former residents of Mercy Ministries include "emotionally cruel and medically unproven techniques", such as exorcism and residents being required to sign over social welfare payments to Mercy Ministries. Girls in their care are forbidden to reveal to others why they are enrolled, all disorders are treated the same because they believe they are all caused by demons. Since early 2008, the organization has attracted considerable media attention in Australia, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom, drawing criticism of their employment of unqualified staff, overall medical negligence, seizing benefit payments of patients in contradiction to their promise of not charging for services, and the use of demonic deliverance in their approach to treatment. One member of the Australian Parliament referred to the organization as "a particularly bad example of a money-making cult." The company's rebranding efforts from Mercy Ministries to Mercy Multiplied, but also including the new brand A Girl Called Hope in New Zealand, were criticized as attempts to silence critics. References External links Mercy Multiplied website Mercy UK website Mercy Canada website A Girl Called Hope (formerly Mercy Ministries New Zealand) Facebook page Interview with Mercy Ministries Founder Nancy Alcorn Christian charities based in the United States Christian organizations established in 1983 Organizations based in Nashville, Tennessee Charities based in Tennessee 1983 establishments in Tennessee Organizations that oppose LGBT rights in the United States Residential treatment centers