Texas Mom Slams Scenes of Abortion and Suicide at Church's Haunted House Attraction

[one_voice]

PASADENA, Texas - A Texas mother said a haunted house she attended with her son for Halloween did not disclose it was operated by a church and featured images of abortion and suicide, KTRK-TV reported.

Linda Ybarra said she took her 14-year-old son to the "Hell House" attraction in Pasadena expecting to see "the usual Halloween things. You know, zombies and ghouls and goblins, that kind of thing."

Instead, she said, they were confronted with a graphic reenactment of an abortion being performed.

"There was a young lady lying on a gurney, and two nurses. And one of the nurses was reaching into the lady and pulling out a bunch of gunk, and throwing it on the floor," Ybarra recalled.

The Halloween-themed attraction also featured actors committing suicide and other sins.

"I quickly realized that this is not something that I wanted to be at," Ybarra said. "So I asked if I could leave, and they did not allow us to leave."

*snip*

He (the pastor) said the attraction's aim is to convince people to accept Jesus Christ as their savior.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/texas-mom-slams-scenes-of-abortion-and-suicide-at-church%27s-haunted-house-attraction-ncxdc-103111#ixzz1cPAZBb97



:eyes:

[virgogal]

1. Tell me that this is a joke. Please.

[one_voice]

3. I wish it was...

It's disgusting.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. It's the latest Halloween fad at several churches

They are disgusting. 10 years ago, we had to stop having Halloween at school because so many of the churches were preaching it was a satanic holiday and parents were threatening to keep their kids at home. About the time that died down, the churches started doing this abortion haunted house bullshit.

[virgogal]

10. I have never,ever heard of this, Awful stuff.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. There seems to be an effort to ruin Halloween

Between this crap and the phony fear about poisoned candy, our poor kids have a pretty shitty Halloween compared to what we had as kids. Makes me sad.

[MedicalAdmin]

40. There's a good documentary on this shit called Hell House.

It's been around for a little over 25 years brought to you by the usual assortment of snake handlers and psychologically damaged assholes.

[dsc]

28. hardly the latest

they date from when I was in high school (which was 25 years ago).

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. It's a new trend here in abortion hell Kansas

[TNLib]

32. Nope my friend went to one of these things and they would not let him leave till he said that he

accepted Jesus as his lord and saviour. No Joke these Churches are fucked up.

[caseymoz]

71. I'd tell them that holding people hostage is a serious crime.

Like, a felony, and it's something that a cult would do.

[Lasher]

76. I think I'll go to one of these things next year, hoping they try to prevent me from leaving.

I'll open up a can of 'Hell House' on them.

[Iggo]

43. It's the War On Halloween.

[snooper2]

65. No, it's just the segment of Christians who actually follow their holy book

[Warpy]

2. Yeah, brutalizing children always has that effect, buddy.

Fortunately, kids are pretty resilient and a few years later, would be hard pressed to remember any of that stuff.

The name "Hell House" is usually a giveaway to the religious nature of the exhibits within. Secular types have the "Haunted House."

Not letting her take her kids out was actionable, IMO.

[csziggy]

22. False imprisonment: "So I asked if I could leave, and they did not allow us to leave."

What is that? False imprisonment?

False imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of a person against her will by someone without legal authority or justification. Any person who intentionally restricts another person's freedom of movement without their consent and without legal justification may be liable for false imprisonment, including police officers, security guards, store owners, medical professionals, employers, and other individuals. Moreover, false imprisonment may occur in a number of settings, such as in a room, on the streets, or even in a moving vehicle.

False imprisonment is both a crime and a civil wrong. A person claiming civil false imprisonment typically seeks to be freed and may recover damages for the interference with his or right to move freely. Civil damages may take the form of compensatory damages (for any injuries sustained), nominal damages (a small sum to acknowledge the harm that was done), and/or punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoer).
http://injury.findlaw.com/personal-injury/personal-injury-a-z/false-imprisonment.html

If I went to something and decided I wanted to leave and was stopped, they'd better be ready for an increase in volume and an escalation to involving the authorities. Especially if I had minors that I did not want to see that "show". And since false imprisonment is not only a crime but also a civil wrong, they'd better be prepared to go to court over it.

Just because they are religious fanatics does not give them to right to restrict people's movements.

[Warpy]

27. It sure as hell is.

I'd be talking to the cops and making a big stink about it.

[hobbit709]

80. Cell phone. Dial 911 and say you're being held hostage.

[mike_c]

4. religious nut jobs, spreading the love....

Sheesh.

