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trotsky

(49,533 posts)
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 09:38 AM Apr 2018

Atheist Group's Lawsuit Says Kid Was Forcibly Baptized By Court-Approved Mentor

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/04/25/atheist-groups-lawsuit-says-kid-was-forcibly-baptized-by-court-approved-mentor/

Having a mentor from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program is supposed to be an educational, uplifting experience. Ohio native April Defibaugh certainly thought it would help her 11-year-old, developmentally disabled son. And everything was fine until her son’s mentor took him to get baptized at nobody’s request. The pastor held the boy underwater, to his surprise, leading him to have recurring nightmares.

In 2016, Defibaugh filed a police report calling for criminal charges against everyone involved.

“They held my son under water. It wasn’t like they sprinkled water on his head, it was like full immersion. He kicked, he screamed and told them beforehand that he was afraid. Every day since then he’s had nightmares, the same recurring dream, about being baptized over and over like he’s drowning,” says Defibaugh.

Now she wants assault and child endangering charges filed against the Morning Star Friends Church in Chardon, the pastor, the big brother and the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization itself.
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Atheist Group's Lawsuit Says Kid Was Forcibly Baptized By Court-Approved Mentor (Original Post) trotsky Apr 2018 OP
Unconscionable. Such a thing should never happen. MineralMan Apr 2018 #1
Further, such behavior amounts to child abuse. MineralMan Apr 2018 #2
Remember that time a kid was forcibly atheisted by an atheistbadz teacher? Act_of_Reparation Apr 2018 #3
And DWAKNISS!!! n/t trotsky Apr 2018 #5
Indeed. Mariana Apr 2018 #6
Yabbut...Those Billboards are MEAN! MineralMan Apr 2018 #7
More times than I care to count. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2018 #8
That "mentor" should go to jail for child abuse. Nitram Apr 2018 #4
"He kicked, he screamed and told them beforehand that he was afraid." The Genealogist Apr 2018 #9

MineralMan

(146,318 posts)
1. Unconscionable. Such a thing should never happen.
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 09:45 AM
Apr 2018

My wife and I mentored a kid through BBBS. We wouldn't have dreamed of even discussing religious beliefs. That's not at all the goal. Instead, helping a kid gain a stronger self-esteem and more confidence was always the goal.

I hope they do sue, and win.

Forcing religious beliefs and rituals on others is simply unconscionable. Period.

MineralMan

(146,318 posts)
2. Further, such behavior amounts to child abuse.
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 09:50 AM
Apr 2018

Holding an unwilling child's head under water in some sort of religious ritual is tantamount to torture. Perhaps criminal charges are in order in this case. The child was unwilling and afraid, yet they continued the ritual. Lock 'em up!

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
3. Remember that time a kid was forcibly atheisted by an atheistbadz teacher?
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 10:48 AM
Apr 2018

No? Neither do I. Doesn't matter, tho. Cuz billboards.

Mariana

(14,858 posts)
6. Indeed.
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 11:36 AM
Apr 2018

How many times have we been told that an atheist group putting up a billboard is just as bad as Christians who do things like what was done to this child? Think about that. People say and appear honestly to believe that the atheist group that buys an ad to promote their organization is exactly as extreme as the Christians who forcibly induct children into their church.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
8. More times than I care to count.
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 01:04 PM
Apr 2018

People sure back themselves into weird corners trying to defend their privilege.

The Genealogist

(4,723 posts)
9. "He kicked, he screamed and told them beforehand that he was afraid."
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 07:00 PM
Apr 2018

Putting a frightened, unwilling child through something like this is plain old child abuse.

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