An ASA spokesman said, "We are not here to stop religious or faith-based organisations from promoting what they believe in. But if they are making absolute claims about curing serious conditions then we have to see that evidence to back it up."
The man bringing the complain, Dennis Penaluna, was apparently shocked and outraged over the leaflet, "I couldn't believe the overarching, ridiculous, unfounded claims they were making. They can't be substantiated, it's a dangerous nonsense. People who are ill or vulnerable can be easily persuaded. They will grasp at anything."
Jumping to the church's defence, Canon Ed Pruin, who advises people in the Church of England diocese of Nottingham and Southwell on healing, said he agreed the leaflet was "Less than helpful, but I absolutely do believe that God can heal. I have no doubts. I think that one of the ways God heals is through medical science and the care of healthcare professionals. But I don't think that he is always in the curing business."
Canon Pruin is also a member of the Healing and Wholeness committee which has advised the church to amend the leaflet so that 'healing on the streets' is changed to 'care on the streets'.
Pick up your bed and walk, you are 'cared' for doesn't quite have the same ring, does it?
The overarching question is this: Can God heal and if the answer is 'Yes', does He heal?
I encountered a few people yesterday and having been told of their ailments, I prayed for them that God would indeed touch their bodies and bring them healing. Some of my colleagues tell me that healing is always there, but not generally physically, it's about healing mental and emotional stuff and therefore, even when the symptoms (and cause) persist, the person is healed.
Should we expect more?
Should we claim God (Jesus) can heal or should we just 'Care'?
Perhaps we should alll become secularists and live in the vacuum of self and be happy in ourselves and then again, perhaps not! After all, the ASA turned down my complaint about mobile phone betting because it made gambling 'fun and exciting' and that's what the advert' was all about!
Whoo Hoo!
