The faith-healing parents of Alayna May Wyland are fighting to get custody of their daughter back, even as they face criminal charges for their neglect of her medical needs. [...] Their daughter was taken into custody by the state in early July and sent for immediate medical treatment. At that time, neither the name of their daughter nor her condition were available. The image above was taken by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. In it, Rebecca Wyland is holding Alayna, who has a massive growth completely covering her left eye. The growth, a hemangioma, is a mass of blood vessels. Some infants are born with them, and they are typically corrected while very small. In this case, the Wylands chose not to take their daughter to a doctor. Instead, Rebecca Wyland anointed her daughter with oil and wiped off the discharge from Alayna’s eye each time she changed the child’s diaper. At this point, the growth has begun to erode Alayna’s eye socket, and may have caused permanent damage to her eye. Both parents have been charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment, a Class C felony which may earn them each five years in prison.

Article continues.  See my previous essay Child Sacrifice in Oregon to learn more about the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, Oregon.  Of course every good Christian knows Christianity doesn’t say that you should pray for sick people and put oil on them instead of offer them medical care. Of course every good Christian knows that Psalms 103:2-3, Matthew 10:1, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 19:26, Mark 6:13, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, Luke 18:27, Acts 28:8-9, and James 5:14-15 don’t exist.  Because if those verses did exist, it might turn out that the parents of Alayna May Wyland were the real ‘good Christians’ and the rest were just picking up the bits they liked from the Jesus salad bar and leaving the rest.

via youtube.

via youtube.

A couple in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi have been charged with murdering their baby daughter as part of an alleged “black magic” ritual. Officers found the body of the four-month-old girl buried in the couple’s house, a court heard. Doctors say it had been there for about four days. They believe the couple were planning to murder their second daughter, a girl of three, who police found tied up.

Telegraph: Saudi ‘Sorcerer’ Who Raped 100 Sentenced to Death

He first drew them in by saying he could cast love spells, but then surreptitiously filmed their meeting and used his work for extortion and to rape them

Sky News: Russian Orthodox Believers Hospitalised After Drinking Holy Water

Those affected, including 48 children, are being treated in hospital for acute intestinal pain after drinking water from wells around a local church last week.

Seattle Times: Accused Killer Scattered Body Parts, Prosecutors Say

Christensen told police the text message was evidence Harlan had broken a “Wiccan blood oath” she’d made to break off a relationship with the other man, prosecutors allege.

Yahoo! News: Motivational Speaker Charged in Sweat Lodge Deaths

About halfway through the two-hour ceremony, some began feeling ill, vomiting and collapsing inside the 415-square-foot structure. Despite that, Ray urged participants to push past their physical weaknesses and chided those who wanted to leave, authorities and participants have said. Two people – Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee – passed out inside the sweat lodge and died that night at a hospital. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., slipped into a coma and died a week later. Eighteen others were hospitalized.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Witch-Hunt Victim Recounts Torture Ordeal

Those who beat, punched and kicked Kalli Biswokarma, 47, accused her of casting evil spells on a schoolteacher who had fallen ill in the village of Pyutar, 40 kilometres south of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

The Boston Globe: Haiti Calls Upon Voodoo Priests for Help

Beauvoir said the priests are counting among their own people, so they expect accurate numbers. He is confident the religious and scientific perspectives will not clash. In a nation where government barely functions, and where more than half the population of 9 million is believed to practice voodoo in some form, the assistance of these priests is considered critical to better assess the situation. The priests in Haiti dispense unofficial justice and cater to religious needs.

BBC: Voodoo Religion’s Role in Helping Haiti’s Quake Victims

“Some Christian communities do not want to give food to voodoo followers”

7online.com: Mom, Grandma Charged in Child Voodoo Burning

A mother and grandmother in Queens were charged Thursday with performing a voodoo ritual that left a 6-year-old girl – scarred for life. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said 29-year-old Marie Lauradin and 70-year-old Sylvenie Thessier allegedly used an accelerant to set fire to the child, who suffered life-threatening injuries during the incident in February.

BBC: Child Sorcery in DR Congo

12 year-old, Henri, which is not his real name, points at a large fresh looking scar on his midriff. “People accused me of sorcery and my mother believed them,” he says. “Look, here on my stomach. She tried to kill me with a knife. It really hurt and I cannot understand why my mother did it.”

