Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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   You get drivel about aliens, abduction etc from all sorts of people, not just Christians – there are atheists, agnostics…

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   […] last time I had had occasion to write about Rowan County clerk Kim Davis, above, was three years ago…

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   Whatever is presented on the BBC, and I must admit I do not watch the TV, the fact is that…

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   “The curriculum had already drawn tensions among the county’s religious parents, with some worrying about appropriateness and arguing the material…

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   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

WELCOME Home Ministries Africa that exists to “To Love, Care, and Pray Destitute Babies Back to Health, or Back Into Jesus’s Loving Arms” found itself exposed to unwelcome attention after it was revealed that one of three childen that it had been placed with an American couple who settled in the Uganda was subjected to “inhumane treatment”.

According to a Sputnik International report back in January this year, Nicholas and Mackenzie Mathis Spencer arrived in Uganda from Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 2017 for “humanitarian work.”

They first lived in the city of Jinja, in the Eastern Region of Uganda, where they fostered three children from Welcome Ministry in Jinja in 2018.

When the abuse of ten-year-old John Kayima was exposed, the Spencers, both aged 33, were initially charged with alleged torture last December. A few days later, a court announced an additional charge against the couple: aggravated child trafficking, and it was reported that they faced a death sentence.

Nicholas and Mackenzie Mathis Spencer. Images via LinkedIn & GoFundMe.

However, it’s reported here that the couple have escaped with a fine of 105 million shillings ($28,000) after pleading guilty to lesser charges—child cruelty and inhumane treatment.

The cruelty meted out to the boy included making him sleep on a wooden platform and feeding him cold food.

The boy’s caretaker, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, she said in this report that she reported the case to the police after she noticed the deteriorating condition of the boy.

I wanted to leave the job, but I knew if I left without doing something about it, the torture would continue.

The caregiver said the Mackenzies had fostered three children, but only tortured one because he was stubborn and hyperactive. They accused him of being mentally unstable and, therefore, administered punishments and torture as a way of getting him in line.

The boy had lived with the couple for two years before they were arrested last year.

They also pleaded guilty to degrading treatment, working illegally and unlawfully staying in Uganda without permits.

For this charge they were sentenced to two months in prison, which they have served after they were arrested last year.

High Court judge Alice Kyomuhangi said at the sentencing at the end of last month.

The child was in need of help and support, having lost his father and having been abandoned by his own mother. Unfortunately the accused persons failed to manage his peculiar behaviours.

David Mpanga, the couple’s lawyer, told the Reuters news agency the boy had psychiatric issues and that the pair failed to look after him properly because they had no parenting experience.

Outrage over the sentence

This case has sparked outrage among some Uganda child rights activists, who called it a mockery of justice.

Activist Proscovia Najjumba asked how the couple were allowed to “walk away” after accepting they “mistreated a child”.

Darren Namatovou, founder of Children Phoenix Foundation, told the BBC that due diligence and background checks needed to be done thoroughly during the adoption process in order to prevent cases of child abuse.

In the comments section of one of the reports, “Sarah” wrote:

Let me guess they are religious conservatives that believe in family values like beating and abuse as the answers because that’s normal for religious people to do what they want to other people and justify it.

Four years ago Mackenzie Mathis Spencer took to GoFundMe in an attempt to raise $28,000 for spinal surgery but only garnered $4,995.

In the fundraiser she said:

I moved to East Africa nearly 3 years ago with my husband, Nick, and we have been doing humanitarian work focused on women’s empowerment and education. We are also foster parents to 3 incredible children.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn

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