Susan Claire Borowik

Susan Claire Borowik speaks on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, Jan. 2005. (See: Video Archives)

Susan Claire Borowik with Lonnie Davis

Susan Claire Borowik (Canadian; also known as Claire Borowik / Borowick) was born 1960 in Burlington, Ontario. She is currently the official international spokesperson for The Family International.

Ms. Borowik has described the atmosphere of The Family International's past similar to that of "a nudist colony," where sexual freedoms were taken for granted. She cites scholars who have said the sexual practices appeared to cause no harm to children.

Ms. Borowik has repeatedly and adamantly denied any responsibility by the group in Ricky Rodriguez's murder–sucide.

In the past, she has served as a Family leader in Argentina, and was married to Manuel José Sabatasso (nicknamed Cacho). She is currently partnered to Lonnie Davis.

Alleged criminal activity

Several ex-members of The Family have alleged that Borowik placed underage children that were entrusted to her care on sexual sharing schedules with adults in the Argentine home under her leadership during the late 1980s. Others have alleged that she engaged in sexual activity with underage males at that time and participated in conspiracies to kidnap and conceal children in the mid-1980s and early 1990s [1].

According to a December 14, 1993 story in the Toronto Star, a child that was placed in her care alleged that "Borowick's husband, Jose Manuel Sabatasso, raped her when she was 13 and that Borowick not only condoned the attack, but ordered her to have sex with with other leaders of the sect."

Borowik has denied these allegations and claimed that one of the alleged child abuse victims left the group "because she did not agree with the restrictions placed on sex between adults and minors."

In September 1993, Borowik was arrested by Argentine police in a series of raids on Family homes and charged with corruption of minors. Although she was subsequently released when an Argentine Federal Court of Appeals revoked the arrests of adults detained in the raids, that Court did not issue an acquittal of charges against Borowik. Her case was remanded back to a lower court with the stipulation of further investigation into the allegations. According to Borowik, the lower court did not review the case until 2004, at which time they granted final closure on July 27, 2004.

Press

• Chattanooga Times: Cult crackdown — September 3, 1993
• Toronto Star: 33-year-old Metro woman linked to sex-for-salvation cult — September 6 , 1993
• Toronto Star: Metro woman in 'sex cult' probe — September 6, 1993
• Hamilton Spectator: Burlington kin support alleged cult leader — September 7, 1993
• Toronto Star: Two Canadian cult members arrested in Argentina — September 7, 1993
• Toronto Star: Sect members face sex, abduction charges — September 8, 1993
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult includes brother of suspect woman — Sepetmeber 9, 1993
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult woman's jail treatment 'atrocious' — September 17, 1993
• Macleans: Not a normal family — September 20, 1993
• Hamilton Spectator: Cult leader fears AIDS scare at jail — December 11, 1993
• Toronto Star: 'We've been totally and falsely accused' Family mom insists — September 15 , 1993
• Hamilton Spectator: Burlington woman free in Argentina cult case — December 14, 1993
• Toronto Star: Argentine court frees Canadians in sex case — December 14, 1993

More information

• Falsely Accused and Jailed in Argentina — By Susan Claire Borowik, 1994
• Family Values — By Peter Frouman, February 2005
• My Reply to "An Open Letter From Ed Priebe to Family Members in Argentina" — By Hugo Gabutti, December 2000
• San Martin Court of Appeals, Case 81/89 "Cavazza, Juan C. and others, on Inf. Art.125, 139, 140, 142, Par.l, 142 bis, 210, 293 of the Code of Proceedings and art.3 of Law 23,592," Federal Court of San Isidro, 1 Sec.2 Office II, Reg. 443. Federal Judges: Horacio Enrique Prack, Alberto Mansur, Daniel Mario Rudi (dissented), Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 13, 1993. 127 pages. In Spanish. [2]
• Dissent of Juez Federal Daniel Mario Rudi in "causa seguida contra CAVAZZA, JUAN CARLOS Y OTROS S/ INFRACCION ART. 125 Y OTROS DEL CODIGO PENAL del Registro de la Secretaria No. 2 de la Sala II de esta Camara Federal de San Martin." December 13, 1993. 135 pages. In Spanish. [3]