Comments on: Follow up on the James Stabile story

By: isea metaphor

isea metaphor — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:34:29 +0000

Jim, it’s refreshing to see that some people stop and think, before allowing a brilliant socially- sensitive, chamelon, manipulator to illicit forth the emotional reaction that he is EXTREMELY adept at producing from each culture that he chooses to “cry wolf” in their midst. I’m not saying that he doesn’t have an emotional/mental disorder. How healthy is it for concerned groups to react like his parents did and rashly, serve right up the intended result that the mentally ill son craved and demanded through his ‘powerplay manipulation’ of an exposed social nerve? (Gasp!) How can I say this about our little victim poster boy. ohh! You have to give him credit…he’s good… and such an extremely gifted actor, he sometimes amazes himself I’m sure. The truth is, he is an individual that God loves very much, and he should be taught how to receive and seek out that love and attention from God and from others that love him, in a relationally functional manner. If I was a journalist, the first question I would probaly feel like I would need to look at is “what type of Bi-polar are we dealing with?” That is, if I was concerned about the truth getting to the public. Is it a bigger bang to just conveniently use the “Bi -polar” umbrella? Bi-polar type II is a mild – mood disorder.

By: Jim Phelan

Jim Phelan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:51:36 +0000

Just because he is home with his parents, doesn’t necessarily qalify as a “happy ending”. That’s a judgment only he can make.

Oh, and by the way, isn’t this an adult we are talking about? Folks make it sound like he was a stray dog or 90-year-old Alzheimer’s patient or something. Most adults with bipolar disorder (if that is indeed true or not) can function without assistance from their parents.

Finally, it seemed (and, this is a limited view, but hey so is all of this) that he was functioning ok. That evening he just finished a shift at work and then was heading out to socialize at a club. Maybe I’m missing something here?

By: jayhuck

jayhuck — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:22:54 +0000

From the article on James’ ordeal written by JOHN WRIGHT OF THE DALLAS VOICE:

“Thankfully, the story has a happy ending. After nearly four months, James returned home last weekend.

His parents said they feel it’s too soon for James to talk about what happened, and that they want him to see his therapist first.

They said James has revealed little about his time at Pure Life, which he now refers to as “straight camp.” James just told them it was “horrible” and that there are some things he will never be able to share.

James’ mother, Suzanne, said he told her the people at Pure Life constantly threatened that he was going to hell.

Men in the program had to be fully clothed from the neck down at all times, including when they went to sleep, James told his parents. And they were prohibited from any physical contact, including shaking hands.

When James got kicked out, his father asked someone at Pure Life whether they would buy him a bus ticket.

After all, James had paid $2,100 to get in to the program, plus $150 a week. But the representative from Pure Life refused.

Joseph Stabile has contacted “The 700 Club” and asked them to retract the information about James in the segment.

For now, though, James parents are just glad to have him back.

“None of that experience was Christian, helpful, loving or supportive,” Suzanne Stabile said.””

By: Eddy

Eddy — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:30:07 +0000

Re the dispensing of medication by the program. Technically, they aren't 'dispensing' them. The client already possesses them or has the prescription for them. Rather than allowing the client to have the entire bottle in their possession, they require the client to turn their meds over to staff who ensure that the client takes their prescribed dosage. I actually can't imagine any group recovery center 1) turning away someone because they need meds 2) allow those meds to be kept anywhere other than a secured staff area. Conclusion: This is very normal and standard practice and has been for years. Mike- I don't think you call it 'gossip' when the person is telling you something that might suggest they are a 'vulnerable adult'. You need to treat it as 'disclosure' and maintain a certain level of confidentiality until you learn more. If the stories hadn't been lies and the ministry had contacted the 'evil father', the client's whereabouts would have been compromised. It's significant to note that Michael Brown did contact Pastor Stabile once he recognized a pattern of lies. Would a therapist make that type of call or would they feel bound by 'patient confidentiality'?

By: James E. Phelan

James E. Phelan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:54:12 +0000

Clarification: pentecostalism, not necessarily the religion, rather the acts (e.g. receiving the holy spirit). It appears as so by the video, agents, etc.

Hence, I was NOT saying pentecostalism from methodism was something worthy of praise. Rather, I meant a spiritual conversion in general was.

I can not judge actual salvation, I’m good, but that’s God’s job.