BBC: Indian Children ‘Sacrifice’ Probe

Five children poisoned to death in a village in India may have been “sacrificed”, police say. They say that the children were killed in Maharashtra state by a childless couple in a suspected black magic ritual to enable them to conceive.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: 12 Children Die During Bad Luck Ceremony

Twenty-five children were rescued with minor injuries but 12 others – all below the age of 12 – were swept away in strong currents. The children were watching a ritual ceremony to dispel misfortune after a measles outbreak in the area. The adults were throwing offerings in the form of chickens into the river when the bridge collapsed, the official said.

All articles continue at links. Part three of a series, see also [1][2].  Magick is disappointing at best, murderous at worse.  No outcome can be known before an experiment is made.  Experiments that seem foolish may yield wonderful results.  But when outcomes are known then ignored in favor of conviction or passion (magick, religion, superstition) then the worst sort of outcomes will become normal.   For example, if one child sacrifice didn’t work then try two.  Meanwhile genuine solutions to problems (measles vaccines) or acceptance of situations that perhaps cannot be changed or are not so terrible (lack of love) are cast aside.  Magick might disappoint but make people feel better for trying.  Reason and compassion disappoint less and make people feel better for trying.  Where people are guided by reason and compassion, they do not elect for child sacrifice.  The number of people sacrificing children is small, but it would grow smaller still were the ‘nice’ magickians around them to be less satisfied with their disappointments in magick and turn to other pursuits.  Without the camouflage of the mean, the extreme withers.

Three Catholic women’s communities in Washington state are being investigated by the Vatican. They were chosen for review as part of an extensive investigation into American nuns. The Vatican says it’s following up on complaints of feminism and activism. The Archdiocese of Seattle says the Adrian Dominicans in Woodway, the Renton Sisters of Providence and the Tacoma Dominicans are on the list. Sister Joyce Cox is the Archbishop’s Delegate for Religious. She says it’s not clear what this latest development — or the entire investigation — means.  Cox: “Ordinarily visitations are made because there is something of great concern, or some place of scandal or not having integrity to the origins of our life.”  But Cox says none of that applies.  Cox: “Not one of our religious communities in our leadership whom we’ve elected has stood out to speak against the Church. The leadership has never spoken out in negative ways.” [...]

It’s not clear why the local orders are being singled out. The Renton Sisters of Providence run a women’s transition house. The Tacoma Dominicans call themselves risk takers. They work to end human trafficking. The Vatican questionnaire also asks about the age of current members and the state of their housing. The Adrian Dominicans in Woodway are down to about 30 elderly members. Church investigators say they’ll report to Rome next year.

Article continues.  Thank heaven that the Vatican is starting to get serious about the scandals surrounding the Roman Catholic Church.  What better way to route out the sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope than by sending surveys to obedient nuns in Washington State?  The Pope has a history of getting his priorities straight and acting accordingly.  Franciscan monk Leonardo Boff authored a book in which he said “A cardinal like J. Ratzinger, who publishes an official paper stating that the only true Church is the Catholic Church, and the others aren’t even churches, that the only legitimate religion is Catholicism and the others don’t even possess a faith, being just beliefs, perpetrates religious terrorism, besides being a grave theological error.” For this and his human rights activism, Cardinal Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict – silenced Brother Boff for a year.  According to Wikipedia, theological formation schools were forbidden from using the Catholic Church’s organization and grounds to teach Liberation Theology under Cardinal Ratzinger’s influence.  I’m no fan of Marx or Jesus, but the good works of religious secularists remain good works.  Feed the hungry and visit those in prison for the worship of the Lord or for the furtherance of historical materialism, or maybe because it’s a decent thing to do, just make sure you lighten the load of others when you can.

Although Pope Benedict only confirmed then inherited the problem of sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope, rather than inventing it, he is in a unique position to do something about it.  He could simply renounce the Crimine Solicitaciones. His Holiness recently said sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope “is born from the sins within the church,” which comes pretty close to admitting error. Unfortunately for his job security, it also comes close to admitting Papal error. Remember, this is sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope – an infallible pope. Here’s what Vatican II had to say about the Pope making mistakes: “[The Pope] enjoys in virtue of his office, when, as the supreme shepherd and teacher of all the faithful, who confirms his brethren in their faith (Luke 22:32), he proclaims by a definitive act some doctrine of faith or morals. Therefore his definitions, of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church, are justly held irreformable, for they are pronounced with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, an assistance promised to him in blessed Peter.”  Never you mind that they’ve changed the rules one or two or three or more times in the past.  The Pope’s definitions of faith or morals are irreformable.  Until they reformable.  Then – it’s a miracle!  A new revelation!  Thank you Jesus!

Whatever it takes to stop sheltering child rapists on orders of the Pope is okay by me.  I use reason and scorn of the Roman Catholic Church.  What do you use?

