Wednesday 3 March 2010

Call for church to withdraw support for 'Courage to Heal'

Scientists specialising in false memory syndrome have written to the archbishop of Canterbury criticising The Courage to Heal, which they describe as 'misleading' and 'potentially harmful'.

The book, which is promoted in the church's child protection policy, could lead readers to suspect they were sexually abused as children when they were not, the scientists warn.

They put their concerns in an open letter to Rowan Williams in which they criticise scientific inaccuracies and "baseless claims" in versions of the book that are recommended by the church.

The letter was organised by a group of scientists who specialise in "false memory syndrome", where people having counselling can develop memories of events that never happened...

www.guardian.co.uk