His visit, along with that of fellow millionaire faith healer Kenneth Copeland next month, have been pre-empted by Australian church authorities who believe claims of miracle healings should be investigated by government.

St Paul's Theological College academic dean Reverend Dr David Pascoe said a secular authority was needed to test claims of miracle healings to protect people's rights.

Some (evangelists) appear to be their own authority and if one of the Government's charges is to protect people's rights, then a secular authority could do that — we do it for consumer goods, Dr Pascoe said.

Although Hinn calls himself a pastor, he has no theological training and therefore cannot have his claims censured by higher authorities.

Brisbane Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby said he was disappointed by people attracted by signs and wonders holding unreal expectations.

The Church would come down on us like a tonne of bricks if we made outlandish statements proven false because Rome carefully investigates acts of wonder or awe, Archbishop Bathersby said.

In 1998 when Hinn, who claims God appeared before him when he was 11, was last in Brisbane he attempted to ban the media from entering the entertainment centre.

Hinn claims that during his stage shows he cures the seriously and terminally ill, those with long-time drug habits and leanings towards witchcraft.

He asks for gifts, your best seed (money) or donations as he performs the acts. He imparts the Holy Spirit by touching people, with a small puff of the lips or by throwing it into the audience like a cricket ball.

Currently Hinn is requesting donations to enable him to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. Three years ago he was asking for $30 million to build a World Healing Centre and although the funds were raised the plans were abandoned.

Hinn says the massive donations (able to be given via credit card on his website) he receives are no different to those collected by mainstream churches.

Australian Catholic University theology professor Tony Kelly said despite the church almost accepting a long history of craziness on the fringes, all types of snake oil should be treated with extreme caution.

Bad publicity for the whole range of spiritual values should not be tolerated and churches need to be, while recognising God can work in mysterious ways, explicit in not letting simple devout people be exploited and they must give firm guidance on this, he said.

Any person who is humbly trying to do the work of God needs some money but once self-promotion and amassing huge sums of money takes over, it is not a good sign. The work needs to be God-directed, non-profitable, and carry the spirit of poverty and humility.

Churches want faith-healer's claims tested—The Courier-Mail, 9th June 2004.
It's The Benny Hinn Show—The Bulletin, 19th June 2002.