Injustice Within the Church?

Recently I read about an organization called New Horizon Youth Ministries, and a school known as Escuela Caribe. Located in the Dominican Republic, this was a boarding reform school that was supposedly Christian. The horror stories I read about it compelled me to look further to make sure that it really had been shut down (yes, the whole ministry was bought in 2011 and the schools shut down).

Apparently, this school had been open since the 1970’s, and the alumni told stories of physical and emotional abuse that went on at the school. Parents in the States sent their kids here not fully knowing what the place was like, and the realities of “the program” that went on at the school were kept mostly secret for years, until some students began talking about it and a documentary called “Kidnapped for Christ” was made about the place. Students were sent to this school for all sorts of behavior problems, troubles with the law or authority, and homosexuality; and this school would try to break them into submissive behavior in the name of God.

The whole thing just sounded so sickening, that people would be abused in the name of Christianity. In fact, many of the past students interviewed said that their experiences at the school had led them to be distrustful of Christianity or the church.

The church is supposed to be loving and accepting, as Jesus was; and obviously this isn’t always happening. Why not?