Titles are not important for us. Especially when dealing with a topic as hard to pin down as research on so-called "cults." However, they are important for CESNUR director Massimo Introvigne, who in the past regularly employed the titles of "Professor" and "sociologist". This might have been a rather amusing personal knack; the real problem, however, lies in the fact that Introvigne denies even former members of groups the right to speak because they "lack proper academic credentials". As soon as Massimo Introvigne got word of the fact that we wanted to discuss his titles, he sent a threatening letter (by the way to the wrong person, Martini, the author of a critical site on Scientology, probably confused by how similar "Martini" and "Martínez" sound) where, among other things, he wrote: Dear Mr Martini, The whole issue of course was non existent: we had never used the expression "false claims".
Hower, Introvigne's threatening message is dated July 20th, 1998. Since then, Introvigne has never again touched on the matter of his titles. We believe in dialogue and not in suing; however, since he has chosen suing instead of dialogue, this clearly means we were right.
And we did achieve one positive result: since then, Introvigne really has begun to use titles more sparingly and modestly (today he nearly always quite rightly introduces himself as "Dr" Introvigne).
We have never accused Massimo Introvigne of being incompetent: partial yes, but only rarely lacking in information.Therefore, the issue of titles could seem to be irrelevant.However, it is important because Introvigne does not claim (as would be his right) to be the spokesman for a current of researchers whom we can call "apologists". Rather, he claims to be the spokesman for all the academic world as far as cults are concerned, on the basis of his teaching for three days a year at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, the Roman centre of the controversial group of "Legionaries of Christ".
So let us take a look at this title.
First of all, it seems he has not been working at the institute for several years. However, far more important, it was the spokesman for the "Pontifical Athenaeum" who told us that it is not a university. On September 20th, 1998, we received a message from Carlos E. Sotelo Ibarra, L.C. [Legionary of Christ], writing to us privately in his capacity as a student at the "Athenaeum":
In your web site you suggest that the "Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum" is not recognized by the Holy See. This is incorrect, to say the least. While it is true that an Athenaeum is not a "University" (to qualify for the title it is required that a center have three or more faculties). It is recognized and listed by the Holy See among the "Atenei Romani" (Cfr. "Annuario Pontificio", 1998, p.1740). Of course by submitting this documentation we do not intend in any way to accuse Dr Introvigne of making "false claims." Miguel Martínez Marzo 2001  |