Last night watching Four Corners: "saving Africa's witch children" I was appalled by the monstrosities I saw. Children as young as a few months old being denounced as witches by their communities, their priests and even their own families. They are beaten, set alight, stabbed, shot and generally tortured both physically & mentally.

All this, in the name of Jesus. I'm no christian, nor do I believe in "god" but I have read the bible and I certainly don't remember reading any commandment about "thou shall torture and murder your children". No, these acts might be done in the name of Jesus, but the real motive is far to often money.

According to "Saving Africa's Witch Children" while there used to be a couple of children denounced as witches a year, the problem really started when a self-styled prophet named Helen Ukpabio made a film. Her film "End of the Wicked" shows children on mass as witches. She also recommends that a child under 2 years who cries at night, does not sleep the whole night through and has deteriorating health is... you guessed it; a witch. When we're talking about a part of the world with very little health care it's easy to see why some 2.3 Million children have been accused of being witches.

But Helen Ukpabio isn't alone in her injustices; it seems every right nut priest is in on it. Praying on the superstition and stupidity of their parishioners for profit. One man named "The Bishop" claimed he could excise the devil from their children and deliver the child from being a witch. All he asked in return was a mere years salary. His treatment? Get the kid to drink pure alcohol and drop some undescribed black liquid into their eyes and ears. Before he decided on this method he used to just plain kill them; freely and happily admitting to killing at least 110 people.

Thankfully the children have aide organisation Stepping Stones Nigeria to come to for help, but as they are only a small, underfunded organisation their fight hardly makes a dent in the problem. But still, for the lucky ones who find their way into this organisation there can be finally a sense of safety.

To me this just demonstrates how little these people understand Christianity and honestly why would they? Nigeria only became a Christian nation because of white missionaries who came into the country and told the poor, starving people they would be feed and clothed if they accepted Jesus. They gave them a bible and some food and buggered off.

This is no less than child genocide and I can't help but think at least some of the blood is on the hands of the missionaries who brought Christianity here. It seems the Christian Churches as a collective have taken a stance where they want as many people as possible to identify as a christian. It doesn't seemingly matter so much however if those people actually practice Christianity or even understand what the heck it is to be Christian.

But then I guess when most of the missionaries themselves don't even fully understand what it is to be Christian how are they supposed to pass the message on effectively? These organisations like Care Australia who routinely trade food and medicine for "faith" are appalling and have a lot to answer for.

As do the Nigerian Police and Government. They have enacted laws but still the problem persists. There is much more they could be doing to stop this extreme abuse of children.

But you to can help stop this, by emailing Helen Ukpabio at her "Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries" and telling her what she is doing is wrong, and why. Or by donating to Stepping Stone Nigeria to help the wonderful work they do.

Links;

Saving Africa's Witch Children Part 1 (Video)
Saving Africa's Witch Children Part 2 (Video)
Background Reading (Four Corners)
Stepping Stones Nigeria
Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries (Helen Ukpabio's Church)