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    RELIGION AND CHILD ABUSE NEWS: 

    AN ARCHIVE OF NEWS ITEMS* RELATED TO

    CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, OR INFRINGEMENT OF

    CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT.


    *Copyrighted materials appearing in this archive are provided

    solely for the Fair Use purposes of research and education.

    Tuesday
    06Jan

    Trapped in a Mormon Gulag

    DateTuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11:50AM

    from Pam's House Blend Blog - January 5, 2009

    By Eric Norwood
    Republished with author's permission
    Further info at Mormon Gulag



    This story is about Eric Norwood's personal experiences at a place called The Utah Boys Ranch, which models itself as a "tough-love" prep-school, but while Eric was there, he witnessed some unbelievable atrocities. It is a Mormon-funded and staffed facility, and religious indoctrination is a fundamental aspect of the school. There was sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, suicide, staff corruption, and escape. A major Utah political figure, Senator Chris Buttars, was the executive director while Eric was there.

    This is Eric's story:

    Click to read more ...

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    Tuesday
    06Jan

    No abuse charges laid at Grenville College

    DateTuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11:20AM

    Anglican Journal - Canada     January 5, 2009

    by Anglican Journal Staff

    The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced on Nov. 21 that no charges will be laid in connection with allegations of past abuse at the now-closed Grenville Christian College (GCC), a private school run by Anglican priests in the mid-1970s.

    Meanwhile, the diocese of Ontario said that its own inquiry into allegations of psychological and physical abuse involving two of its priests, one of whom served as headmaster for 20 years at GCC, has been delayed as a result of the OPP’s investigation and because its incorporated synod had been named defendant in a class action lawsuit filed by former students in October 2007.

    “The completion of the bishop’s inquiry remains delayed because the diocese cannot breach the rules of civil procedure as he (the bishop of the diocese of Ontario, George Bruce) would have direct contact with the various litigants if he resumed the canonical process,” said Archdeacon Wayne Varley, diocesan executive officer, in a message sent to members of the diocese. He explained that the diocese “operates according to the laws of the civil province of Ontario and the Criminal Code of Canada.” But, he said, “our pastoral responsibility continues to be stewards of Christ’s healing, justice and reconciliation within our parishes and the communities we serve in his name.”

    Archdeacon Varley said that Bishop Bruce intends to complete the investigation “at the appropriate time.”

    This article was found at:

    http://www.anglicanjournal.com/issues/2009/135/jan/01/article/no-abuse-charges-laid-at-grenville-college/
    ?cHash=e743ec3b93

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    Tuesday
    06Jan

    Shock, Relief In Masaka As Pastor Delivers ‘Demon-Possessed’ Kids

    DateTuesday, January 6, 2009 at 10:56AM

    Leadership - Nigeria               January 5, 2009

    by Comfort Onche

    Residents of Masaka in Nasarawa State heaved a sigh of relief recently as they were delivered from the activities of demon-possessed children by pastor Bawa J Madaki of Eternity Church Masaka.

    In recent times, Masaka and Nyanya-Gwandara both in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State, have allegedly been invaded by demon-possessed children who are said to have been tormenting the residents.

    It was gathered that when the situation became alarming, the founder of Eternity Independent Baptist Church, Masaka, was approached by some residents and he promised to come to their rescue. The pastor had reportedly been delivering children said to have been initiated into secret cults.

    Some of the residents and parents interviewed by LEADERSHIP expressed joy over the development.

    One of them, Mr. Tanko, a native of Kanfanchan, Kaduna State, based in Masaka, said his daughter Margaret was initiated into a secret cult without his knowing.

    He said: " I thank the Lord so much for bringing this man of God to Masaka. My daughter, Margaret, was initiated into secret cult by a lady in Masaka market where she was selling sugar cane without my knowledge". Since her initiation, things have been very rough for us; no peace in my house. Margaret, according to her confession, caused me to lose my job. She tied her mother's pregnancy, causing her several sicknesses which doctors could not heal.

    After her deliverance by Pastor Madaki, Margaret was said to have confessed that she was a great person in the spirit realm. Her name was "Queen Shiayet" given to her by the master of the cult. She said she had killed so many people by causing accidents on the road".

    Another resident of Nyanya-Gwandara, Papa Hawadu, whose grandson was initiated into a secret cult, said the mother of the boy had been sick for a very long time, and had been moving from one hospital to another without success.

    At last, she died. "After the death of his mother, the same boy started with me, inflicting me with various sickness. But thank God when we heard of Pastor Madaki, we rushed to his church at Masaka, where the boy (Besel by name) confessed all his activities: How he made his mother become emaciated like a HIV patient by sucking her blood. Thank God, he has been delivered at last".

