Arkansas Republican who gave girls to rapist ‘regularly’ performed exorcisms on unruly preschoolers

[JDDavis]

Arkansas Republican who gave girls to rapist ‘regularly’ performed exorcisms on unruly preschoolers

The man, Mr Harris, running this Bible pre-school, is a member of the Arkansas state House of Representatives.

The school gets $900,000 in federal funds. Yes, the article says $900K.

Harris and Growing God’s Kingdom ran afoul of the DHS and the federal government in 2011, when Harris came under fire for taking federal funds for the school, which — as a religious institution — was not eligible for them. Harris claimed that the school’s frequent group prayers and lesson about Jesus were “voluntary” for students, who were under no obligation to participate.

Growing God’s Kingdom receives around $900,000 per year in federal funds, some of which are derived from monies designated for the children of undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, Harris sponsored a bill in the state House designed to cut off all public services and benefits to anyone who could not provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

snip

“If they got in too much trouble they would pray on the kids, do a circle around them, put their hands on their heads, saying, trying to rebuke demons,” she said to KNWA.

Watch video about this story at this link.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/arkansas-republican-who-gave-girls-to-rapist-regularly-performed-exorcisms-on-unruly-preschoolers/

Former Employee Says Harrises Attempted to Pray Demons Out of Kids

http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/d/story/former-employee-says-harris-attempted-to-pray-demo/37311/8ErsLImNekS_Un98Lspkgw

[trotsky]

1. This is the fallout from protecting religion.

Treating it as special, immune from criticism. Truly disgusting they did this - even more so that they used tax dollars to do it.

[JDDavis]

2. I don't think they have stopped doing these rituals.

The video has a comment from a father of one of the kids.

One parent who spoke with KNWA says he and his wife are happy with the school.

"It's great for preschool, they teach them about the bible and stuff like that too, which I think is really important." Said Cody Buchanan, Dad.

Is northwest Arkansas on the border or in the middle of Dumbfckistan?

[skepticscott]

4. Well, stay away from the Religion Group, then

Because that's about all the religionistas seem to have any more.

[PeaceNikki]

6. Amen, sister.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Well as we all know, exorcisms are an acceptable form of psychotherapy

unless something bad happens, in which case the practitioners are suffering from psychotic delusions.

[skepticscott]

8. In either case, they have NOTHING to do with religion

Religion is just an excuse for...uhhhh...well, whatever! Or so say the yacht clubbers and their cronies.

[mountain grammy]

9. So a pre-school named "Growing God's Kingdom" qualifies for public tax money?

I know this is happening, but I'm infuriated by it. It's happening in Colorado with the voucher mania and the money going to private religious schools. Headed for theocracy, we are!

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Yep, I found that name alone enough

to disqualify it for any government money. And $900,000 is an incredible amount for them to get.

I am quickly making a move from a-theist to anti-theist, and these things are the only reason.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. "students, who were under no obligation to participate" - because pre-schoolers can make decisions

about their intellectual activities so well, without either feeling peer pressure or the obligation to obey the authority figures, can't they?