Religion: Idaho Baptists face conspiracy and attempted kidnapping charges in Haiti. 10 Idaho Baptists who tried to smuggle 33 children out of Haiti into the neighboring Dominican Republic have been charged with conspiracy and attempted kidnapping, and could face 3-9 years in a Haitian prison for their crime.
The religious missionaries claim they were only trying to help some orphans, but their story is plagued with problems. First and foremost, they knowingly tried to remove these children not only from their village and neighborhood, but from their country, without the appropriate paper work.
Making matters worse, the children are not all orphans, as the Idaho Baptists claimed. This is simply intolerable. All Haitians, indeed all people, should be angry and incensed by the arrogance of the American missionaries. To take advantage of the chaos following the natural catastrophe, and attempt to smuggle children out of the country, tearing them away from home and family in the hopes of bringing those children to Jesus, is simply revolting. It is at once both a legal and a moral crime.
The kidnapping and abduction of the children was wrong. The Idaho Baptists were there to harvest raw recruits for their Jesus cult, forcing children to submit to their religious superstition and ignorance for a hot meal and a place to sleep. There is no honor or charity in kidnapping children and forcing them to submit to religious indoctrination.
The fact that the rag tag group of bumblers hide behind their religion is no excuse for their crime. These religious zealots from Idaho came into a foreign country to abduct children with the express purpose of religious indoctrination. They deserve the full penalty of the law.
On a more optimistic note, Mercy Corp, based in Portland, Oregon, is busy bringing clean water and better sanitation to two hard-hit Haitian neighborhoods. Mercy Corps is creating 7,000 jobs cleaning wells, clearing streets and hauling away debris, and launching a "Comfort for Kids" program to help ease post-quake trauma in children.
Comments
The actions of these ten missionaires were misguided and foolish. Trying to take 33 children out of their country without proper applications and paperwork, however how well-intentioned, constuite child trafficking. I urge all missionaaries and aid societies to put the children's need for a familiar environment above the need to move them. Also the idea to place a moratium on all adoptions out of Haiti is a wise move that can deter child traffickers.
I think all ten of them should have been kept in jail and do time for what they tried to do. Common sense would tell you that you can't just pick up children and take them out of their country. No matter how well m eaning you are. What makes the authorities think that only one person know what was going to happen when they got those children. They should all have been left in jail and prosecuted to the full extent of Haitian law.
"There is no honor or charity in kidnapping children and forcing them to submit to religious indoctrination."
Agreed. Precisely why we should prohibit all secular humanists and atheists from teaching in the public schools. Clear violations of church/state separation.
child of god forgets that atheists and secular humanists (the good guys) have no religious superstition to deceive, confuse and burden children with.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!