In the headline of the international home page of London’s The Guardian, this Tuesday (29), “Young people in the United Kingdom demonstrate against the evangelical church”, highlighting the statement of one of them, Rachael Reign: “Exposed to horrible things”.
Just below, “Former members of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God say they felt pressure to donate money and were told that demons caused mental health problems”:
The newspaper interviewed “more than 30” former members of Universal’s country youth chapter, Victory Youth Group, and reported:
“Some said they had made friends at church and enjoyed VYG-sponsored activities, but nearly all respondents complained of feeling pressured to donate large sums of money. Others spoke of being encouraged to cut ties with friends and family or to hear that the demonic possession was the cause of mental health issues or their sexuality. Several were given graphic images of dead bodies as a warning about what happens to those who leave the church.”
The church, “started in Brazil, is now present across the world, including over 50 branches in the UK, many located in some of the country’s most economically deprived areas.”
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