A CHURCH advert which suggested that a preacher could heal sick worshippers has been branded “irresponsible” by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The poster and leaflets for “healing evangelist” Don Double listed medical conditions including cancer, Aids and blindness alongside the message:
Are you ready for a miracle?
According to this report, an investigation was launched after a man complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the advert for the event at Cardiff’s All Nations Church.
Evangelist Don Double
The ASA agreed that the poster, and a similar leaflet sent to 15,000 homes, was misleading and could affect vulnerable people.
The church said the word “healing” should not have been included, and that Mr Double did not refer to himself as such.
However, the lying church told the authority:
People who had attended his crusades had been healed of their illnesses.
Oh yeah? Proof please.
The ASA said in its ruling:
We considered that some potentially vulnerable readers, in particular those suffering from the listed conditions, might infer that Don Double could offer treatment for those conditions. We therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible and likely to mislead.
The ASA said the advert breached its code on the grounds of truthfulness, substantiation and responsible advertising.
It added:
Because we considered some potentially vulnerable readers, in particular those suffering from the listed conditions, might infer that Don Double could offer treatment for those conditions, we concluded that the ad breached the code because it potentially discouraged people from seeking essential medical treatment.
All Nations Church apologised to the complainant, but said he had “misinterpreted” the claim.
It told the ASA that the advert did not suggest people should stop taking medication or change treatment for their conditions.
The poster was removed after an event last year, and the church promised not to make similar claims again.
The ASA has asked them not to refer to medical complaints in future.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
February 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I can imagine what goes through Don Double’s mind when he is performing his faith healing -
“…if this works it’ll be a fucking miracle!”
February 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am
They were “told off” by the ASA.
Where are the fines, imprionment etc. for breaking this countries laws.
February 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
To paraphrase Miracle Max.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Don’t see what the ASA’s problem is. Of course he can heal people. That’s what wizards do!
February 15th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Thanks nullifidian. Watched the clip. Been to t’video fillum shop. Bought ‘The Princess Bride’. F*%in’ loved it.
“My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die”.
Brilliant.
They don’t make fillums like that any more.
February 15th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
superb film – one of my faves.
February 15th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Meanwhile over here people can use their Flexible Spending Accounts (a tax-advantaged personal account commonly used for medical expenses) for “Christian Scientist services”, including prayers and other such claptrap. WTF????
February 16th, 2009 at 9:09 am
DOUBLE SPEAK
A long time ago in a world far off from here, I was a radio reporter in the Midlands and recall going to one of Don Double’s shows in a tent (as a job, not by choice). I don’t recall much of it, but do recall sitting in the front of his car to tape the interview. I wish I’d had the courage then to ask him about how he, a Christian who presumably believed it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, would wish to drive around in a car like that. To be fair to me, probably what disuaded me was the thought that I’d be getting into realms my news editor might consider irrelevant to the main story. And you can get only so much into a story. The biggest censor in radio is time.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Buffy
RE “Christian Scientist servicesâ€
I was a scientist (biochemist) in my youth and there are creatures that call themselves xian scientists. Most of us avoided them because you can’t have much in common with such joyless folk.
My interests were rock climbing, boozing and shagging. These guys attended church three times on a Sunday to do all the happy-clappy stuff and tambourine thrashing.
Monday morning they’d be in work still clinging to an irrational faith while sequencing a strand of DNA or pushing genetically engineered plasmids into various bugs. They could see how it all works yet still believed in all that bollocks. If they were ignorant it would be easier to forgive them.