Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 178
and not just a ―he said she said‖ contest. Chris Bernard, Portsmouth Herald, Internet,
8/22/04)
St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission
Mentally Ill Patients Mistreated
Eight mentally ill patients at St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission, in the East Rand, near
Johannesburg, South Africa, were unshackled following pressure from the Gauteng
Association for Mental Health and the Human Rights Commission. The patients were
shackled in order to ―drive their demons out,‖ and ―for their own safety,‖ according to a
mission spokesman. ―These people do funny things. They could run around and damage
themselves or church property‖ because they are possessed by demons. ―We have
unshackled them because the health department says what we were doing is wrong. Now
we do not want to go against the government.‖
Gauteng Association manager Kevin Lancaster says people often think the mentally ill are
possessed, and that while prayer has a place in healing, a church ought not to keep people
form the medical and psychiatric help they need. (Marida Fitzpatrick, News24.com [South
Africa], Internet, 8/4/04 SABC News, Internet, 10/13/04)
and not just a ―he said she said‖ contest. Chris Bernard, Portsmouth Herald, Internet,
8/22/04)
St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission
Mentally Ill Patients Mistreated
Eight mentally ill patients at St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission, in the East Rand, near
Johannesburg, South Africa, were unshackled following pressure from the Gauteng
Association for Mental Health and the Human Rights Commission. The patients were
shackled in order to ―drive their demons out,‖ and ―for their own safety,‖ according to a
mission spokesman. ―These people do funny things. They could run around and damage
themselves or church property‖ because they are possessed by demons. ―We have
unshackled them because the health department says what we were doing is wrong. Now
we do not want to go against the government.‖
Gauteng Association manager Kevin Lancaster says people often think the mentally ill are
possessed, and that while prayer has a place in healing, a church ought not to keep people
form the medical and psychiatric help they need. (Marida Fitzpatrick, News24.com [South
Africa], Internet, 8/4/04 SABC News, Internet, 10/13/04)
