An investigation has revealed the abusive and coercive practices carried out by the Philadelphia Temple in Argentina. According to the initial complaint filed in December 2018, victims were subjected to labor exploitation and reduced to servitude. The process of capturing followers was carried out gradually, offering prosperity and blessings in exchange for loyalty to the Lord.
The Philadelphia Temple had branches in different locations in Argentina, as well as in neighboring countries such as Brazil and Paraguay. Congregants would leave their children in these temples, leaving them at the disposal of the local leaders. Physical and psychological punishments were described, including beatings, insults, and humiliating situations in case of disobedience to the rules imposed by the organization.
The investigation has revealed that the criminal structure of the organization allowed for the capturing and transferring of vulnerable individuals under false promises of improving their living conditions. Victims were forced to work in various tasks, from product manufacturing to agricultural labor, all under an environment of coercion and extreme control.
Raids conducted as part of this investigation led to the detention of 25 individuals accused of labor exploitation and reduction to servitude. Significant sums of money, notebooks with accounting entries, documentation of the organization's properties, and other items of interest were found.
In addition to punishments and labor exploitation, victims had to comply with rigorous indoctrination methods, including the formation of couples supposedly chosen by God and the prohibition of contact with outsiders. It was also detailed that many victims were transferred to Brazil and Paraguay, where branches of the Philadelphia Temple existed.
At an annual event known as "The Lord's Festivals," meetings and religious activities were held that ended with prophecies pronounced by the leader Eva Petrona Pereyra. The abusive practices discovered in this case have uncovered a network of exploitation and abuse that has affected a significant number of individuals who fell under the control of the Philadelphia Temple.