An autistic 8-year-old boy died while wrapped in sheets during a prayer service held to exorcise the evil spirits that church members blamed for his condition. The minister who performed the service was arrested in connection with the death, which occurred Friday night at a church in a run-down strip mall. The mother had been taking her son to Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith three times a week for the last three weeks in hopes of curing his autism, said Bishop David Hemphill Sr. It was after more than an hour of prayer that a parishioner noticed the boy was no longer moving and called emergency workers, Hemphill said. The boy's grandmother said force was used, an allegation disputed by church members. “We were asking God to take this spirit that was tormenting this little boy to death,” Hemphill said. “We were praying that hard, but not to kill.” Hemphill identified the boy as Torrance Cantrell and the man arrested as Ray Hemphill, his brother and another minister who led Friday's service.

David Hemphill said he has not talked to his brother or the boy's mother, Patricia Cooper, since Friday night. Cooper could not be reached for comment. Police have not released the boy's name but have said they don't believe he was struck. The results of an autopsy also have not been disclosed. Church members had wrapped the boy in sheets to keep him from scratching himself and others, but he was allowed to sit “any way that he feels comfortable,” Hemphill said. The boy's grandmother said the boy had been restrained. ( Image: David Hemphill )

View: Full Article | Source: CBS News

Do I understand this correctly? These people were under the impression that 'evil spirits' were responsible for the little boys autism?

This just baffles me. Particularly this.

I recall another news post like this one a few months ago about a death that resulted from an "exorcism" gone wrong.....your right Aslan, what kind of god would want this type of treatment from followers....

I´ve heard similar things involving "cults" that gives a person (child or adult) "rebirth" by wrapping them into a carpet and such...There has been deaths there too.. even here in Sweden.
Oh they call it therapy:

QUOTE/
Candace died in April 2000 from asphyxiation after undergoing rebirthing therapy. She was wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by pillows to simulate a womb as therapists pushed against her for 70 minutes. During the treatment, Candace begged for it to stop, soiled herself and told the therapists she was going to die. Candace stopped breathing 30 minutes before she was unwrapped from the blankets. She died in a Denver hospital the next day. "I don't think there is any way anyone can read about this and not be horrified," said Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, Senate sponsor of the bill./END OF QUOTE

LINK !!!!!!!!

This is sick i would say.

First, this makes me very sad. What is wrong with these people?

How can people in this day and age, in a place where facts about disabillities can be easily found, be so stupid to think that an evil spirit had corrupted a child?
Every person is a gift and should be excepted for what they, if they have a mental illness, then take them to a doctor for help and advice.
If anything these people are the evil ones for not excepting a child for what it is!

I'm at a loss for words.

I've seen an exorcism before. It doesn't look very pleasant. Although it might have been fake. They said they felt the presence of satan himself. That really freaked me out for some reason.