....for defending these monsters. :6ohboy:

from the New York Post:
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CHURCH 'CHORUS' KO'D
By KATE SHEEHY

November 5, 2003 -- Church leaders loudly proclaiming the innocence of the parents of four allegedly starved New Jersey boys have been told to shut up by the embattled couple's own lawyer.

The unidentified legal eagle, who agreed to take the case pro bono, apparently told parents Raymond and Vanessa Jackson to clam up too, specifically regarding an exclusive interview they had planned to give CBS's "60 Minutes II" correspondent Dan Rather this month.

http://nypost.com/photos/web11050320a.jpg

Tim Landis, spokesman for the Come Alive! New Testament Church in Medford, N.J., where the Jacksons worship, yesterday said the parents would now not be part of Rather's report.

"Everything has to settle down," Landis said.

Of the church's outspoken efforts to defend the couple - including helping the family peddle photos of the kids to the press - Landis said, "Hopefully, we didn't hurt [the Jacksons]."

As of yesterday, the church also had yanked the chat room that had been part of its Web site, "Save the Jacksons," after many of the messages ripped the parents over the alleged abuse horror.

The Jacksons were charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment Oct. 24 after their four adopted boys, ages 9 to 19, were discovered several weeks earlier all weighing less than 50 pounds and standing less than 4 feet tall. (the 19 year old was FORTY FIVE pounds. :grrr: )

The church pastor, as well as close relatives and dozens of others in the congregation, rushed to the couple's defense, calling them "saints" and "heroes" for taking in children no one wanted while struggling to deal with the kids' eating disorders. (Are you f*cking kidding me? Saints? HEROES? They're trying to say that the four boys - NOT related, mind you - all had the same "eating disorder". What kind of assclowns do they think people are???)

But state officials have already fired nine social-service workers involved in what they call one of the worst instances of abuse in history.

The children told authorities they nibbled on wallboard and insulation for sustenance after being fed a diet of only uncooked pancake batter, peanut butter and jelly and cereal. (They should be shot for making these kids resort to eating DRYWALL)

At one point, church pastor Harry Thomas defended the parents by saying peanut butter and jelly is nutritious. (Is this f*cking fool for real? :6ohboy: )
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This pisses me off beyond all reason. Bad enough these two morons actually obtained custody of these kids to abuse them, but then you've got something that calls itself a "church" actually collecting money for their defense. They should all be brought into a vacant field, disemboweled with a wooden cooking spoon, and left to bleed in the moonlight. :grrr:

I have been following this story and I am appalled to say the least. This is totally unacceptable and I REALLY think someone ought to be looking into this "church" and exactly what they are preaching.....

As for the lawyer, he's obviously friggin wacked, if he thinks he'll be taken seriously.

I would have to agree with Pagan on this one. Drywall is not meant to be used as food.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer
Raymond Jackson took exception to the idea that he and his wife adopted a large family to make money, Thomas said. They were receiving about $30,000 annually in government funds

Now you know the rest of the story.

www.savethejacksons.org

Damn Glenn....I really hope you're not condoning this, or believing all the propaganda on that "Save the Jacksons" page.

Maybe you should read some local NY/NJ newspapers first.

I grew up in the church and I can tell you that things aren't always as they appear.

People say that they had seen the kids eat--that's because people don't usually abuse kids right in front of people, especially those they are seeking favor from. I have absolutely no doubt that there are truths and falsehoods on both sides.

The evidence will point out, however, that the 19 year old was only fifty pounds. Let's pretend for a moment that all four of them really DO have eating disorders. If these children have been taken in with special needs, then you can be assured that they also have state insurance that would pay for appropriate treatment.

Drywall usually contains lye. You'd have to be awful damn hungry to eat it--it may burn your throat, and it usually causes diarrhea and vomiting. Raw pancake batter contains eggs, which often contain salmonella. That can do the same.

If this isn't abuse, then it's definitely disgusting, shameful, wide reaching, heinous neglect.

Either way, this is just wrong, no way around it.

By the way, it doesn't look a lot like she is starving, so it makes me feel like she was eating right in front of them.

I think the basturds should be shot Pagan. When i read the article you posted i knew there was guberment dollars involved. It shows how low some poeple will go for money. It sickens me to know that all 4 boys together weighed 139 pounds.

I posted the linked so people could read it. it's a total crock.

That's what I was hoping bro....you scared me for a moment! :lol:

I heard about this on the news. You have to wonder where the money was going, because it sure as hell didn't buy food. Where were these generous, helpful people from the church when these boys were literally wasting away from hunger?

I have seen churches who use their resources to open food banks for the underpriviledged. We have a church that makes holiday food baskets for the needy not two blocks from my house. And they ask for nothing from these families.

These people are ridiculous. Their pastor should be ashamed of himself for ignoring the needs of these kids, and his parishoners should be ashamed that their pastor is trying to gain publicity for his church from this travesty.

