http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-16871116
Bath Christian group's 'God can heal' adverts banned
A Christian group has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had concluded that the adverts by Healing on the Streets (HOTS) - Bath, were misleading.
It said a leaflet available to download from the group's website said: "Need Healing? God can heal today!"
The group, based in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, said it was disappointed with the decision and would appeal.
HOTS Bath said its vision was to promote Christian healing "as a daily lifestyle for every believer".
'False hope'
The ASA said the leaflet read: "Need Healing? God can heal today! Do you suffer from Back Pain, Arthritis, MS, Addiction ... Ulcers, Depression, Allergies, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Paralysis, Crippling Disease, Phobias, Sleeping disorders or any other sickness?
"We'd love to pray for your healing right now!
"We're Christian from churches in Bath and we pray in the name of Jesus. We believe that God loves you and can heal you from any sickness."
The ASA said it had been alerted to the adverts by a complainant, and concluded that they could encourage false hope and were irresponsible.
HOTS Bath said: "It seems very odd to us that the ASA wants to prevent us from stating on our website the basic Christian belief that God can heal illness.
"All over the world as part of their normal Christian life, Christians believe in, pray for and experience God's healing; our ministry, in common with many churches, has been active in praying for God's healing (of Christians and non Christians) for many years."
The group said it had tried to reach a compromise, "but there are certain things that we cannot agree to - including a ban on expressing our beliefs".
The Healing On The Streets ministry was started by Causeway Coast Vineyard church in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, in 2005 and has been taken up by dozens of churches across the UK.
Nottingham church changes healing claim after complaint
The ASA said it needed robust evidence to back up healing claims
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has stepped in after a Nottingham church claimed in a leaflet God could heal a range of named illnesses.
It followed a complaint from the head of Nottingham's Secular Society who was handed a flyer while shopping.
The leaflet, distributed by St Mark's Church in Woodthorpe, said God could heal back pain and cancer.
The ASA said "robust evidence" was needed to support such claims.
Matt Wilson from the ASA said: "We are not here to stop religious or faith-based organisations from promoting what they believe in.
"But if they are making absolute claims about curing serious conditions then we have to see that evidence to back it up."
'Dangerous nonsense'
I couldn't believe the overarching, ridiculous, unfounded claims they were making"
Dennis PenalunaNottingham Secular Society
Dennis Penaluna of Nottingham Secular Society said he was shocked by the leaflet.
"I couldn't believe the overarching, ridiculous, unfounded claims they were making. They can't be substantiated," he said.
"It's a dangerous nonsense. People who are ill or vulnerable can be easily persuaded. They will grasp at anything."
Canon Ed Pruin, who advises people in the Church of England diocese of Nottingham and Southwell on healing, said he agreed the leaflet was "less than helpful".
But he added: "I absolutely do believe that God can heal. I have no doubts.
"I think that one of the ways God heals is through medical science and the care of healthcare professionals.
"But I don't think that he is always in the curing business."
Canon Pruin is on the Healing and Wholeness committee that advised St Mark's to amend the leaflet in accordance with the ASA recommendations.
"The words 'healing on the streets' is perhaps a little misleading. I personally would like to see 'care on the streets'.
"People want to be prayed for when they are sick. We are responding to a need," he said.
No-one from St Mark's Church was available for comment.
Members of the church have been part of the Healing On The Streets ministry for two and a half years.
The Healing On The Streets ministry was started by Causeway Coast Vineyard church in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, in 2005 and has been taken up by dozens of churches across the UK.
Other churches in the ministry have said they would now look at their leaflets to make sure that they are not able to be misinterpreted or misunderstood.