Former Defense Ministry employee says his semen is holy liquid, physical contact with him heals body and soul. Number of women fall under his influence after he tells them he is one of 36 righteous people in Judaism.

Los Angeles Times: Sex Allegations Against Rabbi Roil Israel’s Orthodox Community

Sexual harassment by religious leaders and homosexuality among rabbis.

Chicago News: Dad Could Be Jailed for Taking Girl to Church

Last month, Joseph Reyes violated a court order when he took his young daughter to services at Holy Name Cathedral. The court order– which states Reyes cannot expose the toddler to any religion other than Judaism– came down after Reyes, 35, baptized his daughter without his wife’s permission. His wife is Jewish and he converted, but the couple is in the middle of a bitter divorce. Reyes says he was a practicing Catholic when he married his wife, Rebecca. He converted to Catholicism after his daughter’s birth. Now, he says his estranged wife and the court is interfering with his right to expose his daughter to both religions.

New York Times: British High Court Says Jewish School’s Ethnic-Based Admissions Policy Is Illegal

Britain’s Supreme Court declared Wednesday that it was illegal for a Jewish school that favors Jewish applicants to base its admissions policy on a classic test of Jewishness — whether one’s mother is Jewish.

The Freethinker: Cycle Lanes Removed to Appease Jewish Neighborhood Group

A CYCLE lane “war” has broken out in the New York Hasidic enclave of Williamsburg. The lanes, covering 14 blocks of the neighbourhood were sandblasted away last week after Jewish zealots complained that scantily-clad hipster cyclists were distracting them from holy thoughts. According to this report, cyclists attracted to the area made it difficult for the Hasids to obey religious laws forbidding them from staring at members of the opposite sex in various states of undress.

BBC News: Rabbi ‘Offered Cocaine for Sex’

Rabbi Baruch Chalomish, of Upper Park Road, Salford, rented an apartment where he could “relax and have a party”, Manchester Crown Court heard. Police raided the Salford flat and discovered a total of 101 grams (3.6oz) of cocaine and more than £17,000.

Haaretz Israel News: Brazil to Extradite to Israel ‘Rabbi’ Suspected of Child Abuse

A self-appointed rabbi accused by Israeli officials of burning and cutting toddlers as part of a purification ritual will be extradited from Brazil, an official said Thursday. Elior Noam Chen will be picked up Oct. 27 in Brasilia by two Israeli agents, a Brazilian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Toronto Sun: Dad Convicted After Trying Home Circumcision on Son

A Vancouver-area man has been convicted of criminal negligence causing bodily harm for a botched amateur circumcision he attempted on his four-year-old son. However, Justice Marion Allan acquitted the man, who along with his family can’t be identified under a publication ban, of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

First of a series that never ends (etc.).  As is so often the case, a rabbi becomes a ‘rabbi’ when they are caught doing something wrong.  There are no black swans: that bird you see over there is not really black, or not really a swan.  There are no bad rabbi: that man you see over there sucking blood from a baby’s mutilated penis is not really bad, or not really a rabbi.  Much of the animal remains in the man.  It takes religion to bring out the monster.

While the mainstream media does discuss the policy of the Roman Catholic Church for systematic sheltering of clergy who rape children, and while the mainstream media correctly states this policy is a written document, they refrain from stating the name of that document.  The name of the document used as policy by the Roman Catholic Church for systematic sheltering of clergy who rape children is the Crimine Solicitaciones.  A google news search for “vatican scandal” yields 5000+ results.  A google news search for “vatican document” yields 500+ results.  A google news search for “Crimine Solicitaciones” yields no results.  I take this as evidence that the name of the document is not to be found in contemporary mainstream media.  The Vatican may benefit from keeping the name of the offending document out of the public eye.  It is less clear how the mainstream media benefits from the same.  A google search (non-news) returns over 2000 hits. In this case it appears the Internet has made a specific piece of information more readily available than mainstream media.  The document has been named in the mainstream media of the past.  A number of links to the Criminie Solicitaciones as well as Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict’s direct approval and continuation of the Crimine Solicitaciones can be found here.

The Crimine Solicitaciones, Cardinal Ratzinger’s direct approval of it and Pope Benedict’s refusal to denounce it are the smoking gun that they seem they are.  What is more, should Pope Benedict denounce the Crimine Solicitaciones then he risks invalidating the Roman Catholic Church’s claim to papal infallibility.  There is a fine history of papal fallibility, of course.  But the more the Church suffers for its misdeeds, the more possible it is they will learn from their mistakes and not commit them again.

Happy Easter, everybody!

