God's Will: The Church vs. Autism???

I was reading Kevin Leitch's blog where today he writes of DAN! doc, Jeff Bradstreet and his endorsement of exorcism. DAN!, it has been discovered by Mr. Leitch, has many interesting connections to some religious groups involved in cure autism campaigns. Dr. Bradstreet (cringe that I do have to refer to him as a doctor...) has even been known to promote exorcism as a reasonable way to cure autism.

I will not link the next two groups, in the comments section of Mr. Leitch's blog, you can find the links if you choose to check them out. The groups are "Glory Of Zion" and "Children of Destiny," on both websites are links to more sites. It appears it is one group of people fronting for several churches & charity groups. They strongly promote finding a cure for autism, blaming mercury, and encouraging the use of biomedical crap and a slew of other quack cures. I just checked out both sites and became very queasy.

I find it interesting that these people quote the bible in an attempt to further their profits & promote DAN!, HBOT, et al. They make statements that would lead one, namely a vulnerable parent, feel they are failing not only their child, but God as well, if they don't try to cure the child of Autism. As if it is God's will...they apparently are experts on God's will.

Here are some bible passages that would seem more helpful to parents, especially when first receiving the diagnosis of Autism:

James 1:12
God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crowns of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

John 9:2-3
..."Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

I suggest these people refer to the story of Job. A man who lost everything & yet still praised God. He felt it was God's will & he ACCEPTED it. From Job 2:3-10 "But Job replied, 'You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?'"

While reading these websites, I am sick to death of people claiming to be doing God's work, ripping people off. My heart breaks for the children who have died at their hands, and at those who are being mistreated right now. Many are to blame, it is just especially sad when religious groups are the culprits.

I believe it is our duty to accept our children, offer them love & comfort. Have hope & faith--God is not demonizing your child. Accept the beautiful child you have been given & have trust in your God. I feel strongly that is God's will.

Don't Miss This...




No words needed.

9-11

Well, after trying to come up with something expressive regarding 9-11 most of the day, my internet service had a glitch yesterday. When I finally felt ready to write on it, my connection kept coming and going. So, naturally, all those good ideas I had have escaped my mind today. New York is very close to my heart & 9-11 affected me in many ways, as it has so many. Today, words are not coming to me about it. So, this is what I offer...

Beautiful (But Not Fantastic) Son

I was reading mom26children's What Are They Thinking? blog (please check it out!!) & she mentioned the link for a new documentary, Beautiful Son. From what she wrote, I knew it was most likely not what I hoped it might be--you know, something positive about Autism. Being very curious though, I visited the site. It is, by the way, a wonderful name for a website & documentary about one's child. However, after visiting the site a bit longer, I realized that was one of the few wonderful things about all this.

I looked at their links, which included (surprise, surprise) DAN!, Cure Autism Now, Moms Against Mercury, & many more. Ah-huh...I pretty much got the idea of where this whole project was going. But, still being curious, I watched the trailer.

It was not entirely what I expected, in that they did not show any propagandistic tantrums, violence, chaos, etc. They showed an adorable boy & seemingly well-meaning family. Then came the interview with the father. He spoke of how bright his son seemed, how great his personality was, how he was" just going to grow up into a fantastic boy...and everything changed."

The trailer continues, showing the parents attending their first DAN! conference. The first person they met there was a mom who 'recovered' her daughter. My head was dizzy just watching this father walking down an aisle of vendors--infrared saunas, HBOT, supplements, therapy, books, and more. Cue the depressing music...

Later, the father is reading a report on thimerosal. We see these parents arguing over what meds were given & when, as well as them giving their son an injection. I was rather disturbed by that, I think part of it was that I'm not sure what they were injecting & of course, for the life of me, can't understand why. Well, I know why, but I cannot relate to injecting my kid with something other than say insulin if medically necessary (& proven!). But, that's just me.

Then comes the end of the trailer. It shows this boy, their beautiful son, swinging and he seems to be enjoying himself. They do some camera magic, some slow motion with trailing--rather eery & oh so tragic. You then hear the father say "they're like lost souls..."

The basic theme of the website is 'recovery.' I am betting the entire documentary is riddled with that word as well. I can only imagine how many quack 'cures' they offer & advise during the movie.

What's so sad, is again, these parents are so busy investing time and money into these cures & treatments, and are so devastated by the label "Autistic," that they are missing out on what is good. There is a scene where they are swimming in the ocean, it is beautiful. From the size of the boy, it appears it was filmed post-Autism diagnosis. That moment, that memory, seems entirely wonderful to me.

Yet, what I heard from the father was that his son was not & would never be (unless 'recovered') fantastic. Without curing Autism, his son would remain without a soul. My heart breaks for this child. I feel he is being used for propaganda. My belief is that you cannot 'cure' Autism, nor do I feel it is something that needs to be cured. What happens to this boy, this beautiful son, when a few years go by & he is not recovered? Or what happens if he appears to others to be 'recovered,' mostly because he is acting how they expect & what they deem as socially acceptable, what will become of him in his twenties & beyond?

Autistic children do have souls, they are fantastic, they are bright, and they are beautiful.