Dad Sends Church Volunteers To “Save” His Adult Child, Things Spiral Out Of Control And Their Uncle Nearly Faces Charges Of Human Trafficking
All families like to bicker every once in a while, and most of the time, it’s not too big of a deal.
Sibling rivalry, miscommunication, remote control fights, finding an empty cup near the sink for the thousandth time and lecturing whoever did that, whatever – the thing is, somebody will find something to fight about at one point or another.
However, stuff is not always as harmless as most of us would like it to be, and the author of today’s story found themselves in quite a position.
A Redditor that goes by the name u/HelpedABrotherOutTA, who’s a church leaver, was visited by a couple of church volunteers. After a deep chat, one of them admitted that they wanted to go back to their home country as they’d realized that they were not a believer – but the problem was with the church coordinator, the original poster’s uncle, who happened to hold their legal documents hostage.
More info: Reddit
You know what they say: “Humans are the real monsters”
Image credits: Tony Hisgett (not the actual photo)
“AITA for getting my uncle in trouble and causing him to lose money?” – this web user took to one of Reddit’s most judgmental communities, asking its members if they went too far by going straight to the authorities when they found out that their uncle, who’s a church coordinator, was holding a volunteer’s passport hostage. The post managed to garner 13K upvotes as well as 1.6K comments discussing the situation.
Person gets their uncle sacked from his church job for holding a foreign volunteer’s passport hostage
Image credits: HelpedABrotherOutTA
The netizen began their post by revealing that they’d recently left the church, and to try and “save” them, their dad would frequently send church members to their home.
Not long ago, a couple of volunteers dropped by to speak with them; they offered assistance with anything the OP might’ve needed, and they had them help with the farm while they talked. They chatted about where they were from, what they planned on doing when they finally went back, and why the author had stopped believing.
A week after, one of the volunteers called and said that they weren’t sure if they had believed when they left their country, and after their heartfelt talk, they finally realized that they didn’t and wanted to return home.
The OP revealed that they were recently visited by a couple of church volunteers, one of whom admitted that they’d realized that they weren’t a believer and wanted to go back to their home country
Image credits: HelpedABrotherOutTA
However, the issue was that their coordinator was holding onto their important documents to prevent the loss, and as you may have guessed already, one of those things was their passport. For some bizarre reason, the coordinator said that he’d only give it back after their 2 years of volunteering were finished, and so they asked the author to speak with the coordinator as, surprise, surprise, it was none other than their uncle.
However, their coordinator, who happened to be the author’s uncle, was holding onto their passport and, when confronted, refused to give it back
Image credits: HelpedABrotherOutTA
Naturally, the OP went straight to their uncle to discuss the issue – however, instead, they were told to “kick rocks.” Once the person realized that their uncle wasn’t going to give in, they decided to threaten him with the authorities. The man underestimated his family member and told them that they weren’t brave enough to do such a thing, but that’s exactly what the post’s creator did.
The police advised the Redditor to contact the Australian embassy, which then resulted in their uncle being fined quite a significant amount. They also told the church member that he had three days to return the possessions to the volunteer, otherwise, they’d start the process of charging him with human trafficking.
Needless to say, the word eventually got around the church and he was swiftly released from his paid coordinator position.
It prompted the post’s creator to contact the police and essentially get the man fired from his church
Image credits: HelpedABrotherOutTA
Image credits: William Murphy (not the actual photo)
The author’s family is saying that they went overboard with the whole police thing, and they were also trying to guilt-trip them about their uncle not being able to get another job due to the number of physical problems that he has. Such slander obviously made the OP think about their actions, which is why they decided to seek out other unbiased opinions – and let me tell you, the fellow community members did not disappoint.
What do you think about this situation?
Fellow online community members shared their thoughts and opinions on the story
Image credits: Donald Tong (not the actual photo)
63Kviews
Share on FacebookThe fact that he told them AND you that he wasn't giving it back, he wasn't giving it back no matter what anyone did! That's the literal text book definition of human trafficking! You absolutely did the right thing by calling law enforcement!! And anyone that backed your uncle is just as horrible a person as he is!
Exactly! And they're saying OP should have done something before going to the police ... they did! the volunteer asked for them back and the OP asked for them back, that was two attempts he had to NOT have the police called on him.
Load More Replies...Not a chance in hell. That's basically holding someone hostage. Psycho religious zealots think the alleged work they do for God makes them untouchable and they can do whatever they want. Glad he lost his job. I'm not religious at all whatsoever but if you proclaim to be doing good work then actually do it and not shady shīt like that. That's what a cult does and religion isn't supposed to be a cult
Really irritates me how religious folks try to justify anything in the name of their cult.