[The AFA calls for the death by stoning of a whale and the whale's owners] But, the Scripture soberly warns, if one of your animals kills a second time because you didn’t kill it after it claimed its first human victim, this time you die right along with your animal. To use the example from Exodus, if your ox kills a second time, “the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.” (Exodus 21:29)

NCR Hanelsblad, More Priests’ Abuse Victims Speak Out:

Over the last few days, 15 men have come forward to share stories of abuse at the hands of Dutch Salesian priests in the 1960s. One of the accused is now one of the most powerful in the order.

BBC, Voodoo Religion’s Role in Helping Haiti’s Quake Victims:

“Some Christian communities do not want to give food to voodoo followers.”

The Guardian, Gay Activists Attack Ugandan Preacher’s Porn Slideshow:

Martin Ssempa, one of the main backers of a bill that would impose the death penalty for some offenders, aired the explicit slideshow to several hundred people during a church service in Kampala yesterday. Explaining his decision to display the images, the evangelical preacher said it was necessary to educate people “about what homosexuals do”.

The Guardian, Malawi Police Launch Operation Against High-Profile Gay and Lesbian People:

Fears of backlash across Africa as US evangelists accused of spreading religious zeal behind homophobic campaigns. Okware Romano, a protester, said: “I have a verse in the bible in Leviticus 20 verse 13. It says that homosexuals should be put to death … yes.”

Miami Herald, Adoption ‘Lawyer’ Tied to Child Sex Case:

The man providing legal advice to American church workers charged with trying to take children out of Haiti did jail time in the United States for bank fraud years before emerging as the key suspect in a child prostitution ring in El Salvador, according records and interviews.

Political Insider, Georgia’s Christian Right Comes Out Against Bill Aimed at Child Prostitution:

The weight of the state’s Christian right movement just came down in opposition to a pair of bills that would steer young girls under the age of 16 into diversionary programs instead of arresting them on charges of prostitution.

The Local, Jesuit School Sex Abuse Scandal Spreads Through Germany:

The scope of a child sex abuse scandal that was uncovered at an elite Berlin Catholic school last week has spread to other parts of Germany and beyond, the provincial superior for the country’s Jesuit order Stefan Dartmann has revealed.

Sky News, Russian Orthodox Believers Hospitalised After Drinking Holy Water:

Those affected, including 48 children, are being treated in hospital for acute intestinal pain after drinking water from wells around a local church last week.

National Organization of Women, NOW Denounces Justifiable Terrorism Defense in Wichita Murder Trial:

Roeder has admitted shooting Dr. Tiller in the head as the physician ushered at Sunday morning church service. But Roeder and his lawyers say this heinous act wasn’t murder because he was driven by his religious fervor to save unborn children. Under Kansas law, voluntary manslaughter is the “unreasonable but honest belief” that the use of force was justified.

CBS News, Ex Mistress Vanessa Bulls Says Preacher Killed Wife:

Reverend Matt Baker drugged his wife, handcuffed her to the bed under the guise of spicing up their marriage, then smothered her with a pillow until she died in 2006.

Part of a series that never ends [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] and etc.  The American Family Association should be subject to federal investigation for the call to murder based on religion.  The sex laws in Uganda are horrid, but not as horrid as they’ve been portrayed. Based on the amount of sexual abuse of children among Christian clergy, perhaps the State of Georgia is protecting a monopoly in standing against child prostitution laws.

I’ve been told more than once and more than twice that without religion (preferably the religion of the person talking to me) there is no moral guidance and people will act as beasts.  Here are people who had religion, many acting as leaders and experts in their religion, who are acting like beasts.  Was the breakdown in their religion or in the individuals?  If the breakdown is in the religion, then the religion is in need of improvement or being abandoned.  If the breakdown is in the individual, what was broken in the religion that put these people in charge?  I can find examples of people acting as beasts in the name of atheism, particularly in The Terror.  Hundreds of men and women have been killed by atheists because these men and women were religious.  Why, then, are there billions upon billions of men and women killed for their religion by other religious people?  In a straight body count, atheism is less murderous than any religion or all religions.  The fine blog Dwindling in Unbelief has a handy score card of those killed by God in the Bible compared to those killed by Satan in the Bible.  Guess who stands tall on the more majestic mountain of corpses?

Moral behavior demands choice.  If I’m forced to help someone or forced to hurt someone I am not making a moral choice.  Where there is an omnipotent and all-powerful God who has decided for me what I am to be and do, I have no choice.  Where there is religion, there is no morality.  Moral behavior is limiting the harm we cause by learning from our mistakes.  Over time we can become less immoral, even if we never become all-moral.