[yella_dawg]

5. The christians teach of an epic war between good and evil.

This "Hell House" phenomenon is proof that evil won.

[Kennah]

7. What, no scenes of soldiers stepping on a IED and being obliterated?

[MedleyMisty]

8. What is the psychology behind that?

Like, what's wrong with the minds of people who would set up a thing like that? And why are they allowed to vote and run for office and affect the life of the rest of the planet?

[polmaven]

42. I'm not really sure "psychology"

is a word that can be used in a situation like that. These are really dangerous people, in my opinion.

[seabeyond]

9. wow. just wow. nt

[PeaceNikki]

12. Sick sick fucks. Did they show circumcision, too? Perhaps a penile implant surgery?

:wtf:

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Papagoose]

13. My town has a Hell House and a Hallelujah House

You go to one to be scared by images of what sinners are doing and then you go down to the street for the party.

[appleannie1]

14. That is sick. And evil. What a thing to display for kids to see. Sick

[cwydro]

15. These are not new

and have been in operation for at least 20 years.

[one_voice]

19. I had no idea they've been around..

for so long.

I love scary movies and books, but will not step foot in a haunted house. My kids were never interested in going to haunted houses, maybe that's why I didn't know about them.

Sick and perverse, if you ask me.

[slackmaster]

39. Make that at least 30 years. I remember going to one in the early 1980s.

I laughed at the abortion scene.

I suspect the woman didn't read the fine print.

[MotorCityMan]

16. There is a good documentary called 'Hell House" about this

These are disgusting and horrifying. I hope this woman is able to sue and win.

[one_voice]

25. Thanks...

I'm going to find it. I watched Jesus Camp and was mortified at those nuts. I can only imagine what this has in store..

[ohheckyeah]

17. So I asked if I could leave, and they did not allow us to leave.

What? Isn't that false imprisonment? Fuck that.

"The illegal confinement of one individual against his or her will by another individual in such a manner as to violate the confined individual's right to be free from restraint of movement."

[seabeyond]

45. firstly i would not be asking, and second.... i would not take a no. turn around and go out.

that simple.

i am always amazed at people being sheeping and doing as told. i don't know how that works. i have nothing inside of me that would allow that.

[ohheckyeah]

51. I'm with you.

I would have walked out.

[guitar man]

52. Exactly

And anybody that gets between me and the door will get knocked out of the way :grr:

[hobbit709]

82. and if they tried to stop me. That's what cell phones are for.

[Wait Wut]

18. We have one here every year.

It's run by the "Potter's House". They've been kicked out of the Christmas parade because of their horrific float depicting a very, very graphic crucifixion of their Jesus.

[immoderate]

20. Nothing is too good to be shat upon!

You like your holiday? You like ghosts and goblins? WE SHIT ON THEM!! HA! HA! HA!

--imm

[NorthCarolina]

21. Good grief.

That's one F'd up Church.

[yella_dawg]

23. Not a church.

A nationwide for-profit organization that sets up in major cities all over the bible belt and beyond.

[NorthCarolina]

29. From the link

"Pastor Lamont Melrose of Potters House Christian Fellowship Church in Pasadena said patrons are not allowed to leave Hell House early due to safety concerns"

And from the OP "Church's Haunted House Attraction", and "it was operated by a church".

That's close enough for me...like I said, that's one F'd up Church.

[yella_dawg]

47. Scope

Hell House' Kits Selling Nationally

[KansDem]

68. "...said patrons are not allowed to leave Hell House early due to safety concerns"

Yeah, and I understand they're not allowed to leave GitMo early either...:eyes:

[Initech]

24. This is disgusting. The last thing that would get me to convert is to be scared shitless.

:puke:

[ehrnst]

58. You're not their target audience. They want types with strong "fight or flight" instinct.(nt)

[Major Nikon]

26. Typical fare for the Texas religious nuts

In the past they have tried boycotting Halloween, but that never did go over very well. So now they simply use it as another opportunity to flaunt their failed abortion scare tactics. They turn off more people than they attract, so I see it as a net positive.

[seabeyond]

46. mmm, i am in texas. we dont have this "fare". and a very very small group doesnt do halloween

i imagine you would find little difference thru out the nation

[yellowcanine]

30. I don't see how they can prevent people from leaving. Could be considered false imprisonment.

Safety reasons? - they would need to provide some proof of such a claim if the woman chose to sue their asses.

[LeftyMom]

31. There's a documentary about these Hell Houses online.

It's from 2002, so they're hardly a new phenomenon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6345UyRxtpg

All of the christian school girls getting worked up over who gets to play "abortion girl" cracks me up, tbh.

