It's the church that sells miracles for money and now the Prime Minister has been dragged into a scandal involving one of C3's former pastors.

Photos on social media show then-Treasurer, Scott Morrison, was a guest of honour alongside C3 founder Phil Pringle and pastor Anthony Shalala at the opening of a new church in 2016.

Details of Anthony Shalala's affairs with three women who were part of his congregation were uncovered in a two-part investigation into C3 by A Current Affair in September.

It's now understood the father of three, who has since died, was paid $300,000 as compensation to leave the church following the claims of sexual misconduct.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been linked to the controversial C3 Church. (A Current Affair)

C3 Church provided "no comment" on why that money was paid or how much compensation has been paid to the women he had affairs with.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said, "This is a tragic situation, in so many ways. But it is also a private matter for the family involved and the Prime Minister's thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

C3 Church has come under fire for its prosperity preaching led by founder Phil Pringle, who lives a millionaire lifestyle off the back of donations from his devoted followers.

Mr Morrison, then Treasurer, was guest of honour at the opening of a new church in 2016. (A Current Affair)

Hayley Stewart used to be one of them - now she lives in homeless accommodation.

"If you're a poor person, you're basically not trying enough you need more faith you just gotta get back up and pray about it," she told A Current Affair.

The church is now under scrutiny for its treatment of mental health issues.

Mr Morrison appeared in photos with C3 founder Phil Pringle (right) and pastor Anthony Shalala (left). (A Current Affair)

Hayley joined C3 age 15 suffering from anxiety - instead of receiving counselling or medical advice she says a number of different pastors tried to "heal" her with prayer.

She says when she was 16, a young pastor by the name of Josh Kelsey, a university drop out and son of one of C3's top pastors Mark Kelsey, tried to heal her.

Hayley says Josh Kelsey performed what is known at C3 as a "deliverance" - claiming he'd removed her anxiety even though she was feeling more anxious than ever.

Hayley Stewart was a member of the church, but now lives in homeless accommodation. (A Current Affair)

She says she suffered panic attacks, and claims Pastor Josh Kelsey eventually told her to stop taking prescribed medication.

It's a claim that has drawn criticism from Dr Mark Cross, a psychiatrist who specialises in complex mental health issues.

"I cannot stress enough that it is extremely dangerous for someone to tell someone who's prescribed medication to stop their medication," Dr Cross said.

Psychiatrist Dr Mark Cross said it was dangerous to tell people to stop taking their medication. (A Current Affair)

In a statement, a C3 spokesperson said Josh Kelsey "emphatically denies" ever saying "she should discontinue prescribed medication."

"We have clear policies in this area which are never to advise people to change any medication without clearance from their doctor. If any staff member provided advice contrary to our policies he or she would be counselled and trained to more appropriately manage such a situation in the future," the C3 spokesperson said.

Hayley's treatment continued under Pastor Mike Connell, who founded his own church in New Zealand but is a regular at C3 events where he's considered an expert in "delivering demons."

Pastor Mike Connell (left) is considered an expert in delivering demons. (A Current Affair)

Bizarre videos reveal Connell leading what appears to be mass exorcisms.

"When the law of God is broken or violated that's where demons come and operate," he yells to the audience in one video.

"I ask you to forgive me, for concealing my pain, for agreeing with demonic spirits."

By the time Pastor Connell met Hayley, she was starting to have delusions about demons.

C3 draws fervent crowds of worshippers. (A Current Affair)

"I used to believe there was a demon rotting in my chest … and I believe that paranoia came from constantly hearing about demons and how they're real," she said.

Hayley was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.

"I'd never felt so paranoid in my life, I was terrified, I was absolutely terrified," she said.

"There was no one to stop what he (Mike Connell) was doing to me."

Dawn, another former C3 devotee, says her mental health also suffered whilst attending the church.

Dawn claimed she was subjected to exorcisms to end a same-sex relationship. (A Current Affair)

At 19 she was a secretary to one of the senior pastors and babysat Phil and Chris Pringle's children.

"I adored him. I thought he was a man of God," she said.

Dawn was a devout Christian but says she now can't even bear to enter a church - following the exorcisms she endured at the hands of other pastors, to end a same-sex relationship.

"Even to the point where one of the ministers rang up the person that I was seeing and told her she was of the devil and I had people lay hands on me, tell me Satan get out of her, leave her alone, she's God's child," she said.

C3 founder Phil Pringle lives a millionaire lifestyle. (A Current Affair)

Dawn says she's suffered permanent damage to her mental health from C3's attempts to change her sexuality.

"I ended up having close to break down after breakdown after breakdown and it still haunts me, and we're talking 25 years later," she said.

A C3 spokesperson denies that homosexuality is outlawed within the church.

"We believe in a God who is full of love and compassion for everybody regardless of their personal circumstance or sexual orientation," the spokesperson said, despite Phil Pringle's open campaign against same sex marriage.

Bridget Harris also left the church after years of devotion.

Bridget Harris left the church after years of devotion. (A Current Affair)

"I know in my heart that we're not the only family who have suffered at the hands of Phil and Chris Pringle," she said.

