Powell (Nov. 12, 2012):<\/strong><\/p>\nI apologize for not having been clearer in my request.<\/p>\n
What I am seeking is not a recantation but a simple, concise retraction by the editors, acknowledging that the concept accepted and promoted in these two articles \u2013 ritual abuse in day cares \u2013 \u00a0was in fact entirely a product of a moral panic.<\/p>\n
I am not an academic or professional, but I believe an examination of the literature in the intervening years would fully support such a retraction.<\/p>\n
This passage is from the Retraction Guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics: \u201cRetraction is a mechanism for correcting the literature and alerting readers to publications that contain such seriously flawed or erroneous data that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon. Unreliable data may result from honest error or from research misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Does the Journal of Interpersonal Violence want to leave these articles as its last word on the era of unfounded claims of ritual abuse in day cares?<\/p>\n
Conte (Nov. 13, 2012):<\/strong><\/p>\nAs I said before we would accept a letter to the Editor or longer manuscript.\u00a0 The letter would not be peer reviewed.
\nThe longer manuscript would be.<\/p>\n
Science and knowledge progress slowly.\u00a0 There are many things which are published in good faith, blindly reviewed, and found acceptable for publication.\u00a0 Then some years later with more research, experience, or knowledge what was once acceptable is seen in a new light.\u00a0 I am not saying this has taken place with the manuscript you have identified.\u00a0 It is not my\u00a0intent to review previously published work in light of the change in times.<\/p>\n
If you wish to write a letter for publication I am happy to work with you in that effort.<\/p>\n
Powell\u00a0 (Nov. 13, 2012):<\/strong><\/p>\nI appreciate your thoughtful response. As much I would prefer a retraction \u2013 professionally researched and peer-reviewed \u2013 I appreciate your offer to consider a letter to the editor. Here is what I’d like to say:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn December 1989 the Journal of Interpersonal Violence published \u2018Stress Responses of Children to Sexual Abuse and
\nRitualistic Abuse in Day Care Centers\u2019 by Susan J. Kelley.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn December 1990 it published \u2018Ritualistic Child Abuse in a Neighborhood Setting\u2019 by Barbara Snow and Teena
\nSorensen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth these articles endorsed and promoted a concept \u2013 satanic (or sadistic) ritual abuse in day cares \u2013 that subsequent research has proven to be entirely false. Today no respected social scientist will argue otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Little Rascals and McMartin cases were but two manifestations of this moral panic of\u00a0 the 1980s and early 1990s. Less publicized prosecutions occurred across North America and as far away as New Zealand and Germany.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntold harm was done to defendants, families and child-witnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Journal of Interpersonal Violence should not allow these articles to stand as its last word on claims of day-care ritual abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conte (Jan. 18, 2013):<\/strong><\/p>\nI would suggest you consider several additional points:\u00a0 1) you cite research which proves ritual abuse “false.”\u00a0 I don’t think you need to do a comprehensive research review, but since JIV is a scholarly journal, you should cite some of the research you are referring to.\u00a0 I am not sure that this research “proves” that RA does not exist but rather raises questions.<\/p>\n
You might also make reference (if true) that no law enforcement investigation has every uncovered evidence that such “cults” exist.\u00a0 You also need to specify the harm that you feel these articles did.\u00a0 For example, does the term RA in the title imply belief that RA\u00a0exists?\u00a0 I don’t think you have to prove some harm, but be specific in what you believe the harm is.<\/p>\n
Also, and perhaps more importantly, if there are issues within the articles (i.e., not just the title) then describe what you see as the conceptual, methodological, etc., problems.<\/p>\n
We are probably going to invite the authors to respond, and if they choose to do so I will share their responses
\nbefore we publish your letter or their responses.<\/p>\n
Powell (Jan. 25, 2013):<\/strong><\/p>\nI appreciate your guidelines and hope to produce something that is not only publishable but also contributes to discussion of this issue.<\/p>\n
Conte (Sept. 4,\u00a0 2013):<\/strong><\/p>\nI am happy to work with you….<\/p>\n
Next: My second attempt to make my case in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"March 6, 2014 First of three posts Psychiatric Times isn\u2019t the only professional journal to\u00a0avoid reexamining\u00a0the \u201csatanic ritual abuse\u201d era. Other examples include\u00a0Nursing Research,\u00a0Child Abuse & Neglect\u00a0and\u00a0Relational Child and Youth Care Practice. The editors of each of these journals turned down my requests to retract their articles supporting and promoting the SRA moral panic. One […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1180"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2401,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180\/revisions\/2401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"140305Conte2\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlerascalsdaycarecase.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/140305Conte2.jpg\")
March 6, 2014<\/p>\n