A Cape doctor has publicly condemned the type of pastor-led faith-healing rally that took place over the weekend at the Cape Town stadium. Several people were admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital on Sunday after they fell ill at the mass event, which was convened by controversial pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

In an open letter the doctor, who chose to remain unnamed out of respect for patient confidentiality, said that of the patients he saw after the rally, some were terminally ill cancer patients. One, a woman, had travelled on crowded public transport, stood in long queues and was transported home on the back of a bakkie “all for false promises of a cure”, according to the doctor.  Another was a man who had tried to walk to the stadium after catching a train to Cape Town to attend the rally, but had collapsed en route.

He summed up his feelings in no uncertain terms:

I am a firm believer in the ability of belief to overcome physical ailments such as Margaret Bellies’ arthritis, a predominantly subjective ailment. I do however feel sympathy for people with terminal illnesses who are fed unproven rubbish about spiritual cures, when all this produces is ongoing suffering.

So, not a fan then.

What is quite phenomenal is how lucrative a rally of this kind can be for the organisers. Pastor Chris is reportedly worth about R380 million, and one must deduce that much of his wealth has been accumulated through mass healing events of this nature, with everyone paying a fee at the door. Can you see him putting an end to that soon?

[Source: IOL]