Christian Child Snatchers

[Gromit]

Ten American Baptists have been detained in Haiti after trying to take 33 children out of the country.

The church group, most of them from Idaho, allegedly lacked the proper documents when they were arrested on Friday night in a bus along with children from two months to 12 years in age who had survived the country's catastrophic earthquake.

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../americas/8489738.stm

Should they keep these religious tourists out of this tragedy?

[123everton]

Is their religion relevant to the story?
At least they weren't Muslms, lol.

[Snafu03]

Yeah of course they should; who else is trying to help them? BBC cameramen?

[Snafu03]

I'm surprised Madonna isnt out there trying to adopt all of them!

[tamborine]

charity isn't in the Koran

[youngmafbog]

More do gooding Christians I suppose. The day religion is banned the world will be a better place.

[naomi24]

Religious Tourists like these should most certainly be kept out.

This from the BBC website:

//The charity, which Ms Silsby incorporated in Idaho in November last year, says it is "dedicated to rescuing, loving and caring for orphaned, abandoned and impoverished Haitian and Dominican children, demonstrating God's love and helping each child find healing, hope, joy and new life in Christ".//

And this extract from the group's planning document is also included on the BBC website:

//Given the urgent needs from this earthquake, God has laid upon our hearts the need to go now versus waiting until the permanent facility is built. He has provided an interim solution in nearby Cabarete, where we will be leasing a 45-room hotel and converting it into an orphanage until the building is complete. //

I suspect that rather than trying to rescue orphans from the earthquake zone, these people were more interested in rescuing them from the influences of Voodoo, so in reply to Everton's question, I would say their religion is very relevant to the story.

[Rev Sermon]

I think the predominant religionon Haiti is Roman Catholocism so any rescue mission is probably well founded.

If the welfare of these children was their only concern then why not donate money and time to rebuilding Haiti rather than spiriting them away.

[joko]

is it proven that they were a church group? a good cover for a child trafficking ring i'd say...

[naomi24]

Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Haiti, but many people still practice Voodoo.

http://countrystudies.us/haiti/33.htm

[beso]

I have no doubt that these people "prayed to God" for guidance and they followed this advice. Once the most powerful of the group decided God advised him to go ahead the others would have "received" the same message from Him.

Research has shown that the believers' notioin of God's Will closely reflects their own personal opinion. Essentially, such people are esssentially abandoning their responsibility for intelligent assessment in favour of their own poorly informed emotional response.

The believer's emotions are easily swayed with lively interpretations of the holy book by a more powerful figure in the church hierarchy. Conveniently the books show such variety of advice that anything can be justified. Arrogant dogma and blind faith are dangerous bedfellows.

Yet another reason why religious people cannot be trusted to do the right thing despite their stated intentions.

[Seafarer1966]

Christian Fundamentalists are as dangerous a muslims. Brainwashed happy clapping nutters.