Blog Marco

Disappointing. To see an institution linked with the Christian community to be smeared in the public media - yet again (again? Hillsong already has a controversial regard following mainstream publicity in Current Affairs TV programs). This time its a scandal involving Mercy Ministries:

A SECRETIVE ministry with direct links to Gloria Jean's Coffees and the Hillsong Church has been deceiving troubled young women into signing over months of their lives to a program that offers scant medical or psychiatric care, instead using Bible studies and exorcisms to treat mental illness.

Government agencies such as Centrelink have also been drawn into the controversy, as residents are required to transfer their benefits to Mercy Ministries. There are also allegations that the group receives a carers payment to look after the young women.

It's sad really. Women who are in a real deep need of psychological/medical help are just given the bible for "medication". In this day an age? This stuff is still happening. The bible can help. Yes. But should not be the primary solution for people who are in the most dire of needs. The holy bible's teachings can be used effectively together with known medical solutions through medication and psychological treatment. Such programs like Mercy Ministries give the Christian faith and its teachings a bad name.

Mercy Ministries maintains a MySpace presence and a website - both professionally done - both websites give me the impression that when you sign up you will get helpful medical treatment. The But according to this indepth report by Ruth Pollard from Sydney Morning Herald they simply aren't.