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Leo Mercer: Difference between revisions
→Sin in the camp
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From testimony given in the Supreme Court of California in 2008, Case #S045060: | From testimony given in the Supreme Court of California in 2008, Case #S045060: | ||
:'' | :''Leo Mercer, a self-proclaimed minister, ran the park. After Brother Branham’s death in 1965, Mercer gradually became more authoritative, employing various forms of punishment. He would ostracize people from the community and separate families. Children were beaten for minor infractions like talking during a march or not tying their shoes. Mercer would punish girls by cutting their hair, and force boys to wear girls’ clothing. '''There was also evidence that Mercer sexually abused children'''.'' | ||
:In | :''Deborah Chiba, defendant’s aunt, was an emergency room nurse. She was allowed to testify extensively about her own and others’ experiences growing up in the trailer park. When Chiba was six, she was called to the front of a prayer meeting, and asked to sit in Mercer’s lap to tell him her sins. After she reported minor infractions, Mercer asked Chiba if she had ever improperly touched her private parts or those of her brothers. In particular, he inquired whether she had ever put her mouth on her brothers’ genitalia or they on hers. She repeatedly denied this had happened. Thereafter, Chiba was singled out for mistreatment, removed from her family, and placed in a different home. One day she was told she needed to be examined for worms. A nurse thoroughly examined her while Mercer watched. Her parents were not present. A few days later Chiba was brought to the dining hall, where Mercer announced to everyone that the nurse’s examination had indicated Chiba was a “dirty little girl who liked to play with” herself. He called Chiba a whore and a lesbian. | ||
:''Chiba was sometimes whipped for minor infractions. Once her brother Johnny was beaten until he bled. In 1971, the year defendant was born, Chiba was about 10 years old. Mercer ordered that her hair be cut off to punish her because he had had a vision from God that she was being sexually inappropriate with young children. Chiba was beaten and forced to wear masculine clothes that covered much of her body, hiding her bruises. Her fingertips were burned so she would know what hell felt like. | |||
:''Doris Scott, defendant’s aunt, moved to the park in 1962 when she was 18, and left in 1975. At the time of her testimony, she had recently learned that '''Mercer had molested one of her sons'''. | |||
From a sermon titled "Godhead" preached by Lee Vayle on July 2, 2000" | From a sermon titled "Godhead" preached by Lee Vayle on July 2, 2000" | ||
:'' | :''At the same time '''Leo and Gene, two homosexuals,''' attached themselves to Bro. Branham's ministry, tape boys, which was allowed by God, and when they absolutely showed what they were, God warned Bro. Branham what would happen to them. And I saw the vision in the vision book. "Leave them alone. They will leave and go into false doctrine." Now watch: doctrine. People hate the thought of doctrine. They don't want me to teach doctrine. They despise it. "They will leave and go into false doctrine and destroy themselves." That's in the vision book. And they did it. | ||
=Questions= | =Questions= | ||