South African Pastor Draws Global Backlash Over Controversial “Healing” Claims
A South African pastor sparked international outrage after claiming he could heal worshippers by farting on their faces, insisting the act released divine power from God.
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The pastor, Christ Penelope, first gained widespread attention around 2019 after videos from his church services surfaced online. In the footage, congregants are seen kneeling before him as he performed the unusual ritual, while he asserted that the supposed healing power flowed directly from God.
Some followers later claimed they experienced relief, but the videos triggered shock and disbelief across social media platforms, drawing condemnation from the public, medical professionals, and religious leaders.
The practice quickly went viral, prompting calls for South African authorities and church regulatory bodies to investigate possible exploitation, manipulation, and abuse of faith. Experts stressed that there is no medical or scientific evidence to support the pastor’s claims.
The incident reignited broader conversations about religious authority, desperation, and the vulnerability of believers, highlighting how extreme practices can emerge when faith intersects with spectacle—often placing those seeking hope at risk.
South African Pastor Draws Global Backlash Over Controversial “Healing” Claims