[sarcasmo]

33. They only care for the womb.

[knitter4democracy]

34. Frankly, I'm concerned more about the kids who act in those things.

The ones going through with friends or parents only have to deal with it once. The ones acting in it for their church have a much longer exposure, and it's not healthy stuff.

[LanternWaste]

38. Just like Dungeon and Dragons...

Just like Dungeon and Dragons... :eyes:

[Occulus]

57. No, not really.

D&D is a game and is marketed as such. It's fantasy, and its players know it.

These religionistas believe their religion is true, and that their interpretation is in fact how the Universe works. Putting aside the question of whether religion is healthy at all (a presupposition I do not completely accept), this particular set of beliefs cannot possibly have positive long-term effects, both for the people and especially the children acting in these 'presentations' and he unsuspecting public attending them.

[redqueen]

59. +1

[NMMNG]

35. "So I asked if I could leave, and they did not allow us to leave."

Who the &%$! do they think they are?

[Ganja Ninja]

55. At that point I would have picked up a folding chair and gone WWE on them. n/t

[guyton]

73. kidnapping charges anyone?

nobody tells me I can't leave ...

[Fumesucker]

37. "So I asked if I could leave."

Asked?

My two feet would have been carrying me to the door with my kid in tow, no questions asked, they would have had to physically restrain me.

[deutsey]

41. There would have been a real saftety issue for them if they told me I couldn't leave. n/t

[slackmaster]

48. They have to have fire exits, just like any other building does.

You can always break out a lighter, surreptitiously set something on fire, and yell "Fire!"

[ThatsMyBarack]

44. I like the comments....

At the link to the story!

[LanternWaste]

49. Hell House/haunted House-- a distinction without a notable difference in execution.

Hell House/haunted House-- a distinction without a notable difference in execution. :shrug:

[queenjane]

50. We have a full-scale war on Halloween in my part of NC

All the fundie Baptist churches around here do the "Hell Houses" each year. Sometimes they're advertised as such, claiming they'll "scare teenagers straight". Others couch it in "harvest festival" terms, and lure in the unsuspecting.

This year, our local small town paper's editor/publisher wrote an editorial about the evils of Halloween, claiming that paganism stole All Saint's Day and corrupted it (instead of vice versa), and the editor (a pointy-nosed fundie), warned parents against allowing their children to participate in "satanic evil". :eyes:

[TlalocW]

74. I'm in Tulsa and am a part time entertainer

Magic (which can sometimes get a raised eyebrow even though it's for kids or close-up stuff like cards and coins) and balloon twisting. People/churches routinely call me for Harvest Festivals, Fall Festivals, etc. where they talk about how they're going to have Jupiter Jumps, treats, games, costumes, bonfires, hay-rides... You know, everything you would find at a Halloween party, but they refuse to call it that. So I always refer to it as a Halloween party when talking with them because my Octobers are always so booked up that I don't mind missing a job for my own amusement. Some people constantly correct me whenever I say it.

So you're having a Halloween party on this date from 3 to 5?
Yes, a Harvest party on that date and those times.
Well, I always like working Halloween parties. They're lots of fun, and it's neat to see the kids dressed up.
Yeah, we're hoping to get a lot of them at our Harvest Party this year.

I've kind of gotten into it with my oldest niece who is just 5-years younger than I am. She sent me a video of an Australian preacher talking about the evils of Halloween, and how wearing a witch costume is the same thing as opening a door and inviting the Devil in, and how everything is a pagan symbol so it shouldn't be celebrated anyway. I responded back that if you take his reasoning for not celebrating Halloween, you could definitely apply it to Xmas since just about all our symbols for that are pagan. And I mentioned something about how the preacher should have talked about boys dressing up as Jedi instead of girls as witches because Jediism is essentially a religion now - or at least a demi-philosophy - amongst the more hard-core fans, and by letting her son play dress-up (he loves playing Jedi), she's inviting in the Devil to make him reject Christianity and take up a Jedi philosophy. And he sometimes dresses and plays as Anakins, and he slaughtered Jedi children! Etc. She showed me how lawyerly she could be in her excuses for allowing that but still claim Halloween is evil. :)

TlalocW

[Jankyn]

53. Here's video...

...from one of these things:



Check out the looks on the faces of the kids (and some of the adults, for that matter). What a f***ing over Christianity takes from some of its adherents!

