# 8 year old autistic boy killed in "exorcism"... how fucking deluded are these people? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668 "2003-08-26T02:38:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/1 "2003-08-26T02:38:50Z")
[http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/164632.asp](http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/164632.asp) > [@](#): > > Members of a small church where an 8-year-old autistic boy died during a prayer session gathered Sunday at the home of their pastor, who said he was confident no church members or staff would be charged in the case. > > “Didn’t do nothing wrong,” David Hemphill said outside his home Sunday afternoon, with the sounds of yelling and moaning from his gathered flock plainly audible from his front steps. “We did what the Book of Matthew said, Chapter 12. All we did is ask God to deliver him.” > [@](#): > > The boy had a spirit in him, the pastor said. Asked how he knew that, he said: “I’m 62 years old, and I can tell a person that’s not normal.” > > When asked whether the spirit could simply be the boy’s autism, Hemphill said: “He had a lot of problems.” Fuckheads. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/2 "2003-08-26T02:50:06Z")
Fucking hell. Someone should give them old fashioned witches’ treatment for that. Fucking assholes. ---
**Author:** ![fushj00mang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@fushj00mang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fushj00mang)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/3 "2003-08-26T02:57:58Z")
Much to our misfortune, this type of behavior is rationalized by ‘believers,’ which is simply a nice way of saying ‘assholes who are too weak willed to seek out ‘truth’ for themselves and realize that there ARE NO FUCKING DEAMONS IN THAT KID’S SKULL!’ Now, I’m not going to lie, I’m Catholic. We’ve got the market cornered on legitimate exorcisms. But, one is only performed AFTER extensive medical and psycological testing. We’ve (the Church) to find that there is no worldly cause of your problems. > [@](#): > > “He had a lot of problems.” Damn straight! The kid was retarded! He needed love, medical help, and more love! He deserved better than to be aspxyated by a bunch of backwards-assed sonsofbitches. If the world were right, the pastor, ALL members of the goddamned congregation of this bullshit church who were present, and the kids parents would go to prison for neglegant homicide. They’re no better than Geoghan. Hell, they should die. That’s my .02. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/4 "2003-08-26T03:07:21Z")
This is just sad. On top of which , in that article was this (italics mine): > [@](#): > > In 1998, the district attorney’s office looked into allegations of child abuse after a 12-year-old girl claimed to be beaten during one of the church’s service. _At the time, Hemphill claimed the beating was not as severe as the police alleged and that congregation members were only doing as the Bible teaches._ What? So they **did** beat a 12-year-old girl (severely or not, I don’t see a point to it)? I’m not a Bible scholar by any means, so can someone tell me where in the Bible it teaches this? I think someone needs to beat these people into the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/5 "2003-08-26T03:29:18Z")
See, this is the sort of thing that makes me soooo glad to be an atheist. These are exactly the type of fuckwads that make religious people look like shitheads. “I did it cause God told me to” is not a FUCKING EXCUSE FOR MURDER you morons. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/6 "2003-08-26T03:41:57Z")
Anybody ever done a study comparing how many kids have been killed while having “the devil beat out of them” vs. those have been killed while having “the Jesus beat out of them”? ---
**Author:** ![fushj00mang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@fushj00mang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fushj00mang)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/7 "2003-08-26T04:02:55Z")
Tuckerfan, I thought it was the “'beJeezus” out of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/8 "2003-08-26T05:06:12Z")
I liked how they called it a “prayer session” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/9 "2003-08-26T05:16:14Z")
The article I read in the paper said that he was wrapped in a sheet and his hands and feet were held so that he wouldn’t scratch himself, but that he could sit in any way he felt comfortable. Comfortable?!?! Wrapped in a sheet?!? With his hands and feet restrained?!? Oh, that’s comfortable. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/10 "2003-08-26T09:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*I think someone needs to beat these people into the 21st century. \*\* Hell, the twentieth! **fushj00mang** : He was autistic, not retarded. But either way, this was not called for. And this is confusing to me: > [@](#): > > Neighbors contend that Cooper underwent a change after she became involved with the church. > > Before Cooper joined the church three months ago, her two children were always clean and dressed nicely, according to neighbors Gloria Lloyd and Denise Allison. > > After Cooper became involved at the church, the children would often have messy hair and mismatched clothing, and sometimes Torrance would walk outside with two different shoes on or no shoes at all, they said Sunday. I wonder if being unkempt is typical for this congregation, or if it was just her. Church people are almost always really spruced up; funny that her children (and, presumably, she) would regress in their appearance instead of improving. