Luis Santamaría speaks about sects

Luis Santamaría del Río, a researcher for the Red Iberoamericana de Estudio de las Sectas (RIES), stated that sects exploit both societal gaps and shortcomings within the Church. Speaking during an interview on the diocesan program El Espejo, Santamaría noted that these groups do not always appear religious, sometimes masking manipulation and control behind personal growth programs, therapies, or cultural activities.

Santamaría, who also consults for the Comisión de Relaciones Interconfesionales of the Conferencia Episcopal Española, provided the inaugural lecture for the first edition of a diploma program in psychological abuse and sects at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSA). He estimated that approximately 1% of the Spanish population, or more than 400,000 people, belong to such groups. The program has begun its first session with 17 students.