A Homophobic Pastor in Harlem Locked Students in Basement

James Manning, the homophobic pastor of Atlah World Missionary Church in Harlem, has run a school inside his church that delievers cruel punishments upon children for years.

A new investigation from HuffPost discovered that the school has a history of locking children in a basement while denying food, psychologically estranging children from parents and told gay students they were evil "faggots."

Manning has recently developed a celebrity reputation, first for provocative signs posted on signs for a New York church, and then for regular segments of The Daily Show. He's accused Starbucks of putting "sodomite semen" in coffee and attacked Barack Obama's dead mother as "white trash." And he's turned on President Trump, posting signs at his church accusing the Republican of having sex with his daughter, Ivanka.

But the investigation suggests there's more than mockery-worthy rhetoric inside Manning's private school. Sources described Manning's church as a dangerous cult.

Much of the story centers around Hassan, who was locked in a dark basement for days after the school found out he was having sex with his girlfriend. His parents consented to the punishment.

Another student, Joshua Farr, was kicked out of school after Manning accused him of being gay, which resulted in Farr being kicked out of his home. At the time, Farr said he considered Manning to be the "closest thing to God," but he now no longer believes in God.

Manning is still pastor at the church and did not respond to requests for comment on the story.