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/11 "2003-08-26T10:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*See, this is the sort of thing that makes me soooo glad to be an atheist. These are exactly the type of fuckwads that make religious people look like shitheads. “I did it cause God told me to” is not a FUCKING EXCUSE FOR MURDER you morons. \*\* You nailed it, even though you didn’t mean to: they’re morons, not believers. Atheists kill people all the time, too - surely, that doesn’t make all atheists look bad? As far as I’m concerned, this bunch of dickweeds doesn’t make Christianity as a whole look bad at all. > [@](#): > > **What? So they did beat a 12-year-old girl (severely or not, I don’t see a point to it)? I’m not a Bible scholar by any means, so can someone tell me where in the Bible it teaches this? I think someone needs to beat these people into the 21st century.** I think (although others are far more qualified than me to comment here) the Bible allows for parents to physically discipline their children. I’m not sure, but I don’t think the book allows for _ministers_ to hit someone else’s children. Polycarp, where are you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/12 "2003-08-26T10:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*I think (although others are far more qualified than me to comment here) the Bible allows for parents to physically discipline their children. I’m not sure, but I don’t think the book allows for _ministers_ to hit someone else’s children. Polycarp, where are you? 🙂 \*\* You’re correct - the famous quote usually rendered “spare the rod, spoil the child” actually translates from the original Hebrew as: “Spares his rod, hates his son”, which is subtley different. Still not very enlightened, but different. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/13 "2003-08-26T10:27:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*You nailed it, even though you didn’t mean to: they’re morons, not believers. Atheists kill people all the time, too - surely, that doesn’t make all atheists look bad? > \*\* Not necessarily, but when an atheist, or even someone without a clear religious affiliation, commits murder, that often attracts the attention of Xians, who use the incident to further their agenda. I remember that in the immediate aftermath of Columbine, some people were blaming it, and other school shootings, on the lack of prayer in schools and the lack of religious influence in the shooters’ lives in general. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/14 "2003-08-26T10:29:24Z")
Yeah, and others were blaming Marilyn Manson, video games, and violent TV. What else is new? All sorts of groups will use tragedies to further their agendas. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/15 "2003-08-26T10:40:01Z")
True enough. Just answering your question: yes, it does make “all” atheists look bad…at least to those who **already** think “all” atheists are bad. Of course, that supports your post: this incident doesn’t reflect badly on believers, just those who happen to be morons. And morons do not comprise the majority of believers, but if someone thinks they do, they’ll take this incident as further proof. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/16 "2003-08-26T10:43:21Z")
I don’t know how dumb these people are – [apparently intelligent people](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=3879269#post3879269) will happily diagnose demonic possession for the most mundane of maladies. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/17 "2003-08-26T11:43:35Z")
:mad: My younger sister is autistic. I have dealt with a cubic shitload of ignorance over the years about autism - this is the new award winner. Sure, physically restrain a small child and cut off a lot of their sensory input - that will cure them right up. Were you out of leeches? Couldn’t determine which bodily humour needed to be drained? The ducking chair threw a gear? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/18 "2003-08-26T12:19:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*I wonder if being unkempt is typical for this congregation, or if it was just her. Church people are almost always really spruced up; funny that her children (and, presumably, she) would regress in their appearance instead of improving. \*\* Just speculating, but perhaps the change wasn’t due to joining the church, but rather that she let herself get involved with the church because she was going through depression, which also was the cause of her neglect for the kids’ appearance. In any case, it’s a damn shame about her son, and I hope those responsible see justice. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/19 "2003-08-26T12:23:21Z")
The medical examiner’s office has [ruled the death a homicide, but no charges have yet been filed.](http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/164862.asp) > [@](#): > > The 8-year-old autistic boy who died during a weekend prayer service suffocated after a church elder sat on his chest, police said Monday. The Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office has ruled the death a homicide. > > Ray Hemphill, sat on the chest of Terrance Cottrell Jr., 8, during a prayer service Friday for the autistic boy, police say. Terrance suffocated, according to the medical examiner’s office. > > But prosecutors Monday said state laws about religious healing practices are complicating decisions about whether to charge the man accused of being involved. Though police say the elder told them he sat on the boy’s chest, a woman who participated in the fatal prayer session said he had only lain across it. Sheesh. I’m sometimes embarrassed by this town I live in. Although… the usually pitiful Brewers are on a seven game winning streak, and the Harley riders are in town for their 100th anniversary bash. So I guess all is not lost. Still, these idiots piss me off with their holier than thou attitude. ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668/20 "2003-08-26T12:55:19Z")
On CNN last night, I saw an interview with the “pastor” and he said something like, “You went to journalism school. I went to preaching school. I know what I’m doing and you don’t.” Having taken that swipe, at the end of the piece the reporter ended with, “Charges haven’t been filed. If they are, it won’t be God on trial.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-autistic-boy-killed-in-exorcism-how-fucking-deluded-are-these-people/197668.md?page=2)