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Pastor backs 'miracle baby' claim

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A Manchester pastor has defended claims by a church it helps women who cannot conceive have "miracle" babies.

Benjamin Mensah said it was up to doctors to explain why the DNA of the babies indicates they are not related to the women the church helps.

The BBC has learned the Gilbert Deya Ministries takes women to Kenya where they give birth, often apparently after just a few weeks of pregnancy.

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has called for an inquiry.

The practice was revealed by the Face the Facts documentary on Radio 4 on Friday.

Reverend Mensah heads up the Manchester branch of the church, which also operates in Merseyside.

A Manchester woman is among those on the church's list waiting to go to Kenya.

The church claims women who had had "miracle" babies included those who were post-menopausal or had been scanned by medical experts to show there was no baby in their womb.

Others had only a vague recollection of giving birth and did not share any DNA with their babies.

One woman had 13 "miracle" babies within three years after going through the menopause.

The practice has been linked to baby trafficking, which is being investigated by the Kenyan authorities.

'Get facts'

Reverend Mensah, who leads the Manchester branch of the church said his own wife had had two children since she was given the church's help.

On the subject of DNA, he said: "In that area we need the medical profession to explain that.

"My own point of view is that God is able to do all things.

"I believe that the police should go to Africa to these hospitals to get the facts. At the moment it is all assumption.

"If the medical profession cannot explain, we call it a miracle."

The church itself says it is not surprised that the babies don't share their parents' DNA because they don't come from their parents but from God.

The practice has been criticised by Dominic Walker, the Bishop of Monmouth, who now wants a police investigation.

2004 Aug 13