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Spare the rod preacher's children 'at risk'Thursday 14 January 2010 The three children of controversial Amersfoort preacher Gertjan Goldschmeding have been put under social worker supervision for a year after their father admitted hitting them as part of their upbringing. Child protection officers went to court last November after the priest had said smacking is an important part of raising children. Goldschmeding believes in a literal translation of the Bible and uses the Old Testament words 'spare the rod and spoil the child' to justify smacking. The court said the three children are at risk of developing severe behavioural problems because of the abuse, which included being hit with a wooden stick. Teachers and other parents have already complained that the two older boys, born in 2000 and 2003, are displaying signs of dominant and bullying behaviour at school. Freedom of religion Goldschmeding preaches for the AAC-Jouw church which operates in Amersfoort and Amsterdam. He and his wife told court officials the older boys are no longer hit because they are older and alternative sanctions have been found for the younger child, born in 2005. Goldschmeding and his wife were arrested last March on child abuse charges and released after questioning. 'They told me I can no longer teach using that passage from the Bible. But it is not a doctrine I made up,' he told the Telegraaf at the time. Taking legal action against him is against his right to freedom of religion, the preacher was reported as saying © DutchNews.nl Get the DutchNews.nl newsletter in your mailbox: Click here to subscribe
I believe his Bible also advocates the death penalty for various acts including murder, kidnapping, bestiality, adultery, homosexuality, being a false prophet, rape, and prostitution. I would hope that he recognises how outdated and ludicrous these ideas are. Yet he still clings on to the hope that he will get public sympathy for physical violence against a minor. By Nick | January 14, 2010 10:41 AM It is sad when people who profess to follow a religion focus on one line only. The Bible advises love above all else, and it is quite clearly stated that children should honour their parents and parents should love their children. By AC | January 14, 2010 11:31 AM Is it not yet time to put away our childish inane superstitious beliefs in the paranormal? Darwin was correct in his assumptions.
By stevie | January 14, 2010 11:42 AM Yes its "not a doctrine I made up", but you fool, its a doctrine someone else made up...with key words "made up". By alanposting | January 14, 2010 11:47 AM The man is not a priest (2nd paragraph) but a minister of religion. By Simon Paul | January 14, 2010 3:17 PM What kind of smacking is he talking about? across the face in anger? Well that is much different than giving the disobedient child a spanking across the rear for correction. I was raised with having my butt spanked when deserved. And Yes! It's uncomfortable, but I wholly do not believe I was ever abused. My parents did it in a loving manner (hard to believe for some of you) and it made me learn what not to do or say and it helped me to learn to respect my parents. I do believe this is lacking in our society. I've seen abuse in India, Philippines and Mexico, spanking is not abuse when done in a authoritative, loving, caring manner. Yes there is such a thing as a right way to spank. By Jen | January 14, 2010 4:37 PM Phew..thank heavens they tracked down the abuser. Imagine what Holland would be like if parents here smacked their kids? You would end up with a society full of schools where kids were displaying signs of dominant and bullying behaviour. Imagine if the parents also had been smacked, omg Holland would have dominant bullies wandering round as adults! Frightening stuff. By jaycee | January 14, 2010 7:38 PM The point we are missing is discipline. By leon belgrave | January 15, 2010 3:39 AM I agree with Jen and I like the ridicule of Jaycee but seriously: every parent will hit his/her child in anger at times. Children can draw the blood from under your nails and if you are not prepared for that you may regretfully end up injuring your child. I stuck to the principle of never hitting more than 3 times and only on the bottom. It worked well and it saved them. By Frans | January 15, 2010 8:11 AM i couldnt agree less with the idiotic views on here. no person, young or old should be punished through physical violence. resorting to violence shows an inability or unwillingness for dialogue and negotiation. By hlm | January 15, 2010 10:29 PM From the Believer's Bible Commentary. The bible teaches,whether the modern"experts"agree or not. To withhold discipline from a child when it is deserved is to encourage the child in sin and thus to contribute to his eventual ruin. The parent who spares his rod might think he is manifesting love, but God says it is hatred. According to Believer's Bible Commentary,Dr. Benjamin Spock encouraged parents to be permissive. After living to see a generation of bratty, pesky children, he admitted that he had been wrong. He said, "Inability to be firm is, in his mind is the commonest problem of parents in America today." He placed the blame on, at least in part, on the experts-"the child psychiatrists, psychologist, teachers, social workers, and pediatricians. I personally believe every parent should keep their anger in check. Cool off first! then if you may, proceed on with necessary measures to discipline in Love. "Let"s remember,it takes a Nation, to raise this Generation". By Pastor Leroy Ware | January 16, 2010 5:24 AM Place your comments: |
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I am following a religion that allows me to do human sacrifice, taking legal action against me is against my right to freedom of religion.
Seriously, the arguments that people lay out sometimes really are ridiculous.
By Mattias | January 14, 2010 10:14 AM