Call for action on child exorcism (BBC)

[truthpusher]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4294417.stm


Victoria Climbie was killed by carers who claimed she was possessed

Call for action on child exorcism
Black church and community leaders are calling for action to protect children from the effects of exorcisms.

A spokeswoman for Africans Against Child Abuse (Afruca) said church leaders who believe in possession needed education on child protection.

(snip)

The Newsnight probe suggests some children are being beaten by parents trying to drive out evil spirits.

Afruca spokeswoman Debbie Ariyo said she was not surprised by the findings because the driving out of demons was known to be a widespread practice within the African churches.

"It's part and parcel of what churches do in terms of freeing people from what they see as the stranglehold of the devil.

Complete story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4294417.stm

[chickenscratching]

1. oh my oh my...i don't know what to say about this one...n/t

[bleedingheart]

2. This is a case of religion being used as justification to abuse or kill

sorry but this is just disgusting.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. neverdoubt for a minute that

Fundys believe in the "casting out of demons"

[Heyo]

4. Some people...

...are just not right in the head.

Heyo

[AndyTiedye]

5. Terrance Cottrell (age 8) Died When They Tried to Exorcise his Autism

Autistic boy dies at faith healing service
Police: Pastor's brother held on suspicion of child abuse

(CNN) -- An 8-year-old autistic boy died during a prayer service at a Milwaukee church that the pastor said was meant to heal him of "spirits," and the pastor's brother is facing child abuse charges, police said Sunday.

<snip>

Hemphill said the prayers were in accordance with Matthew 12:43, which says, "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it."

At the end of the prayers, one of the women noticed that Terrance was not breathing. One of the adults called 911, but when emergency services arrived around 11 p.m., the boy was dead, Hemphill said.
<snip>

Hemphill said Terrance was not restrained. (LIES!!)
<snip>
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Midwest/08/24/autistic.boy.death/

Preacher Guilty In Boy's Exorcism Death
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
July 9, 2004

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN--After deliberating just four hours, a jury convicted Ray Anthony Hemphill with felony physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm in the suffocation death of 8-year-old Terrance Cottrell Jr.
<snip>

Hemphill told police on the night of August 22, 2003 that he had been holding a series of special prayer services, described by some as exorcisms, over the previous three weeks to remove "evil spirits" of autism from Cottrell. Hemphill, who weighed 157 pounds, described how he would sit or lay on "Junior's" chest for up to two hours at a time, whispering into the boy's ear for the "demons" to leave his body.

Three women -- including the child's mother, Patricia Cooper -- described to police how they sat on Cottrell's arms and legs while Hemphill sat on his chest. One woman said she pushed down on the boy's diaphragm several times during the service.

At some point during the service, the boy stopped breathing.

<snip>

The medical examiner who performed Cottrell's autopsy told jurors he found signs of hemorrhaging in the boy's eye, a condition seen in cases of strangulation, or increased pressure to the vascular blood supply.

During closing arguments, Williams told the jury that Hemphill knew he was hurting Cottrell because the boy was struggling to get away. Williams said that children with autism do not like to be held or touched. Williams said Hemphill simply didn't care.

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/04/07/070904witerrance.htm

[Moderator]

6. kick to combine threads

[emad]

7. Churches investigated for 'beating devil' out of child worshippers

tIMES
By Nicola Woolcock



CHILD abuse detectives are investigating evangelical churches for alleged incidents of “beating demons” out of young worshippers.
Children accused of being possessed by evil spirits have been assaulted or forced to submit to terrifying exorcism ceremonies.

Specialist police units have been set up to deal with types of child abuse relatively new to Britain, including child trafficking, genital mutilation and forced marriage.

Abuse in places of worship is of particular concern and detectives believe they have uncovered the tip of an iceberg. At least one prosecution is under way as a result of work with African communities and churches in London.

Various methods of “rescuing” children from sorcery or possession have been uncovered, ranging from beatings to putting chilli powder in victims’ eyes. Others have suffered emotional abuse when traumatised during “deliverance” services.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1498755,00.html

[Dez]

8. Christians haven't changed

they've been beating children for centuries. They beat Jesus into my grandmother on the rez a long time ago. Some things never change.

[Catfight]

11. I wonder what behavior they are trying to get rid of? Must not be

abuse and violence, since they are advocating that. "You are evil for voicing an opinion unlike mine, I shall beat the evil out of you by using evil means," yeah...I really think religion will be the downfall of society...

violence,
prosecution,
undue killings,
sacrifice
beatings
hatred
possession
oppression
domination
ignorance
genocide


funny how love isn't equated with religion....

[Solly Mack]

9. She was beautiful little girl

This saddens me greatly.

[ernstbass]

10. Sickening