The Family urged its members to disregard media reports about Rodriguez and Smith, and a spokesperson for the group said reports neglected to show Smith as a victim. Former members' reactions to the death ranged from calling it "a monumental event" in The Family's history to a devastating situation that was "the only way anybody's listening" to stories of abuse within the group. Experts on cults noted that while murder was unjustifiable, Rodriguez's anger towards members of The Family was understandable, with cult specialist Rick Alan Ross describing his suicide as one of the many major outcomes of someone who suffered in "one of the most horrifically abusive and destructive cults in American history".[1]
While growing up in the COG, Rodriguez was frequently exposed to adults engaging in sexual intercourse at Berg's home as part of the group members' sexual "sharing".[3] When he was ten months old, Zerby and Berg asked Sara, one of Rodriguez's nannies, to start creating a document titled "The Davidito Book" (also referred to as "The Story of Davidito"). The book contains descriptions of sexual interactions between the child Rodriguez and adults,[4] most of which was previously sent out to members in the form of pamphlets called Davidito letters.[8][9]
the story of davidito book
Download: https://urlcod.com/2vGzdO
Stephen A. Kent, a professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta, said while Rodriguez was unjustifiable in the murder, one "can understand his frustration and rage" because "he and others from that generation" had never seen justice "from all the abuse they suffered".[31] Rick Alan Ross, a cult researcher who had interviewed numerous former members of The Family, noted that Rodriguez reflected the many suicides of those who suffered "tremendous amount of pain" from being in "one of the most horrifically abusive and destructive cults in American history".[1] Don Lattin, a journalist and author who spent two years studying Rodriguez' motives for the murder, published a book called Jesus Freaks. He believed Rodriguez was a "time bomb" waiting to go off because he exhibited aggressive tendencies and expressed guilt for other victims' abuse. According to Lattin, the abuse was not accounted for because "there's a statute of limitations. A lot of this happened a long time ago outside of the U.S. by people who kept constantly changing their names ... So even the victims, the kids themselves, often don't know who abused them".[13]
Roselle was sad rather than angry the murder-suicide took place. He said; "the only way anybody's listening" to the stories of abuse within the group "is that Rick and Angela died".[2] He also said Rodriguez' suicide brought the total of suicides in his peer group to 30,[32] but that he considered Rodriguez' abuse to be one of the worst cases from The Family.[24] John LaMattery, a former second-generation leader, said Rodriguez' death was "a monumental event" in The Family's history and predicted that the group would "spin it" in an attempt to disregard unfulfilled prophecies and attempt "damage control".[21] He also believed Rodriguez killed Smith because he could not find Zerby.[7]
After Rodriguez' death, former members of The Family made similar allegations of abuse.[33] For example, Juliana Buhring, co-author of the book Not Without My Sister (which details her family's experiences within the cult), mentioned that most of the children she and people like Rodriguez grew up with in the cult were sexually abused. She empathized with the rage he felt, especially when he had "no closure" and "no restitution" for it.[34]
In an internal memo, Zerby told followers of The Family that reporters were trying to "make Ricky look like a hero and role model" rather than a perpetrator of a crime.[11] In another memo, which was sent to an estimated 12,000 followers, Amsterdam urged followers to disregard media reports and internet news about the murder-suicide and said Rodriguez was "overcome by the enemy and forces of darkness" and that Zerby is "the sweetest, most loving person I know". He also said people were "exploiting this tragedy" to hurt him, Zerby, and The Family in an effort to "tear down our work for the Lord".[21] Techi stated in a letter she became "deeply disturbed" after learning about Rodriguez's death, and that he was not an angry person when she knew him.[7] The Ricky Rodriguez Memorial Site (RickyRodriguez.com), which was managed by The Family, included "never before published photos" of Zerby and "messages from Jesus".[19] The site was not renewed and does not exist anymore. Claire Borowik, the spokesperson for The Family, said both deaths were tragic but that media reports portrayed Smith as an offender and Rodriguez as a victim. She said Smith was never Rodriguez' nanny but had only visited him and that The Family gave him "ample financial and emotional support" when he wanted to become independent.[36] Borowik also compared Rodriguez' upbringing to one in "a nudist colony" and cited scholars who argue sexual practices similar to those of The Family do not harm children.[4] In regards to the "Davidito" prophecy, Borowik said The Family "knew that Davidito wasn't fulfilling that prophecy" because prophecies of the group were always "dependent on man's choices".[6] Borowik also said former members, whom she called apostates, failed to move Rodriguez in "positive directions" and wanted "to do damage to our movement".[4] She criticized Lattin's book for "inaccuracies, misconceptions and erroneous conclusions", and "sketchy research".[13]
In her terrifying forthcoming memoir, Sex Cult Nun: Breaking Away from the Children of God, a Wild, Radical Religious Cult, Faith chronicles her life growing up in the Family. The book reads like a horror story mixed with true crime and a recounted nightmare, all intertwined to recreate her real-life experiences.
