Nasty Little Charlatan

The Reverend Richard Dale - who operates the Dal-Grotto Mission - a self-sustaining and self-assertive messenger of God, whose life-work it is to defraud vulnerable, gullible people anxious to receive his blessings and promises of a better future for themselves and their loved ones is a rum one. How is it, one can only wonder, that anyone could be so deviously and patently crooked, preying on the fears and aspirations of so many people?

On the other hand, how can it be possible that so many vulnerable and trusting people can exist, turning their money over to the absurd promises of a fraudulent faux-preacher, enabling him through their eager complicity to deprive them of their wherewithal? It's certainly impressive, in a most depressing manner, that such people can exist and somehow manage to get through life without doing even more damage to themselves.

As for the Reverend Dale, he appears to have been so enamoured of himself as one singularly recognized and blessed by God, one whose healing propensities were so desperately sought out by so many willing to allow themselves to be duped that he thought he could get away with anything. Seems he came up against a woman who wasn't too eager to receive his sexual advances, and when he persisted, she launched a complaint of sexual assault.

Now he's in trouble, out on bail. No matter, even if the charges stick - and they likely will - and he is brought to justice, his reputation temporarily besmirched, people will forgive and forget; they always do, in their pathetic need to trust and believe someone with the charismatic promise and presentation that this man has perfected.

People, unable to cope with the diagnoses of disease and illness, seek his assistance. He places his healing hands upon them and all is well. He may or may not recommend that they no longer seek medical help. Instead offering to sell them his herbals, right at hand, beside the prayer cards. While they're at it, they can toss a Loonie into a wishing well and if they're really good all their problems will disappear.

In his white robe and distinguished bearing as a man of God, clients flock to his compound. They obediently sign a guest sheet and take a number, awaiting their turn in the long line-ups of supplicants. The good Reverend charges nothing whatever for the grace of his gentle administrations. Touching those anxious people, awaiting the miracle he will most surely deliver, he tells them they will be healed.

There is an 'offering' basket sitting in full view on the desk he sits at, ostentatiously filled to the brim with cash, deposited there by grateful clients. He charges nothing for his services, but who, in their gratitude, would be so ungracious as to leave without depositing a symbol of their gratitude?

The Reverend emphasises that, just like Jesus the Healer, he too never asks for remuneration. His skills know no bounds. He is capable of extending his healing capabilities to those for whom distance from his Mission in Eganville, Ontario, presents a problem. No problem: send along a photograph, with identifying name, and nature of distress or illness and all will be solved.

As for the charge of sexual assault, that too will be solved, after his court appearance, in due course.