Resources

‘Children need to be protected’

Education needed following abuse of child accused of witchcraft

Report by GEORGE LUKE

The African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) has called for greater understanding of child protection issues in churches, following the conviction of three people on charges relating to the torture of an eight-year-old African girl at an independent fellowship in London.

Marcia da Costa, an executive board member of ACEA, said: “Certainly, ACEA condemns what has happened to this child. However, it is only a minority of churches in which things like this happen. This issue must not be taken out of proportion, giving people the impression that all black churches treat children like this. They do not.

“Some communities tend to see children just in terms of good and evil – not understanding their emotional or psychological needs, or the situation they’re in. So they see them as possessed when the children are simply trying to cope (with life) in a foreign land, living with people who aren’t their immediate family. We need to educate people about child protection.”

She added: “Children need to be protected and loved. What I’d say about this situation is that that’s not how Jesus would have dealt with it. I don’t believe that God, in any way, shape or form, is pleased with this sort of thing happening to children – whether it’s this child or Victoria Climbie. That’s not God. People need to know that, and the law should come down hard on anyone who practises such things. They need to get in line with what is proper in terms of looking after children and keeping them safe.”

Sita Kisanga, 35 and her brother Sebastian Pinto, 33, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of aiding and abetting the physical abuse of an eight-year-old girl. The girl’s aunt, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of child cruelty.

The court heard that the girl, who was brought to Britain from Angola by her aunt after her parents died, had been forced to admit she was involved in witchcraft – following which she was subjected to a stream of abuse. She was cut with a knife, beaten with a belt and had chilli peppers rubbed in her eyes, in order to “beat the devil out of her”. Sita Kisanga and Sebastian Pinto were both members of Combat Spirituel – an independent church of Congolese origin, based in Dalston, east London.

When news of the abuse first came to light, Joel Edwards – general director of the Evangelical Alliance – said: “The Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance reject any practice that leads to the physical, psychological or emotional abuse of children.

“The welfare of children cannot be compromised. However, exorcism does have a biblical basis and is not limited exclusively to any particular branch of the Christian Church.

“Its practice has been documented in all major faiths over many centuries. But we would also stress that churches undertaking this kind of ministry should be scrupulous and transparent, exercising discernment between spiritual and psychological needs and act in the best interests of the individuals concerned.”

The Metropolitan Police has since launched Project Violet, an initiative which works in partnership with churches and other faith groups to prevent and detect ritualistic, faith-related child abuse.

Detective Superintendent Chris Bourlet, deputy head of the Met’s Child Abuse Investigation Command, said: “Project Violet is going to look at ways of supporting communities and seeking ways of preventing this kind of abuse in the future. We have no idea of the scale of the problem because up to now, we have not always recorded the purpose of the abuse. How prevalent it is, we have still to find out.”

The NSPCC called for a taskforce of African child protection professionals in the UK. Norbert Marjolin, the NSPCC’s national project manager of services to black and minority ethnic children and families, commented: This trial has exposed some beliefs in some communities that can lead to child abuse. We would like to see a taskforce of African child protection professionals who can inform and influence policy.”

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		‘Children need to be protected’ Education needed following abuse of child accused of witchcraft Report by GEORGE LUKE The African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) has called for greater understanding of child protection issues in churches, following the conviction of three people on charges relating to the torture of an eight-year-old African girl at an independent fellowship in London. Marcia da Costa, an executive board member of ACEA, said: “Certainly, ACEA condemns what has happened to this child. However, it is only a minority of churches in which things like this happen. This issue must not be taken out of proportion, giving people the impression that all black churches treat children like this. They do not. “Some communities tend to see children just in terms of good and evil – not understanding their emotional or psychological needs, or the situation they’re in. So they see them as possessed when the children are simply trying to cope (with life) in a foreign land, living with people who aren’t their immediate family. We need to educate people about child protection.” She added: “Children need to be protected and loved. What I’d say about this situation is that that’s not how Jesus would have dealt with it. I don’t believe that God, in any way, shape or form, is pleased with this sort of thing happening to children – whether it’s this child or Victoria Climbie. That’s not God. People need to know that, and the law should come down hard on anyone who practises such things. They need to get in line with what is proper in terms of looking after children and keeping them safe.” Sita Kisanga, 35 and her brother Sebastian Pinto, 33, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of aiding and abetting the physical abuse of an eight-year-old girl. The girl’s aunt, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of child cruelty. The court heard that the girl, who was brought to Britain from Angola by her aunt after her parents died, had been forced to admit she was involved in witchcraft – following which she was subjected to a stream of abuse. She was cut with a knife, beaten with a belt and had chilli peppers rubbed in her eyes, in order to “beat the devil out of her”. Sita Kisanga and Sebastian Pinto were both members of Combat Spirituel – an independent church of Congolese origin, based in Dalston, east London. When news of the abuse first came to light, Joel Edwards – general director of the Evangelical Alliance – said: “The Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance reject any practice that leads to the physical, psychological or emotional abuse of children. “The welfare of children cannot be compromised. However, exorcism does have a biblical basis and is not limited exclusively to any particular branch of the Christian Church. “Its practice has been documented in all major faiths over many centuries. But we would also stress that churches undertaking this kind of ministry should be scrupulous and transparent, exercising discernment between spiritual and psychological needs and act in the best interests of the individuals concerned.” The Metropolitan Police has since launched Project Violet, an initiative which works in partnership with churches and other faith groups to prevent and detect ritualistic, faith-related child abuse. Detective Superintendent Chris Bourlet, deputy head of the Met’s Child Abuse Investigation Command, said: “Project Violet is going to look at ways of supporting communities and seeking ways of preventing this kind of abuse in the future. We have no idea of the scale of the problem because up to now, we have not always recorded the purpose of the abuse. How prevalent it is, we have still to find out.” The NSPCC called for a taskforce of African child protection professionals in the UK. Norbert Marjolin, the NSPCC’s national project manager of services to black and minority ethnic children and families, commented: This trial has exposed some beliefs in some communities that can lead to child abuse. We would like to see a taskforce of African child protection professionals who can inform and influence policy.” © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.