica, the series "Religioni e movimenti" is monitored by PierLuigi Zoccatelli of CESNUR and Alleanza Cattolica who sees to it that no author who disagrees with the official line gets by. The series has published books by Silvia Scaranari Introvigne, who is a member of both CESNUR and Alleanza Cattolica as well as coincidentally being Massimo Introvigne's wife; by PierLuigi Zoccatelli; by Jean-François Mayer of CESNUR; by James Gordon Melton of CESNUR; by Father Pietro Cantoni of Alleanza Cattolica, who happens to be the brother of Alleanza Cattolica "regent", Giovanni Cantoni. A kind of home publisher.
 
     
    Critical pages 
     
     
  • "Cult Apologists?"

    • A large collection of articles and links by Rick Ross regarding CESNUR's members: Massimo Introvigne, J. Gordon Melton and Eileen Barker. 
 
     
    The Case of the Legionaries of Christ 
      
    During recent years, CESNUR and Alleanza Cattolica have established excellent relations with the Catholic congregation of the "Legionaries of Christ", established in Mexico. The lawyer Introvigne claims the title of Professor because he used to teach for three days a year in an institution belonging to this organization. Like TFP, the Legionaries of Christ are certainly a highly political organization which is held to be very controversial inside the Catholic Church too. Like TFP, the Legionaries of Christ have received serious accusations from former members. First of all, they are accused of exercising a kind of pressure totally contrary to Canon Law in order to turn sympathizers into priests. More seriously, no less than nine former members - including the founder of the first US branch - have accused the founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado, of having abused them sexually.
  
  • Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum

    • The Institute of the Legionaries of Christ where Introvigne used to teach some years ago. The Chancellor is the controversial Father Marcial Maciel, L.C., described as "Founder and General Director of the Legionaries of Christ." Massimo Introvigne no longer appears in the list of teachers. 
  
 
 
 
 
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