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Ten adults from a Lima community were charged with corrupting and offending public morals by means of allegedly obscene actions and publications. In the final verdict delivered on July 30, 1990, the presiding judge concluded:
An analysis of the alleged acts, on the basis of personal inspection carried out by the court personnel, has not proven in any way whatsoever any acts or activities contrary to the morals and the good customs, and much less has there been any evidence of corruption of minors or of women, but instead we have found that in a private fashion they spiritually exercise their freedom of religion in a way which is compatible with their own personal customs.1
Peru
Lima: September 1993-December 14, 1993
After the highly publicized raids on Family communities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 1, 1993, Family communities throughout South America mobilized in a proactive campaign to prevent any such action being taken in their respective countries. In Peru, negative news reports about the Family surfaced as critics attempted to goad the government into action. As a preemptive measure, local Family representatives approached the District Attorney's office requesting that an investigation of their communities be conducted.
The District Attorney's investigation lasted nearly two months. After a thorough inquiry, the Lima Ad Hoc Prosecutor, Rebeca Fuentes Sanchez, presented her report to the General Attorney's office, excerpts of which stated:
After conducting the necessary inquiries; examining the sworn statements of members of the group; verifying [all aspects of] the premises in which the aforementioned religious fellowship holds its activities; gathering a considerable amount of documentation about the group; analyzing its publications and official statements; performing medical, gynecological, psychological and psychiatric examinations on the children as well as footprint identification studies; as a result of the inquiries carried out on the premises, and information gathered by a number of governmental and law enforcement agencies such as, DIVISE [anti-kidnapping], DIRANDRO [narcotics], INTERPOL, Missing Persons Division, Immigrations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SUNAT [National Revenue Service], as well as different written and televised material gathered from media sources, and additional information collected by this Office in the course of the investigation; according to which this office has been able to establish that no evidence was found of irregularities in the legal status of any of the minors of the communities. There is no sign of neglect or failure to provide their essential needs, such as adequate diet, housing, and dress.
Although their views constitute a rather peculiar interpretation of the Gospels, in no way is this legally questionable nor can it substantiate criminal charges. According to results of medical, gynecological, psychological, and psychiatric examinations performed on the children there is no evidence whatsoever of moral or physical damage nor signs of psychosis. Therefore such probabilities remain unsubstantiated.
After extensive, thorough, and drawn-out investigations on the activities and behavior of members of the communities in our country, we have not been able to find the slightest shred of evidence to substantiate any of the allegations of supposed criminal offenses, illegal activities or immoral behavior. Therefore having completed all pertinent inquiries in accordance with resolution N. 1143-93-MP-FN this Ad-Hoc District Attorney's Office resolves: "There are no merits to press charges in the case, therefore this investigation is to be closed."
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Footnotes:
1 Judicial file number 307-87,
Lima, Peru, July 30, 1990.