The Abduction of Credibility: A Reply to John Paley

Correspondence to Liz Kelly, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, Ladbroke House, 62-66 Highbury Grove, London, N5 2AD Summary This response takes issue with John Paley's paper ‘SatanistAbuse and Alien Abduction’ (this issue) in a number ofareas: his definition of Satanic ritual abuse (SRA); the parallelshe draws between SRA and alien abduction; his assertions thatthere is no evidence of SRA and that accounts of SRA can beviewed as urban legends; and his ‘temporal lobe connection’conclusion.     

Contract or Con Trick? A Reply to Rojek and Collins

Correspondence should be sent to Leeds Family Service Unit, 15 Lavender Walk, Leeds 9, Yorkshire. Summary In this paper we identify some major misconceptions in a paperwhich appeared earlier in this journal. We argue that contractwork has been misunderstood and that contracts can be used effectivelyand without dishonesty. In particular, the point is made thatcontracts are a practical working concept which offers a meansof discussing and resolving clashes in perspective and of modifyingthe unequal power balance between clients and social workers.