Back in the days before the DPB and easily available abortion and contraception, young women were exiled to “Magdalen Homes,” often run by abusive and dysfunctional Catholic nuns, where their children were forcibly adopted out, and where they were used as virtual slave labour, physically and even sexually abused at times.

Today, we have fundamentalist Mercy Ministries, operating in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald has filed several disturbing reports from angry former clients of the organisation, which runs residential homes for young women with eating disorder, self-harm, addiction, depression, past child sexual abuse and other problems- and lesbianism. The former clients allege that at no time were they offered any professional psychotherapeutic or counselling assistance, and were instead read bible verses, prayed at, or ‘exorcised.’  Worse still, Centrelink, Australia’s WINZ, has been drawn into this growing scandal, as the organisation requires that clients pay any benefits to it. Furthermore, it is also accused of cut-off without followup support or counselling in case of rule transgressions.

Upon entry, young women are asked whether they’ve ever taken drugs, engaged in witchcraft, or had lesbian and bisexual relationships. Physical contact between clients is forbidden. SMH journalist Ruth Pollard reported that Pentecostal ex-gay guru Sy Rogers was regularly featured on propaganda videos inhouse.  Because of the scandal, Bunnings Warehouse, LG Electronics and two Sydney rugby league corporate sponsors have withdrawn funding, although Hillsong Church-aligned Gloria Jeans Coffees has not.

Mercy Ministries operates a single Auckland residential house and accepted its first clients in 2006. It has not responded to the Sydney Morning Herald claims.

 Recommended:

Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au

Mercy Ministries NZ: http://www.mercyministries.org.nz