[UA] Exorcist beats Autistic Child

[Chad Eagleton]

Here's some weirdness going on in my own town--

(the local paper here in Bloomington, actually has a
bigger write up, but online is subscription only)

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6866975

Jennie Runevitch/WTHR Eyewitness News

Monroe County - A student minister faces serious
charges after investigators say he committed a crime
in the name of Christianity. Police say the minister
battered an autistic teenager while trying to perform
an exorcism. It happened at the boy's Bloomington
home.

Monroe County police say a religious ritual turned
criminal inside a Bloomington home.

"I've never seen anything like this before," said
Detective Brad Swain, Monroe County Sheriff's
Department.

Police say 22-year-old Eddie Uyesugi, a pastor in
training at Cherry Hill Christian Church, promised
healing for a 14-year-old autistic boy. Uyesugi
convinced the boy's mother he could cure autism with
an exorcism.

"Through prayer, casting demons out," said Det. Swain.
"She was initially in agreement in doing this thinking
it was something authorized through the church."

But police say the exorcism turned violent, and that
Uyesugi, under the guise of "God's work," battered and
beat the boy.

"Sticking fingers into the boy's mouth while he was
restrained on the bed, causing him to vomit. And this
happened several times," said Swain. "The family said
that Mr. Uyesugi told them this was to cast the demons
out."

Police say Uyesugi also punched the autistic teen in
the face, a ritualistic beating that lasted for eleven
hours.

"He knew he didn't have demons in him. So why he was
being abused and being told for demons to come out? It
was really lost on him," said Swain.

The boy's mother tried unsuccessfully to end the
exorcism.

Pastors at Cherry Hill church wouldn't comment on the
alleged exorcism. But they told police while they do
teach how to cast out demons, their methods don't
include violence.

The church removed Uyesugi from the parsonage after
the incident. He claimed to police he was simply
trying to restrain the boy, but the attempted exorcism
left the teen seriously injured.

Eddie Uyesugi faces felony confinement and misdemeanor
battery charges and police have issued an warrant for
his arrest. They expect him to turn himself in today.

Police say the exorcism was not authorized by the
church.


-Chad



       
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