I feel like if the guy was actually just holding those documents for safe keeping like he was claiming, then there wouldn't have been a problem; but he absolutely was holding the poor 'volunteer' hostage and the OP was right to contact the authorities. Scumbags who do this to people deserve everything they get in retribution. Indoctrinating other people into your religion almost forcibly and then using intimidation and other factors to keep them there is reprehensible. If your religion is so great, then you don't need those tactics.
If this isn't about Mormons (I used to be one) then some other religion is doing the same thing. A large portion of Mormon missionaries don't really believe, or have only a tenuous if-you-say-so belief founded on love of their family and heavy indoctrination since birth. But they go on missions anyway because of intense family and ecclesiastical pressure, and the threat that no Mormon would want to marry them, or that the parents won't pay for college. A portion of these non-believing missionaries get up the courage to admit their lack of belief and want to go home. The church resists, partly because it would open the floodgates of defections. "You mean I'm a volunteer paying my own way and I can just quit?" Although it's not policy, many mission presidents collect and hold passports and visas "for safe keeping."
Oh, and it's very typical to send missionaries to those who have left the religion — as if 18-to-20-year olds with little life experience and only the religious knowledge they were indoctrinated with have anything meaningful to say other than they believe in the religion.
Load More Replies...If true OP is not an a*s but his entire family are a******s. Holding something from someone is a crime and they should be prosecuted especially if it used for blackmail. No way on this earth is this acceptable behavior from anyone.
Something tells me that that volunteer wasn't so willing in the first place? Who is to say he would give it back after the 2 years?
They only go for two years, and then their mission is done. Then they go to college.
Load More Replies...Based on reading this, I will be asking every door knocking religious person who is not from here if they have access to their travel documents, as in, in their own possession. Otherwise I will be doing what this hero did and calling cops and consulates. Take down the cults and churches. Full accountability. You all know religion is actually one of the biggest traffickers of people (generally non-violent)
Eventually these fellows or ladies would have said something to someone else who would have made the call for them or they could have themselves. You can't hold someone's ID or passport without their consent. And even if they give to with consent they are by law allowed it back within 24 hours. This being sometimes it's in a safe or bank deposit box and they need time to retrieve it. Everyone needs to know this.
Wow. I am proud of the guy reporting his uncle. I have literally heard tales of passport being withheld in the rich arab countries. The results are at times tragic. The uncle got out light.
It happens in all countries, sadly. Controlling people love control.
Load More Replies...Passport is belong to the person with the name on it and the issuing country. Nobody, especially personal can hold other's passport whether it is for safekeeping or any other reason. Unless, maybe the authority the passport holder reside or visiting.
Yeah! For some people this seems to be a revolutionary concept, though.
Load More Replies...This reddit page is nuts. "Am I an a#$hole for reporting my uncle for human trafficking?" If you have to ask, you need cult deprogramming. Stealing passports and travel documents is way common with human trafficking and other abusive relationships.
I think he is sincere. He didn't report his uncle for human trafficking. He reported his uncle for keeping the volunteer's passport, so as to help the volunteer. He knew his uncle was wrong, but I don't think he wanted to harm him. Now his family is blaming him of ruining his uncle's life and he feels responsible. If he was brought up in this cult, those practises may be considered normal. "Churches" are very good at manipulating people and making them obey without thinking or questioning.
Load More Replies...Definitely not the AH! But my biggest surprise is that the uncle actually got fired!? He was doing it for the church/cult after all. Seems like they should be fined also. And an investigation into their dealings with other "volunteers" should take place
I think the uncle was the scapegoat, so that the church could pretend they knew nothing about the problem.
Load More Replies...I'm reminded of those scumbuckets who lure young girls from impoverished countries into Australia or the States with the promise of jobs, only to steal their passports and force them to work in shady "massage parlours" for 15 hours a day. The creep got what was coming to him.
If someone takes your passport? Assume they mean the worst for you, always.
OP's disapproving family should take their own inventories. "Uncle Douchebag" is able to do things like this bcuz those around him cosign it. OP didn't. Some of the most evil people you'll ever meet come out of churches- epitomies of things that are not what they seem. I wonder what else Uncle Douchebag has done under this guise. NTA & thank you for being a decent person OP.
Those who sow winds will reap storms. That's a Spanish saying I love. Uncle behaved very un-Christianly, and illegally, and refused to change his behaviour. He was given the opportunity behave like a decent human being and he turned it down. Life/god/the universe gave him a second opportunity, but he refused to do the right thing, again. The bastard got what he deserved.
The fact that he told them AND you that he wasn't giving it back, he wasn't giving it back no matter what anyone did! That's the literal text book definition of human trafficking! You absolutely did the right thing by calling law enforcement!! And anyone that backed your uncle is just as horrible a person as he is!
Exactly! And they're saying OP should have done something before going to the police ... they did! the volunteer asked for them back and the OP asked for them back, that was two attempts he had to NOT have the police called on him.
