I have information at a few removes on that. A young member of our Friends Meeting in Kent was at university with a sibling of one of the secondary families, which was Quaker, concerned. The sibling was not at home when the raid took place. The sibling was not allowed to contact the rest of the children from that family, nor was allowed to give evidence or be interviewed by the social workers. Since the assumption should have been that, if true, that sibling would have been either a victim or involved in the abuse, that was odd.

Other stupidities were the local police believing that Quakers meeting in a circle was indicative of witchcraft, and the banning of the sending of Easter cards or messages, not only by family, but also by others in the Friends, as these could contain trigger images to control the children. (As I vaguely recall the discussion in Meeting, this may have even applied if no message was written. I think we sent something, and I think it was intercepted.)

It occurs to me that the areas of Africa where these activities have become apparent are also those where American evangelism has been active in stirring up violent opposition to homosexuals. It was American evangelism that influenced the social workers to identify not only Quakers as dangerous, but also the Church of Scotland.

Didn't someone once say something about divided houses?

Penny