In September 2023, Pastor Rick Morrow of Beulah Church in Richland, Missouri gave a sermon in which he presented the cause of autism as, "the devil's attacked them, he's brought this infirmity upon them, he's got them where he wants them". He asserted that the cure for the neurodevelopmental disorder was prayer by claiming to "know a minister who has seen lots of kids that are autistic, that he cast that demon out, and they were healed, and then he had to pray and their brain was rewired and they were fixed." Members of the pastor's community found his comment to be "derogatory toward individuals with certain disabilities." Their public outcry led to Morrow's resignation from the school board on which he was a member.
iN sePtembeR 2023, paSTor riCk MorroW oF beulAh cHurch in rIcHlaND, MIssouri gAvE a sErMoN iN wHIcH HE preSeNtEd thE Cause of autism As, "the dEVIL'S attaCKed THEM, he's Brought tHis inFiRmitY upon theM, He'S gOt theM WhERe he wants them". he AsserTed thaT The cuRE foR thE neurodeveLoPmEnTal DISoRdEr wAs PraYer by cLaiMinG to "kNOw a MiNisTER who hAs Seen lotS oF kIds ThAt are autisTIc, that he cast tHat demon out, And tHey werE HealeD, AnD tHen he Had TO pray and tHeir Brain wAs reWirEd and ThEy weRE fIxed." members Of the pAstoR's cOMmUNity found his cOMment To be "deRogaTory ToWard iNdiviDuaLs wITH certaiN disaBIlItIes." tHeir puBLic outcry leD to mOrroW's reSignaTIon from The scHool Board On whiCh He was a mEmBer.