Are gay exorcisms child abuse?

From Religion Clause: The June issue of Details Magazine reports on exorcism rituals practices by some Pentecostal and Evangelical churches across the country aimed at driving out demons which are deemed by them to be the cause of homosexuality.

The article focuses in particular on 20-year old Kevin Robinson of Enfield, Connecticut who has undergone gay exorcism at least ten times since he was 16. Many who undergo these exorcisms are minors. Prosecutors and child welfare agencies are reluctant to interfere with the practice because of First Amendment religious freedom concerns. Yesterday's Boston Edge also reports on the gay exorcism phenomenon.

Many of those who undergo gay deliverance are minors, and critics like Herrington and Toscano question whether child abuse is taking place. "For a young person, being told that you house evil, that you're basically a mobile home for evil spirits—that is a very, very damaging concept," says Toscano. "It's one of the most extreme manifestations of the anti-gay rhetoric within the church."

Even some Christians who are intolerant of homosexual behavior worry about the practice. "It is dangerous," says the Reverend DL Foster, a preacher in Atlanta who defines himself as ex-gay, though he still acknowledges homosexual desires, and preaches against tolerance of the gay lifestyle. "It can fuel lots of self-destructive behavior . . . If you have been told that a demon is possessing you and you feel powerless to do anything about it, eventually you're going to accept it."


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Posted by Ann Fontaine on June 9, 2010 11:30 AM | |
Comments (4)

Why do things that are cloaked in religion get a pass?

This whole freedom of exercise things seems to be rapidly heading towards abuse. Where do we draw the line? How do we make it bright?

Stories like this have me leaning New Atheist. Maybe the danger in religion is that so many of the more stupid claims made by some religionists are closed to empirical verification. As a result, we are unable to say, No, that's wrong. Is it unreasonable to expect things that are not-empirically verifiable to bow to those things that are in this regard.

In other cases I've though many times that being a bigot in the name of God does not whitewash one's bigotry; it merely assigns the same bigotry to God as well.

With Justice Souter's recent Harvard commencement address in mind I ask: How is the First Amendment intended to protect those who endanger child welfare?

Posted by Grant Chaput [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 9, 2010 12:45 PM

I love this: a preacher in Atlanta who defines himself as ex-gay, though he still acknowledges homosexual desires

Hello? If he still has the desires, then he is still gay.

I've seen the abuse as described in this article; it is horrible to witness. If there is any "demon possession," the possessed are those performing the "exorcisms".

James Holloway

Posted by polysloguy [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 9, 2010 2:28 PM

Ann, my one word answer to your question in the title of the post: Yes!!

June Butler

Posted by GrandmèreMimi [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 9, 2010 5:41 PM

I second GrandmèreMimi.

Posted by The Rev. Richard E. Helmer [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 9, 2010 7:28 PM

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