The Family prohibited members from having contact with most of mainstream society, known as the Systemites. Moses David disseminated all news and information through newsletters called the Mo Letters and Kidz True Comics, the latter a version of the former in comic-book form.
AbeBooks
Amazon
Find in a library
All sellers
Get Textbooks on Google PlayRent and save from the world's largest eBookstore. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone.
Note: Due to the extreme nature of this publication, I will not be displaying the entire book. There are certain things in this area of research that I cannot tolerate and do not wish to exploit, out of respect for the victims of this pernicious and contemptuous cult. To see and read more go to _of_Davidito
The Story of Davidito (Ricky Rodriguez), commonly referred to as the Davidito book, was a 762-page book published by The Family International in Spain in 1982. It consisted of a compilation of a publication series known as the Davidito Letters, which were circulated from about 1975 until 1981.[1] According to the Pubdex, 2700 copies were printed and distributed to Family Homes around the world. It was intended to be an example of child rearing. The early years of the second generation were influenced by the style of childcare in the book, and sexual liberties were a part of the second generation's childhood to varying degrees, depending on the commune.
While the stated intent was not to harm the children, the support for and advocation of pedophilia ultimately wrought harm to many children. The Family later ordered this book to be heavily sanitized and, eventually, destroyed completely. In 1997, The Family published a revised version titled Dito: His Early Years.Davidito, the example case here, ultimately murdered one of his former nannies mentioned here and subsequently took his own life in 2005.
"As you may know, it was brought to our attention this weekend that one of our staff members, Sara Stevenson has a background that is against the mission and beliefs of Seeds of Hope. We have taken down our Facebook/Instagram pages until directed by government officials to put them back up.We would like to thank those who took the steps in bringing this information to our attention. Seeds of Hope has taken affirmative action and requested the immediate resignation from Sara Stevenson. Her ties with Seeds of Hope are severed.
The Story of Davidito (Ricky Rodriguez), commonly referred to as the Davidito book, was a 762-page book published by The Family International in Spain in 1982. It consisted of a compilation of a publication series known as the Davidito Letters, which were circulated from about 1975 until 1981.[1] According to the Pubdex, 2700 copies were printed and distributed to Family Homes around the world. It was intended to be an example of child rearing. The early years of the second generation were influenced by the style of childcare in the book, and sexual liberties were a part of the second generation's childhood to varying degrees, depending on the commune.
While the stated intent was not to harm the children, the support for and advocation of pedophilia ultimately wrought harm to many children. The Family later ordered this book to be heavily sanitized and, eventually, destroyed completely. In 1997, The Family published a revised version titled Dito: His Early Years.
36 Sex!: Little David stood watching through the pool fence as a couple made love in the water. He imitated every motion by wiggling his bottom and his right hand up and down, then went into the house to show Mommy the story of how to goose a girl!
Born into the religious cult, The Children of God, Rick was raised by his mother, Karen Zerby and cult founder, David Berg as Berg's heir-apparent. Rick was a poster child for the cult's perverse practices, which included the mandatory practices for followers to engage in incest and sexual abuse of children on daily schedules. A 726 page book about Rick, "The Story of Davidito," was published (in Spain) showing photos of Rick growing up to the age of three. The book, now banned for sale, has many photos of Rick being proudly sexually abused as a child by his nannies and others in the cult (that now goes by The Family International.) Rick left the cult with a chip on his shoulder at the age of 20, very angry at his role in the organization he came to despise. 2ff7e9595c
Comments