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International Cultic Studies Association
News Summaries: group
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Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002 |
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| _______________________________________________ |
| News Summaries |
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News Summaries: February 01-15, 2002
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Group: House of Prayer Members |
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Founder: Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. |
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Category: bible-based |
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Topic: Children, Abuse |
House of Prayer
House of Prayer Members, Pastor Indicted in Abuse Case
A Fulton County (GA) grand jury has indicted 11 members of the House of Prayer, a small northwest Atlanta church, on charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault, capping a nearly yearlong investigation into allegations of abuse of the congregation's children, 49 of whom the state took into protective custody. Among those indicted is
the House of Prayer's pastor, the Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. Conviction on the felony charges can lead to prison terms of one to 20 years.
The charges stem from an incident near the end of the church service when two boys ages 10 and 7 were suspended in the air and whipped by several adult church members, leaving open wounds on their torsos, according to the 14-count indictment. Both boys' parents are among the 11 charged.
The group's services can last as long as eight hours, and they regularly feature public beatings that sometimes last 30 minutes. Allen calls it "tough love" — corporal punishment as an act of human kindness — the best way of instilling discipline in children growing up on crime-ridden streets. "If we can use milder punishment, then I'm for
it. But sometimes it doesn't work, and I can't let them just take over the house," the reverend said.
Members of the House of Prayer say that when they spank their children, they're following God's law, but "This is not a normal whipping," Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard said. "These are severe and extreme beatings. We think that is a clear line of demarcation." A defiant Allen declared he and other church members would plead not guilty
and will defend themselves without a lawyer's help. "I'm delighted for the opportunity to face these charges," said Allen, "to resolve everything one way or another. My faith is still in the Lord. I'm not wavering." Allen's followers, carrying signs and child-size coffins, walked from the Fulton County Courthouse to the Division of Family and Children Services then to the state Capitol,
on the opening day of the state legislative session, to protest the state's actions.
Allen, who exerts strong influence over his congregation, has never denied the boys were whipped, but he and other church members say such spankings are necessary to maintain discipline. And they have charged that law enforcement and social services agents have interfered with their religious freedoms by seeking to impose limits on how they
punish their children. The district attorney met with Allen hoping to mediate the case without taking it to trial. "I was not able to persuade Reverend Allen to change his philosophy regarding the punishment of children," Howard said, so the criminal case moved forward.
The state, meanwhile, will move forward as planned with efforts in Juvenile Court to terminate the parental rights over eight children and put them up for adoption. Two others are scheduled to be released from state custody soon. Authorities said that state officials will not take the other 39 children into custody for a second time.
They were seized from their homes last spring, some in emotional scenes repeatedly played on Atlanta television stations. The children were released after officials acknowledged they had no evidence indicating that more than three children had been abused. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/15, 19/02, Internet; BBC, 1/19/02, Internet)
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| ____________________________________________ ^ |
|
|
___________________________________________^ |
| |
|
International Cultic Studies Association
News Summaries: group
|
|
|
Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002 |
|
| _______________________________________________ |
| News Summaries |
|
| |
News Summaries: February 01-15, 2002
|
| |
Group: House of Prayer Members |
|
|
Founder: Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. |
| |
Category: bible-based |
|
|
Topic: Children, Abuse |
House of Prayer
House of Prayer Members, Pastor Indicted in Abuse Case
A Fulton County (GA) grand jury has indicted 11 members of the House of Prayer, a small northwest Atlanta church, on charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault, capping a nearly yearlong investigation into allegations of abuse of the congregation's children, 49 of whom the state took into protective custody. Among those indicted is
the House of Prayer's pastor, the Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. Conviction on the felony charges can lead to prison terms of one to 20 years.
The charges stem from an incident near the end of the church service when two boys ages 10 and 7 were suspended in the air and whipped by several adult church members, leaving open wounds on their torsos, according to the 14-count indictment. Both boys' parents are among the 11 charged.
The group's services can last as long as eight hours, and they regularly feature public beatings that sometimes last 30 minutes. Allen calls it "tough love" — corporal punishment as an act of human kindness — the best way of instilling discipline in children growing up on crime-ridden streets. "If we can use milder punishment, then I'm for
it. But sometimes it doesn't work, and I can't let them just take over the house," the reverend said.