    Masaka have heaved a sigh if relief and there are plans to continue bringing in such men of God in the future.

    This article was found at:

    http://leadershipnigeria.com/news/118/ARTICLE/4947/2009-01-05.html

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    Tuesday
    06Jan

    Scientology critics cite 2007 prediction of Jett Travolta's death

    DateTuesday, January 6, 2009 at 10:36AM

    Los Angeles Times Blogs

    The Dish Rag by Elizabeth Snead

    Avid critics of John Travolta's church, the Church of Scientology, are now linking to a website that eerily predicted his son Jett’s death in 2007.

    The critics claim that Jett was autistic and was not given the proper diagnosis and/or treatments because Scientology disapproves of psychiatric and drug treatment of autism, also rejecting psychiatry as a pseudo-science.

    A 2007 post on Hollywood Interrupted told of a meeting between a Florida restaurant manager named Tim Kenny, the father of an autistic child, and Travolta. Kenny is said to have asked Travolta what special treatment Jett was getting.

    "I don’t think it’s a stretch to call their treatment of Jett child abuse,” Ocala, Florida restaurant manager Tim Kenny tells Hollywood, Interrupted. Kenny claims he met Travolta at his restaurant in February, and, after “comping” the movie star and his daughter a meal per restaurant policy for celebrities, he asked him, “as one autistic child’s father to another,” if he “was doing anything special in terms of therapy” for Jett. Aghast, Travolta responded, “Well, we involve him in the arts.” Then, he offered to send Kenny a book, and high-tailed it out of the restaurant.

    “If I ever received a Scientology book from him [Travolta], I’d find him, and throw it back at him,” says Kenny. “Scientology is keeping him from acknowledging his son’s autism. They see it as a weakness. That’s what the space aliens are telling him I guess.”

    In an article in the Telegraph, the couple's lawyer, Marty Singer, said claims that the Travoltas were negligent in their care of Jett were outrageous.

    "The Travoltas are wonderful, loving parents, and their priority is their children," he said. "They have [taken] and they continue to take the best possible care of their children. To suggest anything to the contrary is very hurtful to a loving family and also would be false and defamatory."

    A posting on the Anonymous forum at Why We Protest, details how the church will handle Jett's death. Here's another posting from former Scientologist Michael Pattinson on Jett's death and the church's reaction.

    What do you think?

    This article was found at:

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/01/avid-critics-of.html

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    Monday
    05Jan

    'Violent' teacher still working at temple

    DateMonday, January 5, 2009 at 11:18AM

    Borehamwood Times - UK     January 5, 2009

    by Filip Hnizdo

    A former religious leader found guilty of beating children continues paid work at a Letchmore Heath temple despite being banned from leadership and teaching roles.

    In July, Gauri Das, former president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Letchmore Heath, was found responsible for inflicting “inappropriate and excessive corporal punishment” on students between 1991 and 2001.

    Victims of the man's abuse have expressed “disgust” at an “insensitive” decision to continue employing him at the Hare Krishna temple.

    Following statements given by 17 former students of the Vrndavana Gurukula school in India and three adults, the child protection branch of the International Society for Krishna Conciousness (ISKCON) banned Gauri Das from serving in a position of leadership and giving classes for three years.

    Despite this ban, chairman of the temple's management board, Sruiti Dharma, admitted Gauri Das was working on various projects in a part-time role at the temple but did not say what these projects were, how much was being paid or if they were temporary or permanent.

    Temple spokesperson Radha Mohan Das added there was “nothing controversial” about the employment and that it was in line with ISKCON's ruling as Gauri Das was not serving as an officer or leader.

    Michael Powell, father of one of the students who gave evidence against the former religious teacher, said: “As a father of one of the children involved in the escapades I'm really surprised they've re-employed this guy. A lot of folks will view this decision with disgust.

    “They won't reveal what he's doing or how much he is getting paid. They've just moved him to the wings for three years before they can re-instate him. There's certainly something fishy about it and it's not very nice at all.”

    The Borehamwood resident, who has been a member of the temple for 30 years, said: “He gets three years for child abuse and in three weeks he is re-employed. It beggars belief and is shameful. It doesn't take into consideration the sensitivities of the people involved.

    “They advertised him as a spiritual head of the largest Hare Krishna temple in the UK but he's not fit to serve.”

    This article was found at:

    http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/4019767._Violent__teacher_
    still_working_at_temple/