Mercy being sly…again

Mercy has changed their  FAQ:

What happens if a resident has concerns with her treatment at Mercy Ministries?
Mercy Ministries International has helped over 2,000 residents in its nearly 30 years of operation, and in a recent survey of former Mercy Ministries of America residents, 93 percent of respondents said Mercy Ministries “transformed their lives and restored their hope.” However, in any treatment program, some will inevitably have questions or concerns, which is why Mercy Ministries has a process in place for current and former residents to air grievances without fear of retribution.” [source]

Now at face value this is a great thing – a program should have a process in place as part of best practice.  I would even add that as part of this process residents should be advised of external avenues of complaint if they feel that they may not be appropriately treated internally.

But here is where I am cynical – the transient nature of the Internet allows organisation to make it appear as if it were always this way.  Does Mercy say what prompted this change?  Was it perhaps the attention of the press surrounding the scandal in Australia and America?

As with the Change to Mercy’s treatment program from Restoring the Foundations to Choices that Bring Change we hear nothing behind the reasons for these changes, what prompted them.

Seems very odd to me that you would change a program that delivers success rates of upwards of 90% [cough] marketing spin [cough] at roughly the same time that the scandal is hitting in the US.  That is if indeed there is a real change and mercy residents aren’t just receiving  Restoring the Foundations   under another name.

The honest thing, the right thing to do would be

1. to admit they had somethings wrong
2. show they have capacity to change, to respond to criticism

But I don’t know if they can do this – the mindset is that they are backed by God, are beyond reproach, infallible.  Notice that they  say

in any treatment program, some will inevitably have questions or concerns

It’s not about people having valid complaints, it’s Mercy acknowledging that people may not agree with them, not about Mercy being wrong or being open to changing the program – oh,  but this is how they want it to appear.

All I get from this is that Mercy is happy to hear your complaint, not that they will necessarily do anything about it.

Perhaps I am too cynical, or perhaps I have just observed Mercy in action.

No I think this is Mercy just ensuring that they “look the goods”.

Related posts:

1. Privacy Commissioner to make inquiries into Mercy Ministries refusal This email was forwarded to me, by an ex-mercy member...
2. Mercy Ministries opens up on the reasons for organisational change Sean questions the reason for the reformation of Mercy Ministries...
3. British Press to talk with Ex-Mercy Ministries UK Residents The British Press are interested in anyone who may have...