Nasty Little Charlaton Revisited

Oops a rebuke. In my inexcusable audacity and ignorance in characterizing Minister Dale as a religious charlatan, his son is mortally offended. In defence of his father's sterling reputation as a healer of souls and broken bodies, one who invests his days with care for the needy, for the sole purpose of offering solace and hope to those poor souls who flock to his ministry, Mr. Dale's son slams the writer's ignorance and simple conclusions. Here, below, is that response:

"It's funny how people that do not understand something are so quick to speculate and accuse.
R.Dale does not have followers. He has patients that come to him for help, assistance and guidence. Most of these people have been turned away from the medical system that has tapped them out and do not have much to offer in return when they go to see R.Dale. As far as a person coming in and donating $20 or a person donating $1, they recieve the same. And, yes, their are people that do not donate into his so called basket. He is not the Easter bunny. Money is not the point of a non profit buisness. The satisfaction of healing or helping someone gives him full gratification. Is it for everyone? No. Can he help everyone? No.
R.Dale is not devious and patently crooked. He also does not prey on fears and vulnerability of people. Glad to see you've done your research on this.
He does not give people promises of a better life or that they will all be cured of their illnesses. He has a gift, a gift from god that works in mysterious ways. Not devious ways.
As far as being up on charges to discredit him. Anyone can charge anyone in this day and age because our government allows it. In fact, I could probably charge you. But I don't work like that and until the facts come out on R.Dale's charges, lets not speculate and accuse.
There are alot of things I don't understand in this world, but the last thing I would do is write something as discrediting and untrue about something or someone that I know nothing about.
Why do I know so much about R.Dale? No, I am not a so called follower as you put it. I am his son. Have I followed his footsteps? No, but I do know more about all this than you do.
So until your have all the facts on something maybe your better off sticking to your simple life instead of speculating on things that you have no knowledge or facts about.
G.Dale"

And there we have it, a son's passionate defence of his blameless and admirable father whose altruistic outreach to those in need should be commended, as far as he is concerned, not condemned. Allow me to elucidate further on my personal impressions of society's feral self-availers who seek their calling in preying on the vulnerable among us.

The Reverend Dale has transformed himself from private citizen to controversial public figure, and as such presents as one who is subject to public scrutiny. The media have expressed an interest in writing of his ministering, and the details that reporters have noted with respect to his supplicants and the reverend's business have been laid bare to the reading public.

A charlatan has been identified for what he represents, regardless that he self-portrays as an emissary from Most High. He preys upon the vulnerable, the desperate,the gullible within society. His vicarious defence through his son's response notwithstanding.

Spurious claims to supernatural healing powers are the hallmark of a very special cadre of exploiters of the human condition who promise to deliver the vulnerable from misery, instill hope, and then profit from their misbegotten reputations. These are those without conscience invested of a belief in their superiority, offering their sublime connections to a universal healer.

They are experts in manipulation; charismatic figures of self-availment; just another scourge on society. That segment of society that is ready to suspend rationality to explore any path that might promise relief from life's conditions that are so anguishing to so many. The exploiter may believe he offers hope to those clamouring for it, but it is a temporary relief from temporal conditions which will inevitably reassert their presence.

The spiritual hope and longing may be longer lasting; an illusory human pathology of those intimidated by life and misfortune, eager to accept support from any confident manipulator posing as a spiritual advisor by the laying on of hands. An emotional transference of assurance and hope on the one hand; a validation to the charlatan that the power of his persuasive overtures has a ready market.

He is either grandiloquently delusional and as such somewhat mentally deranged, or has purposefully and deliberately embarked upon a mission to defraud, lining his pockets with the avails of mock spirituality. A social scourge, a sociopath, scavenging on human fear, misgivings, misery and need.

One who preys on society's frail and needy is a despicable fraud, an indefensible charlatan, a social misfit seeking to profit from human misery. The Reverend Dale represents as only one of a veritable army of such poseurs. He is a free enterpriser, busily engaged in selling a tainted product.

That product is himself and his self-professed auspices geared to offering comfort and hope at an undeclared but anticipated, yet unqualified price. Many have obviously chosen to take up that offer. That is their choice. However, victimizing people under emotional stress is not a pretty occupation, nor is it advantageous to anyone in the final analysis, but the self-proclaimed spiritual leader.

It represents as an affront, an offence to human dignity, fairness and integrity. a nasty scam, preying on the frail. People, in their need, become complicit pawns in the fraud being perpetrated upon them by unscrupulous self-availers. The vulnerable are anxious to be delivered from their crises. The mass of suffering humanity present a great pool of potential victims to the self-proclaimed healers, prophets and faith healers infesting society.

In a free and open society which Canada most certainly is, anyone is able to express their thoughts and apprehensions. People are free to make life choices. Others are free to believe whatever it is they are told, most particularly when they have a dire need to believe. Defend the indefensible if you will, but don't expect others to desist from making their views known.