Octuplets Controversy Pulls in Calif. Megachurch
A Southern California megachurch has been pulled into the media storm surrounding the mother of recently born octuplets and wants to set the record straight amid rumors of its upcoming role.
"In response to recent inquires and media reports, Calvary Chapel Golden Springs is issuing this statement regarding several inaccurate assumptions regarding our involvement with Nadya Suleman, the Whittier mother of octuplets," the Diamond Bar-based church stated Friday.
Suleman, who recently said she had attended Calvary Chapel, has been the center of a media storm following the birth of her octuplets last month. The single, unemployed mother of six was already relying on the government for support when she made the decision to implant in her womb six embryos created through in vitro fertilization.
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Though Suleman claims that she doesn't intend to remain dependent on public assistance for long, many have criticized her decision to have more children, with some taking their complaints to state Sen. Sam Aanestad.
"I don't think there is anyone who ethically thinks what happened is right," said Aanestad, an oral surgeon who sits on the Health Committee.
"There are 14 babies out there that for the next 20 years are probably going to need assistance from the taxpayers. There should be something in place so that this doesn't happen again," Aanestad told The Association Press.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost for a single mother to raise 14 children through age 17 ranges from $1.3 million to $2.7 million.
With emotions running high and some critics having gone as far as to issue death threats, Suleman and her first six children were recently forced to move to "an undisclosed location," according to her publicist.
The octuplets, meanwhile, remain at the hospital, where they are expected to spend seven to 12 weeks.
Amid the controversy, Calvary Chapel found itself pulled into the picture when Suleman said she had attended services at the nondenominational, evangelical church.
"She thought it was a wonderful church," Suleman's publicist, Mike Furtney, told Whittier Daily News. "She was more than delighted to take her kids up there. I think they went there frequently."
Though Calvary Chapel pastor Rex Wollins said he didn't know about Suleman's connection to his church until it surfaced in the news, he said members of the church did want to take care of the needs of her family.
"She is going through a great difficult time in her life, filled with a lot of anxiety, fear and a lot of stress," Wolins told the Daily News. "All the ladies in the women's ministry here are just trying to fill a human need."
The pastor's comments, however, were misunderstood by some and led to erroneous reports claiming that the church was involved with the establishment of a foundation for donation distribution, providing her with financial assistance, and helping her locate a new residence.
In its statement Friday, the church clarified its role, affirming that it is not involved in any of the aforementioned activities.
"Because of the physical and emotional strain these eight newborn babies will place on her and her six young children, they will need spiritual guidance and child care assistance, twenty-four hours a day, from her surrounding community, for years to come. Also, these pre-mature infants may continue to need ongoing professional care throughout their lifetime," Calvary Chapel stated.
The Diamond Bar megachurch said, however, that it "will not be involved with the organization or handling of these professional assistance programs," but that it "will direct individuals, who are willing to assist Ms. Suleman, to the already established web sites that are committed to organizing and supporting Ms. Suleman and her children."
The church also noted that it is unable to confirm or deny whether she actively attended the fellowship as the church is not membership-driven, but affirmed that no one on the staff knew her.
"And to the best of our knowledge, Ms. Suleman's only contact with us was a minor inquiry regarding our Children's Ministry," they stated.
Calvary Chapel draws between 14,000 and 15,000 attendees each week.
