Bradenton ‘church’ promotes drinking bleach to cure COVID-19. They recommended it to Trump

A Bradenton-based organization that promotes drinking industrial-grade bleach as a cure for COVID-19 and other diseases and conditions has been ordered to stop sales of its “Miracle Mineral Solution.”

The group, known as Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, has used religious messaging around its medically unproven — and, according to medical experts, potentially lethal — treatments for years. Its chemical products are referred to as “sacraments” and its members as “bishops.”

Mark Grenon, Genesis II’s leader, said he had written a letter touting his solution’s disease-killing qualities to President Donald Trump, who caused an uproar last week for suggesting that injecting a disinfectant into COVID-19 patients might kill the coronavirus.

A temporary injunction filed on April 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida names Genesis, which is operated from a residence in the 2000 block of Garden Lane in Bradenton, as well as Mark Grenon, Joseph Grenon, Jordan Grenon and Jonathan Grenon, as defendants.

“The complaint alleges that defendants’ disease-related treatment claims are unsupported by any well-controlled clinical studies or other credible scientific substantiation,” the Department of Justice said in a press release. “Additionally, the complaint asserts that MMS’s labeling is false and misleading and that since defendants make disease-related treatment claims about MMS in the absence of any clinical data, the products are misbranded.”

The Food and Drug Administration requested the injunction after a previous warning and request to stop sales sent to the organization were met with outright refusal.

Genesis II leader is defiant

“We can say cure, heal and treat as a Free Church,” Genesis reportedly said in a response letter. “There will be NO corrective actions on our part. ... You have no authority over us! ... Never going to happen.”

During a weekly video update posted on April 19, Genesis leader Mark Grenon lashed out at the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, which also signed off on the warning letter.

“Who are they? They’re nobody,” Grenon said. “They’re a frickin’ agency that doesn’t even do their job. They’re paid off.”

In the same update, Grenon also said that he had written a letter promoting the supposed COVID-19 cure to Trump.

“Dear Mr. President, sir, I pray that this letter gets to you and finds you well,” Grenon read. “I am praying you read this letter and intervene and look into the FDA attacking our church and our sacraments by calling them fraudulent.”

Grenon went on the argue that the church has trained people in “self-care” in more than 140 countries for 10 years.

“It seems if you mention anything can rid the body of COVID-19 not approved by the FDA, you get attacked,” Grenon said.

Group’s leader reaches out to Trump

Grenon said that 20 to 30 more people that he knew had written letters to the president, as well.

“I pray for you all the time,” Grenon closed the letter. “You are doing a good job cleaning the swamp. The FDA and CDC are the swamp rats.”

It is unknown if the president received or read the letter.

But on Thursday, Trump made controversial remarks about the potential of injecting disinfectant into people’s lungs to kill COVID-19. The remarks prompted backlash from the medical community and statements from manufacturers of several cleaning products strongly advising against such use of the chemicals.

Trump later said that he was being “sarcastic” towards reporters, “just to see what would happen.” But in video footage of a news conference, the president’s remarks appear to be in earnest and directed towards coronavirus task force leader Dr. Deborah Birx, not the press.

The Grenons have claimed that their MMS product is not bleach. However, when used as directed, it produces an industrial-grade bleaching agent known as chlorine dioxide.

While the Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of chlorine dioxide for water treatment in amounts of up to .8 milligrams per liter, the agent is present at dramatically higher, unsafe levels in MMS, according to health officials.

The Genesis MMS products were offered in exchange for “donations” to the organization, and marketed as safe for both adults and children.

Sales have been suspended on the organization’s website, and a message on the homepage reads: “During these difficult and trying times, we are in prayer and seeking The LORD’s wisdom & guidance. Please pray for us.”

However, Mark Grenon continues to defend the MMS treatments in online audio and video updates.

“At this time my family and I are in prayer,” Jonathan Grenon said in an email on Monday in response to a request for comment from the Bradenton Herald. “We are seeking what Christ wants our next steps to be.”

Grenon also provided a link to a video published Sunday night on BitChute, a fringe video platform known for hosting far-right political commentary and conspiracy theories.

“Recently, if you’ve been following us, or even if you haven’t, you might see in the media — as Donald Trump would say, fake news — that we are not a church,” Grenon said. “We’re being accused of being a fraudulent church.”

In the video, Grenon says Genesis is being attacked and wrongfully accused, but fails to dispute any of the claims about the harmful qualities of MMS made by doctors and government agencies.

“People seem to not know how to heal themselves naturally,” Grenon said. “And this a way God has given us, to bring it to the world. And I apologize again to those that can’t acquire it,” he added. “If you seek you shall find.”

Grenon then mixes what appears to be the Genesis MMS product and water on camera and proceeds to chug a glass of it.

“Genesis II church has been going on for awhile now, and there’s no need to stop,” Grennon also said in the video. “Cause the world needs us more, now than ever.”

Bradenton group putting people ‘at risk,’ feds say

The temporary injunction against the Bradenton organization will expire on May 1, and a hearing will take place that same day to extend it.

“The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove to receive a permanent injunction against the defendants,” the Department of Justice said the day the injunction was obtained.

Both the DOJ and the FDA vowed to fight the organization if it does not cease to sell the products.

“The Department of Justice will take swift action to protect consumers from illegal and potentially harmful products being offered to treat COVID-19,” Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt said in a press release on the day of the injunction. “We will continue to work closely alongside our partners at the Food and Drug Administration to quickly shut down those selling illegal products during this pandemic.”

“Despite a previous warning, the Genesis II Church of Healing has continued to actively place consumers at risk by peddling potentially dangerous and unapproved chlorine dioxide products,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said in a separate statement. “We will not stand for this, and the FDA remains fully committed to taking strong enforcement action against any sellers who place unsuspecting American consumers at risk by offering their unproven products to treat serious diseases.”

This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.