Members of the House of Prayer say that when they spank their children, they're following God's law, but "This is not a normal whipping," Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard said. "These are severe and extreme beatings. We think that is a clear line of demarcation." A defiant Allen declared he and other church members would plead not guilty
and will defend themselves without a lawyer's help. "I'm delighted for the opportunity to face these charges," said Allen, "to resolve everything one way or another. My faith is still in the Lord. I'm not wavering." Allen's followers, carrying signs and child-size coffins, walked from the Fulton County Courthouse to the Division of Family and Children Services then to the state Capitol,
on the opening day of the state legislative session, to protest the state's actions.
Allen, who exerts strong influence over his congregation, has never denied the boys were whipped, but he and other church members say such spankings are necessary to maintain discipline. And they have charged that law enforcement and social services agents have interfered with their religious freedoms by seeking to impose limits on how they
punish their children. The district attorney met with Allen hoping to mediate the case without taking it to trial. "I was not able to persuade Reverend Allen to change his philosophy regarding the punishment of children," Howard said, so the criminal case moved forward.
The state, meanwhile, will move forward as planned with efforts in Juvenile Court to terminate the parental rights over eight children and put them up for adoption. Two others are scheduled to be released from state custody soon. Authorities said that state officials will not take the other 39 children into custody for a second time.
They were seized from their homes last spring, some in emotional scenes repeatedly played on Atlanta television stations. The children were released after officials acknowledged they had no evidence indicating that more than three children had been abused. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/15, 19/02, Internet; BBC, 1/19/02, Internet)
|
| ____________________________________________ ^ |
|
|
___________________________________________^ |
| |
|
International Cultic Studies Association
News Summaries: group
|
|
|
Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002 |
|
| _______________________________________________ |
| News Summaries |
|
| |
News Summaries: February 01-15, 2002
|
| |
Group: House of Prayer Members |
|
|
Founder: Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. |
| |
Category: bible-based |
|
|
Topic: Children, Abuse |
House of Prayer
House of Prayer Members, Pastor Indicted in Abuse Case
A Fulton County (GA) grand jury has indicted 11 members of the House of Prayer, a small northwest Atlanta church, on charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault, capping a nearly yearlong investigation into allegations of abuse of the congregation's children, 49 of whom the state took into protective custody. Among those indicted is
the House of Prayer's pastor, the Rev. Arthur Allen Jr. Conviction on the felony charges can lead to prison terms of one to 20 years.
The charges stem from an incident near the end of the church service when two boys ages 10 and 7 were suspended in the air and whipped by several adult church members, leaving open wounds on their torsos, according to the 14-count indictment. Both boys' parents are among the 11 charged.
The group's services can last as long as eight hours, and they regularly feature public beatings that sometimes last 30 minutes. Allen calls it "tough love" — corporal punishment as an act of human kindness — the best way of instilling discipline in children growing up on crime-ridden streets. "If we can use milder punishment, then I'm for
it. But sometimes it doesn't work, and I can't let them just take over the house," the reverend said.
Members of the House of Prayer say that when they spank their children, they're following God's law, but "This is not a normal whipping," Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard said. "These are severe and extreme beatings. We think that is a clear line of demarcation." A defiant Allen declared he and other church members would plead not guilty
and will defend themselves without a lawyer's help. "I'm delighted for the opportunity to face these charges," said Allen, "to resolve everything one way or another. My faith is still in the Lord. I'm not wavering." Allen's followers, carrying signs and child-size coffins, walked from the Fulton County Courthouse to the Division of Family and Children Services then to the state Capitol,
on the opening day of the state legislative session, to protest the state's actions.
Allen, who exerts strong influence over his congregation, has never denied the boys were whipped, but he and other church members say such spankings are necessary to maintain discipline. And they have charged that law enforcement and social services agents have interfered with their religious freedoms by seeking to impose limits on how they
punish their children. The district attorney met with Allen hoping to mediate the case without taking it to trial. "I was not able to persuade Reverend Allen to change his philosophy regarding the punishment of children," Howard said, so the criminal case moved forward.
The state, meanwhile, will move forward as planned with efforts in Juvenile Court to terminate the parental rights over eight children and put them up for adoption. Two others are scheduled to be released from state custody soon. Authorities said that state officials will not take the other 39 children into custody for a second time.
They were seized from their homes last spring, some in emotional scenes repeatedly played on Atlanta television stations. The children were released after officials acknowledged they had no evidence indicating that more than three children had been abused. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/15, 19/02, Internet; BBC, 1/19/02, Internet)
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___________________________________________^ |
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News Summaries - group