Her father Nigel Allan was a large donor to the church. He became a pastor too and was working towards his dream of opening his own C3 church franchise.

But when Nigel Allan hit rough times, Bridget says Pastor Phil provided no support.

Nigel Allan received no support from C3, his daughter claimed. (A Current Affair)

Nigel was diagnosed with a rare lung disease and had a double lung transplant forcing him out of work and eventually leading to bankruptcy.

He lost his home and ended up living in subsidized housing, receiving no financial help from the church he had devoted his life to.

"They had no furniture at all, they had to get rid of everything, they had to sell everything ... they had nothing … And actually St Vinnies furnished that apartment for them."

At the time Bridget's sister was attending Oxford Falls Grammar - a school founded by Phil Pringle. She says her parents had once paid the school fees for another student who'd hit rough times so her sister hoped Phil Pringle might now return the favour.

Her sister wrote a letter to the Pringles asking if they could help sponsor her to finish her schooling.

Phil and Chris Pringle. (A Current Affair)

"She didn't even get a response from Phil, at all. Nothing. Crickets," Bridget said.

"I don't understand how he can sleep at night. I really don't."

Bridget says her father eventually lost hope, and tragically took his own life.

At a funeral service held in a small chapel at C3's sprawling headquarters, Bridget claims she received one final insult from Phil Pringle.

"I'll never forget it I saw Phil Pringle walk straight past. He didn't even come inside to pay his respects to my father and that is something that I will not and cannot ever understand," she said.

A spokesperson said in a statement "C3 was aware of the serious issues impacting the Allan family and provided extensive pastoral support in response."

"Pastor Pringle's own memory of the events differ on many points from the account provided by Bridget," the spokesperson said.

But, as one video clip reveals, Phil Pringle has admitted before that empathy is not one of his strengths.

"I am not a counsellor. Do not come to me for counsel. You will be worse at the end of the session. I have no empathy bone in my body," he says while preaching.

Lucy Dolbel claimed the church's teachings could not be called Biblical Christianity. (A Current Affair)

Lucy Dolbel says she spent one year attending C3 on the Sunshine Coast before realising it does not practice what the Bible teaches about compassion and helping those less fortunate than yourself.

"By all means get together on a Sunday and have freedom of assembly, but you really need to be calling it something else like 'Pringleism' or 'Pringology'," she said.

"You should not be advertising that this is biblical Christianity because it isn't."

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Response from C3 Church

Q: We have received information that Anthony Shalala received a payout of $300,000 from C3 as compensation for him to depart the church after his extra-marital affairs became public.

Why was it deemed appropriate for him to receive compensation from C3?

How much compensation has been paid to the women he had affairs with?

A: C3 Central City provides no comment on the above.

Q: Why would a C3 pastor advise a person to stop taking their medication?

A: While Mr Kelsey remembers Hayley clearly, he emphatically denies having ever made a statement to the effect that she should discontinue prescribed medication nor of ever having advised any individual to do so.

We have clear policies in this area which are never to advise people to change any medication without clearance from their doctor. If any staff member provided advice contrary to our policies he or she would be counselled and trained to more appropriately manage such a situation in the future.

Q: How does C3 approach complex mental health issues?

A: C3's approach to managing mental health issues encompasses a four-pronged, consultative approach which is that they must have a: GP; a Psychologist; a regular C3 support person; and then regular contact with a C3 Pastoral Department Manager. All members of this team work together in consultation and agreement on all steps.

C3 is very aware of the importance of keeping people safe and not trying to operate beyond our team's level of expertise in managing issues of this nature.

Q: What is C3's position on conducting exorcisms for mental health patients?

A: Our interest is in the wellbeing of the whole person, which includes their mental, spiritual and emotional health as well as strong relationships and a sense community. This includes healing prayer and working with people's hearts and responses.

Q: What is C3's position on using Mike Connell to treat mental health patients?

A: Mike Connell is occasionally invited to C3 Churches and is an effective minister to the specific needs of people through healing prayer for wholeness and wellbeing.

Q: What is C3's position on homosexuality?

A: We believe in a God who is full of love and compassion for everybody regardless of their personal circumstance or sexual orientation.

Q: What is Phil Pringle's response to the claims of Nigel Allan's daughter Bridget?

A: C3 was aware of the serious issues impacting the Allan family and provided extensive pastoral support in response, including up until the time of Mr Allan's tragic death. However, Pastor Pringle's own memory of the events differs on many points from the account provide by Bridget Allan. Our care for people is not based on their giving.

C3 has an extensive track record of providing support to families in need and is a supporter of a wide range of charities, C3 has a regular program of giving to important causes which over the past 7 years has seen approximately $4million donated to external causes.

C3 Cares, a mission to the community in Sydney, has over the past 7 years:

o Cooked and served over 125,000 meals to people in need

o Distributed 55,000 food hampers

o Distributed 30,000 items of clothing

o Facilitated 250 work placements

o Given over $1million of goods, furniture, clothing and assistance