Load More Replies...Not a chance in hell. That's basically holding someone hostage. Psycho religious zealots think the alleged work they do for God makes them untouchable and they can do whatever they want. Glad he lost his job. I'm not religious at all whatsoever but if you proclaim to be doing good work then actually do it and not shady shīt like that. That's what a cult does and religion isn't supposed to be a cult
Really irritates me how religious folks try to justify anything in the name of their cult.
I feel like if the guy was actually just holding those documents for safe keeping like he was claiming, then there wouldn't have been a problem; but he absolutely was holding the poor 'volunteer' hostage and the OP was right to contact the authorities. Scumbags who do this to people deserve everything they get in retribution. Indoctrinating other people into your religion almost forcibly and then using intimidation and other factors to keep them there is reprehensible. If your religion is so great, then you don't need those tactics.
If this isn't about Mormons (I used to be one) then some other religion is doing the same thing. A large portion of Mormon missionaries don't really believe, or have only a tenuous if-you-say-so belief founded on love of their family and heavy indoctrination since birth. But they go on missions anyway because of intense family and ecclesiastical pressure, and the threat that no Mormon would want to marry them, or that the parents won't pay for college. A portion of these non-believing missionaries get up the courage to admit their lack of belief and want to go home. The church resists, partly because it would open the floodgates of defections. "You mean I'm a volunteer paying my own way and I can just quit?" Although it's not policy, many mission presidents collect and hold passports and visas "for safe keeping."
Oh, and it's very typical to send missionaries to those who have left the religion — as if 18-to-20-year olds with little life experience and only the religious knowledge they were indoctrinated with have anything meaningful to say other than they believe in the religion.
Load More Replies...If true OP is not an a*s but his entire family are a******s. Holding something from someone is a crime and they should be prosecuted especially if it used for blackmail. No way on this earth is this acceptable behavior from anyone.
Something tells me that that volunteer wasn't so willing in the first place? Who is to say he would give it back after the 2 years?
They only go for two years, and then their mission is done. Then they go to college.
Load More Replies...Based on reading this, I will be asking every door knocking religious person who is not from here if they have access to their travel documents, as in, in their own possession. Otherwise I will be doing what this hero did and calling cops and consulates. Take down the cults and churches. Full accountability. You all know religion is actually one of the biggest traffickers of people (generally non-violent)
Eventually these fellows or ladies would have said something to someone else who would have made the call for them or they could have themselves. You can't hold someone's ID or passport without their consent. And even if they give to with consent they are by law allowed it back within 24 hours. This being sometimes it's in a safe or bank deposit box and they need time to retrieve it. Everyone needs to know this.
Wow. I am proud of the guy reporting his uncle. I have literally heard tales of passport being withheld in the rich arab countries. The results are at times tragic. The uncle got out light.
It happens in all countries, sadly. Controlling people love control.
Load More Replies...Passport is belong to the person with the name on it and the issuing country. Nobody, especially personal can hold other's passport whether it is for safekeeping or any other reason. Unless, maybe the authority the passport holder reside or visiting.
Yeah! For some people this seems to be a revolutionary concept, though.
Load More Replies...This reddit page is nuts. "Am I an a#$hole for reporting my uncle for human trafficking?" If you have to ask, you need cult deprogramming. Stealing passports and travel documents is way common with human trafficking and other abusive relationships.
I think he is sincere. He didn't report his uncle for human trafficking. He reported his uncle for keeping the volunteer's passport, so as to help the volunteer. He knew his uncle was wrong, but I don't think he wanted to harm him. Now his family is blaming him of ruining his uncle's life and he feels responsible. If he was brought up in this cult, those practises may be considered normal. "Churches" are very good at manipulating people and making them obey without thinking or questioning.
Load More Replies...Definitely not the AH! But my biggest surprise is that the uncle actually got fired!? He was doing it for the church/cult after all. Seems like they should be fined also. And an investigation into their dealings with other "volunteers" should take place
I think the uncle was the scapegoat, so that the church could pretend they knew nothing about the problem.
Load More Replies...I'm reminded of those scumbuckets who lure young girls from impoverished countries into Australia or the States with the promise of jobs, only to steal their passports and force them to work in shady "massage parlours" for 15 hours a day. The creep got what was coming to him.
If someone takes your passport? Assume they mean the worst for you, always.
OP's disapproving family should take their own inventories. "Uncle Douchebag" is able to do things like this bcuz those around him cosign it. OP didn't. Some of the most evil people you'll ever meet come out of churches- epitomies of things that are not what they seem. I wonder what else Uncle Douchebag has done under this guise. NTA & thank you for being a decent person OP.
Those who sow winds will reap storms. That's a Spanish saying I love. Uncle behaved very un-Christianly, and illegally, and refused to change his behaviour. He was given the opportunity behave like a decent human being and he turned it down. Life/god/the universe gave him a second opportunity, but he refused to do the right thing, again. The bastard got what he deserved.
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