The Bleach Church: Unraveling the MMS Miracle Cure Deception
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Chapter 1: The Birth of a Dangerous Belief
Imagine battling Crohn’s disease, facing relentless cramps, fatigue, and the inability to enjoy time with loved ones. Seeking solace online, you stumble upon a community discussing an unusual remedy. In 2010, Rhys Morgan, just fifteen, found himself in this exact predicament. Amid supportive forums, a product called Miracle Mineral Solution, or MMS, emerged frequently. A quick search revealed it was simply industrial bleach, marketed by a church named Genesis.
Fast forward eleven years, MMS is still falsely touted as a treatment for COVID-19, raking in over $30,000 in just a month. This narrative revolves around Jim Humble, a con artist who established a church to sell this hazardous solution.
The Story of Jim Humble
Humble claims he stumbled upon the essential ingredient for MMS while prospecting for gold in South America. When two expedition members contracted malaria, he improvised with sodium chlorite, a water disinfectant. He believed he had discovered a miraculous cure, although it only worked 70% of the time. Mixing it with citric acid produced chlorine dioxide—bleach.
According to the FDA, this concoction can inflict severe health damage:
“The product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health. The product instructs consumers to mix the 28 percent sodium chlorite solution with an acid such as citrus juice. This mixture produces chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach used for stripping textiles and industrial water treatment. High oral doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration.”
Regardless of the facts, Humble persisted, claiming that nausea indicated the body was expelling toxins. He even published a book in 2006 promoting MMS as a cure for various diseases, including cancer and AIDS. By 2008, he was selling MMS globally, catching the FDA's attention in 2010 after reports of severe side effects emerged.
The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing
To circumvent regulations, Humble established a church, inspired by the Catholic Church's ability to navigate scandals. He claimed to have treated over 100,000 individuals for malaria across multiple African nations. However, after facing backlash from missionaries, he relocated to Mexico, pushing MMS to cancer patients and expanding its distribution worldwide.
A family of marketers, the Grenons—Mark and his sons—became pivotal in promoting MMS in the U.S.
The Downfall of the Grenons
In 2015, the FDA received reports of a parent giving MMS to a child for flu treatment, resulting in severe illness. Despite the FDA's awareness, MMS was treated like any other supplement, leading to minimal regulation. A 2018 study showed widespread contamination in dietary supplements, yet the FDA issued only a handful of warnings.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation flourished, leading to the indictment of the Grenons for selling MMS. They faced charges of fraud and threats against federal officials.
Jim Humble, however, remains elusive, continuing to distribute MMS to thousands of followers worldwide, prompting the establishment of numerous sister churches.
Conclusion
In a climate rife with misinformation, Humble and his church exploited the vulnerable, selling hope disguised as a miracle cure. It’s shocking that a religious figure would profit from desperation. The need for stricter regulations on dubious health remedies has never been more apparent.
References
- Felton, R., 2020. Why Did It Take a Pandemic for the FDA to Crack Down on a Bogus Bleach ‘Miracle’ Cure?. Consumer Reports.
- Galli, C., Kreider, R., Ross, B. and Bartley, L., 2016. Shameless: The High Priests of Snake Oil Offer Miracle Cures. ABC News.
- Hirsch, J., 2018. Dietary Supplements Found Tainted With Prescription Meds. Consumer Reports.
- McGill Office for Science and Society. 2017. Miracle Mineral Solution is a Nightmare.
- Robbins, M., 2010. The man who encourages the sick and dying to drink industrial bleach. The Guardian.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2021. FL Family Indicted for Selling Toxic Bleach as Fake “Miracle” Cure.
Chapter 2: The Consequences of Deception
In the first video titled "Mark Grenon and Sons Charged In Fake COVID Cure Scheme," we delve into the legal repercussions faced by the Grenons for their fraudulent activities related to MMS.
The second video, "Fringe Church Pushes 'Miracle Cure' on the Sick and Desperate," explores how the Genesis Church exploited individuals in dire situations with false promises of healing.