[dembotoz]

54. the true scene from hell occurs every sunday during that fools sermon

if trapped in such a setting the perhaps best recoarse would be to get very profane and very loud
i think they would find a way to get you out

[rjj621]

56. People should be made aware it's run by a church

Prior to going in. I think a church or any other 'haunted house' can do pretty much whatever the hell they want as far as the depictions inside but people should be warned of any disturbing scenes. Most haunted houses have warnings of strobe lights and gore as well as recommended ages for entry. There should be a warning that a church is using it as a recruitment center.

[WolverineDG]

61. "warned of any disturbing scenes"

Um, isn't that the whole point of a haunted house? FFS. If you're too stupid to realize you might see disturbing scenes when buying tickets to go through a haunted house, then you are too stupid to breathe.

:eyes:

If they were advertising a "Tunnel of Love" & not a haunted house, then fine. But anyone willingly purchasing tickets for a "Hell House" shouldn't be too surprised with what they find inside, church-sponsorhip or not.

on edit: the ticket did have a warning that there was "graphic & violent content."

dg

[Rebubula]

60. It is silly...

...but it is nothing new.

Churches in Indiana were doing this back in the late 70s and it was not new then....


Christianity is just as stupid as all other cults.

[slackmaster]

62. Actually, I've found the Christian fundamentalist-run haunted houses to be the best of the best

If you want to be scared.

Maybe they should have a disclaimer "It won't just scare you, it will fuck you up for life!"

(Movie reference - Crazy People)

[Rebubula]

63. LOLZ

I agree with that....

[progressoid]

64. God will fuck you up...

http://youtu.be/75UeVLbkXeg?t=13s

:evilgrin:

[Dont call me Shirley]

67. The pastor does not know Jesus, Jesus didn't lie to shove his ideas down others throats.

[quakerboy]

79. Oops. I almost jumped the gun

I was getting ready to contradict you, seeing as Jesus did shove a few things down peoples throats. Like when he physically went after the moneychangers, or when he told people that the rich would not be getting into heaven, and that they should give away everything they owned.

Then I noticed that you specified that he didn't lie to do so. So you are right. But I still felt I had to post, since any Fundy who might stumble in here needs to be reminded that Jesus was a strong supporter/member of the 99%. Occupy Christianity.

[TlalocW]

69. A church in Tulsa does this every year - I finally went to it last year

The church is called GUTS so you know it's a fundy, we've got tell ourselves that loving Jesus is a macho thing to feel right about ourselves type church. They show the worst possible consequences of things like going to a party, driving to a party - car wrecks and parties eventually lead to Satanic raves if I'm remembering the order of the rooms right. Most graphic one was a dead woman in a bathtub, having drowned herself over her grief from having an abortion according to the bloody scrawls on the walls, etc. When you come out of the building that it's held in, you're automatically in a giant tent with church workers waiting to talk to you about Jesus. Three or four of them had surrounded a girl who was crying over the bathtub scene and were smiling at each other as if to say, "We've got one." A young hipster came up to me and asked to talk to me about Jesus and the Hell House, and I told him, "If you can honestly look me in the eye, man-to-man, and say Jesus would approve of how you're attempting to bring people to His grace, I'll listen to you." He couldn't meet my eye after that and let me pass.

They had really good hot dogs at the concession stand though.

TlalocW

[MedicalAdmin]

72. This.

[TlalocW]

70. One of my fave webcomics - SOMETHING POSITIVE - can give you insight into Hell Houses

The artist did a pretty good multi-day story on this. It starts here:

http://somethingpositive.net/sp10032006.shtml

TlalocW

[and-justice-for-all]

75. Oh that stupid fucking Hell House.....

I think they were in RELIGULOUS or some other documentary I saw, so dumb and ignorant.

[mzteris]

77. Church. Hell. Same diff. n/t

[Capitalocracy]

78. This bait and switch propaganda pisses me off...

I just got done translating a DVD set that has a trailer on YouTube saying they have marriage advice for young couples... but what they don't mention at all is the fact that the whole thing is a gigantic Catholic propaganda video, complete with why marriage can only be between a man and a woman, why you can't have sex before marriage (but you can become a born-again virgin), and why you have to have sex without any protection or contraceptives even if you've been told by a doctor that a pregnancy could kill you.

And just like with this woman, who thought she was just going to a normal haunted house, the trailer for these DVDs just say it's marriage advice.

I wonder what's next, will they be opening up candy stores, and when you walk in to buy candy they shut the door behind you and start spouting off about Jesus? Maybe they'll start driving ice cream trucks, and handing out Bibles instead of popsicles?

[Worship Money]

81. Sounds demonic

Why do Christians so often act or promote imagery that actually seems to be demonic or satanic? Just seems...weird.