When Good Intentions Go Awry

This recent mess -- the Baptists from Idaho who decided to go to the rescue of Haitian children orphaned by the earthquake because God told them to -- has had me shaking my head.

Certainly I understand to desire to help but this little mission of good will appears to have been fueled by equal parts of ignorance and arrogance --  Of course these children will be better off with us -- we're Americans and Christians!

Never mind that many of the children weren't orphans.  Never mind that Haiti is pretty strongly Roman Catholic. Never mind that in the US this would be considered kidnapping.

Oh wait, it's considered kidnapping in Haiti?  Who knew that third world countries had laws?

Michael Rowe said it better than I can -- with lots of good links to back up his statements.

Haiti is already struggling with the devastation of a monster earthquake.  Its children have been the victims of child traffickers in the past -- small wonder the government is taking this matter seriously. 

And now, in the midst of all the turmoil, with bodies still unburied and food still scarce, the government has this gang of clueless do-gooders on their hands. (Their lawyer says they are being treated very badly -- there is no air conditioning.) 

So, was it God telling them to do this (the same God who sent the earthquake, according to Pat Robertson) or was it their own egos?


I know what I'm betting on.