I cannot even comment on this intelligibly because I'm so hurt by what those children went through. :( Sometimes I hate people, I swear.. That church needs to be burned to the ground.
(sorry if that sounds harsh.. but it pisses me off to the fullest extent)

I'm speechless :(

Originally posted by PoisonGirl234
I have been following this story and I am appalled to say the least. This is totally unacceptable and I REALLY think someone ought to be looking into this "church" and exactly what they are preaching.....

The only problem with that is that these "church - goers" would argue Freedom of Religion. While I agree with freedom, the line needs to be drawn somewhere.

Just looking at that pic makes me wanna wipe the smirk right off her face. :grrr:

I have always taken the stance that if adults want to join a church and do crazy schitt in the name of (insert deity or person of choice here) for THEMSELVES, that is one thing, as long as they are consenting adults who don't suffer from some form of retardation that makes it impossible for them to speak for themselves.

However, these people who deny food, meds, whatever to their KIDS are criminals, no matter what pretense they put their actions under. Kids don't have a voice for themselves, they can't say "I don't want to do this because...." That's where some of the things that happened to me as a child happened.

I hope that these little ones (and make no mistake, even if he is 19, he is stunted at this point and has the capacity of a child until he is better) can find a home where they can get all the love and care that they need.

*STORY UPDATE*

from the NY Post:

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'STARVED' BOYS PACKING ON LBS.

By VINCENT MORRIS
--------------------------------------------------

November 7, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - The four starving children seized from their adoptive New Jersey parents are rapidly gaining weight, authorities said yesterday at a congressional hearing.

The four undersized boys - discovered after the oldest was found rummaging through a trash can for food - have together gained 55 pounds in just four weeks, thanks to a diet of healthy food and vitamins.

The quick weight gain cast new doubts on the claims of Raymond and Vanessa Jackson that the kids were never starved and had eating and behavior disorders that prevented them from developing normally. (Like anyone is surprised by this?)

The couple faces numerous criminal charges in connection with the near-starvation of the children, who were reportedly barred from their own kitchen with locks on doors and a sign reading, "Stop, think and pray."

Although none of the boys weighed more than 45 pounds when they were found Oct. 10, Bruce, 19, has gained 18 pounds and now weighs 63 pounds; Keith, 14, gained 16.5 pounds and now weighs 56.5 pounds; Tyrone, 10, gained 11.6 pounds and now weighs 39.6 pounds; and Michael, 9, gained 9 pounds and now weighs 32 pounds, officials said. (Wow....that's pretty good weight gain for kids with "eating disorders". :rolleyes: )

No growth hormones or other drugs were administered to the Jackson kids, who are set to begin abuse counseling next week, according to Camden Prosecutor Vincent Sarubbi and New Jersey child advocate Kevin Ryan, who spoke at the congressional hearing.

But the Rev. Harry Thomas of the Come Alive New Testament Church in Medford, N.J., responded at the hearing to the reported weight gain with skepticism. "I certainly question it," said Thomas, who suggested the gain might be mostly "water weight" or that they were fed junk food to plump them up. (Hey assclown....if they had eating disorders, they wouldn't eat anything now, would they? :rolleyes: )

"Did they have shoes on when they were weighed?" he asked. (Can you believe this dumb f*ck even asked this? :grrr: )

Thomas, who befriended the family through his church, agreed to testify on their behalf and feuded repeatedly with lawmakers on the House Ways and Means subcommittee.

(Here's the "father" of the family)

http://nypost.com/photos/news110703004.jpg

A flash point concerned a Jackson family video, which Thomas wanted to show on a nearby projection screen.

But Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) refused to let Thomas show his video, prompting new complaints that the forum was biased against the family.

"I'm concerned that it's becoming more and more a political issue rather than focusing on these children," Thomas said.

In the video, which The Post was able to review after the hearing, all of the Jackson children - including the couple's other biological and adopted children - are seen dancing and singing at a church banquet in February.

The children are wearing bright warm-up suits, with the boys arranged on stage in front of their taller sisters, who shout and wave their hands to the gospel music.

They appear animated, energetic and happy. At one point, the children all turn, drop to their knees and throw their heads back to face a crucifix on the wall behind them. (And just how does this prove they weren't starved? I'm really confused on this one! The parents and the sisters are all "stout", yet the four boys are 45 pounds....unbelieveable....)
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The audacity of this "Reverand" (is there a word in the English language that can possibly make me cringe any harder?) is beyond comprehension. Just the fact of him asking if the boys were wearing shoes shows that he cares little or nothing about them. Yea, "Rev"...they had 16 pound shoes on. :6ohboy:

Makes you wonder how much of the goverment money that couple gets is being deposited in that "church"'s coffers....

Some people need to be eliminated from the human race. Thats all I can say really. 45 pounds? my 7 year old son wieghs 48 pounds. My 12 year old daughter who is SKINNY wieghs about 65. Shoot these people NOW!

Why does it look like the 'parents' never stopped, thought, or prayed? Just because someone attends church doesn't necessarily mean they're a good person. The term 'Sunday Christian' didn't come from nowhere. Neither did 'Holy Rollers'....:rolleyes: