Apparent Gay Exorcism in Conn. Church Causes Outrage

[Gawdzilla Sama]

(Internal links and video at URL below.)
Apparent Gay Exorcism in Conn. Church Causes Outrage

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WPIX) - A video which shows an exorcism of a teen to drive out apparent "homosexual demons" has sparked outrage among several gay rights activists.

The video, which was posted on YouTube, features church elders from the Manifested Glory Ministries Church in Bridgeport performing the exorcism on the boy who is said to be 16-years-old.

"Right now I command you to leave!" screamed one of the church leaders involved with the exorcism in the video.

The teenager is seen rolling around on the ground, moaning and screaming - at one point he even vomits.

Although it was never confirmed to be a gay exorcism, repeated references to the subject's sexual orientation suggests it was.

"Right now in the name of Jesus, I call the homosexuality, right now in the name of Jesus," a church elder is heard screaming to the teen.

It's unclear when the 20 minute video was made or if the teen suffered any physical injuries from what appeared to be near seizures.

Although the exorcism appears to be the first one of its kind captured on video, advocacy groups for gay youths say the practice happens all the time.

"I think it's horrifying," Robin McHaelen, executive director of True Colors, told the Associated Press, referring to the video posted by Manifested Glory's now-defunct YouTube page. "What saddens me is the people that are doing this think they are doing something in the kid's best interests, when in fact they're murdering his spirit."

True Colors is just one of many advocacy groups for gay youths who are calling the video abuse and want authorities to get involved.

McHaelen said she plans on reporting the incident to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

The video has since been taken down from YouTube, however the footage is still making its rounds on the internet.

[charlou]

"What saddens me is the people that are doing this think they are doing something in the kid's best interests, when in fact they're murdering his spirit."

Yep.

True Colors is just one of many advocacy groups for gay youths who are calling the video abuse and want authorities to get involved.

McHaelen said she plans on reporting the incident to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

I'd like to see more of this, and I'd like to see it result in some recognition in legislature, and real action.

Fucking ignoramuses.

[Hermit]

"Right now I command you to leave!" screamed one of the church leaders involved with the exorcism in the video. ..."Right now in the name of Jesus, I call the homosexuality, right now in the name of Jesus,"

For fuck's sake, is this the the 21st century or the 12th?

Worse than that, the practise of is not confined to members of the bat shit crazy fringe of the religious spectrum: exorcism is still a recognised practise of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox and some branches of Protestantism, such as Methodism and Pentecostalism. The Anglican Church also has an official exorcist in each diocese.* Pope John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła) personally performed an exorcism on a 19-year-old Italian woman in the year 2000, and the current Pope, Ratzinger, has participated in several others,** and late in 2007 he has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.*** Worst of all, this primitive hocus pocus has not yet been drowned by a universal outburst of laughter.

:pissed:

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism
** http://home.att.net/~revdak/spir243/exorcism.htm
*** http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Satan.html

[charlou]

Worst of all, this primitive hocus pocus has not yet been drowned by a universal outburst of laughter.

:pissed:

Universal ridicule could be more dissuasive, yes.

I moved the rationalia version of not taking it seriously to a new thread in The Pub (viewable to logged in members).

[Pappa]

Worst of all, this primitive hocus pocus has not yet been drowned by a universal outburst of laughter.

:pissed:

Universal ridicule could be more dissuasive, yes.

That's when they get most defensive though. I've laughed at stupid religious beliefs in front of religious people several times, they really don't like it.

[RPizzle]

Why are people so dumb?