‘Cult leaders say they love you. Then the brainwashing starts’
Published By admin
A black crucifix on the roof marks the house. Behind the walls, on a suburban street in the village of Los Molinos, shielded by thick hedges and iron gates, dozens of young women live under strict control.
The women dress like nuns, but they are not. They belong to the Daughters of Merciful Love, or Hijas de Amor Misericordioso (HAM), a Catholic religious association — not an official order of the church — that has branches across Spain, in Madrid, Seville and Toledo, and a male equivalent.
Residents of Los Molinos, near Madrid, say they see the women around the village walking to church twice a day. “They keep to themselves,” said one neighbour. “They have fixed smiles on their faces at all times. It looks like they’re in a trance.”
In July last year, the Daughters of Merciful Love was put under investigation by the Archdiocese of Madrid after “numerous complaints”. The Archdiocese found their activities had many of the attributes of a cult and limited them as a result, including banning them from admitting new members. HAM’s leader, María Milagrosa, known as “Marimi” to members, was removed by the cardinal of Madrid. Marimi was contacted for comment.
In recent weeks, about forty alleged victims or relatives of women and men, some of whom are still part of HAM, have spoken out, sharing details of alleged abuse in interviews with the Spanish media. They allege that within HAM there were “exorcisms” and food and sleep were restricted.
Read full article at link below
Content retrieved from: https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/cult-daughters-merciful-love-spain-zp6nr52xz.
