Prosecute the Parents? Faith Healing Leaves Child Disabled

Joe Stutler

Those "religious exemptions are obscene. If you want to kill yourself through denying yourself medical care, so be it. You should not be able to do that to children. I hope those parents are made an example of, and I wish for the very best for the young woman whose parents were so horribly abusive to her.

Cindy

I just can't believe this is LDS I have been associated with them for the past 38 yrs. not once has this transpired with family members or friends case in point my nephew was a little boy he was having headache and trouble with his vision. They prayed over gave him bless is exact. Took him to his child doctor who set u an MRI. It showed a tumor close to optic nerve rather than operate he had radiation it srank tumor eventually they operated. My point they always had faith in Gods healing but they also St I mortuary lisensed to wisdom the wisdom of God and of their ouwn hearts

Francisco

Faith healers are the dinosaurs ???of modern religion...they should be extinct ? by now. The parents ? of this child should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law ⚡️.

Jack Lam

Ignorance is no excuse.amen.

Jack Lam

Doctors through God heal!wake up children of god.amen.

Miranda Allison Young

Parents should definitely pray for their children to get well, but they should first take them to a doctor and do what the doctor says is needed. Prayer does help but it has to be used in addition to medical treatment. What her parents did to her is child abuse and they should be charged, tried, and convicted. They should have to go to jail.

Dwayne Crandall

God uses tools and people as tools to help others. Such as Doctors! I'm not a Mormon but where do they get this idea of no medical help? The parents tried natural remedies and prayer only? Why not doctors and prayer? I tried healing myself naturally for my high cholesterol and used natural red rice yeast to lower it. I ended up having a heart attack because I refused the Doctors advice of taking cholesterol medication and believed the natural stuff would work. I ended up having a massive heart attack and prayed to God on the way into the operating room where I received three stents. Now I am alive and well. I am able to warn others about the dangers of treating things naturally with herbs, etc. Let God help by using some of the Doctors he has provided you with! I know God kept me alive for a reason. I survived so that I could become saved and born again. Now God can use me as a tool to help others learn about Christianity. I'm so glad God gave me a second chance because now I am ready and know I am going to Heaven when I die. I don't think I was truly saved at the time I was having my heart attack. Nor was I born again. God saved me from eternal damnation and I cannot thank him enough. I have mixed feelings about her seeking justice on her parents. We are supposed to forgive. Honor thy mother and father. Why isn't she going after the state for having a law in place that allowed her to be put in danger? Maybe at least try to have them change the law and give her any medical help she needs.

Tom B

Religious freedom should never be at the same level as the health of children...the Idaho law is fundamentally wrong, because it is religion-based...that was never the intent of the American democracy

John Owens

The only thing I have to say about this one is, if you support abortion on demand, you need to stay quiet on this one, because you will probably be talking out both sides of your mouth-- defending children above religion on one hand, and murdering them over the objection of religion on the other. I'm just saying...

Lea Weisenbach

All the evils of the world have hide behind religion. This is a form of child abuse and her parents should be prosecuted. Religions are not above the law...Stuff like this have gone on to long.

Charlene Newman

The parents seem to be missed guided and confused. God indeed sends healing in any way or form He/She chooses​. Through Devine healing, medical intervention, natural and herbal healing,etc; the how is up to God. States should have medical child protection laws for when parents get confused and can't see that God works in medical knowledge as well as Devinely.

angel

Faith healing or no money? With 9 kids, I would imagine they are broke as a joke and can't afford health coverage. Medications and procedures would probably cost them a fortune. Is there a possibility that the reason why then tried faith healing is because it was all they felt they had? I can't judge them if I am not sure about their actual intentions. See, if it was due to not having health coverage, they could nail them for neglect. If they claim "faith based", it will be harder to prove in court. Funny how our system works like that, but it does! Anyway's, I'm reading eveyone condemn these people to hell,lol, but we don't know what it is like to walk in their shows and the real reason why they did what they did, and that's the reality of it. Is it evil people, corrupt religion or simply a broken society where thousands of families are in the same boat? Just some food for thought!

drrgrivera

That's not only child neglet, that's also ignorance! WHEN YOUR FAITH LEADS YOU TO SELF DESTRUCTIVE RESULTS, IT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. NEGLET IS NEGLET.

YOU DON'T USE FAITH FOR NEGLET RESULTS. YOU USE FAITH TO AVOID IGNORANCE, NEGLET, INJURY AND ALL SELF DESTRUCTIVE DECISIONS, SELF DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS.... SPECIALLY, FURTHER IGNORANCE.

IN THE FIRST PLACE, FAITH CAUSES NO INJURY...PEOPLE MOVED BY IGNORANCE BRING NOT ONLY INJURY UPON THEMSELVES BUT ALSO UPON OTHERS. PEOPLE CAUSING INJURY ARE NOT OBEYING FAITH. THEY ARE OBEYING IGNORANCE.

WE NEED TO LEARN THAT FAITH DOES NOT CAUSE INJURY. PEOPLE AND THEIR IGNORANCE CAUSE INJURY. ANY HINT OF INJURY IS NOT FAITH. IT IS IGNORANCE A MISLED HUMAN IS WIELDING IT.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE FAITH CAUSES INJURY... NEED CHRIST'S SPIT AND MUD TO BE ABLE TO SEE FAITH: CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY... DOES NOT MEAN ENDANGER YOUR SELF OR OTHERS. AGAIN, ONLY IGNORANT PEOPLE DO INJURY TO EACH OTHER.

1. FAITH IS OUR CHRIST JESUS.
2. ANY HIDDEN INJURY CAUSING RESULT IN WHAT YOU THINK IS FAITH....IS REALLY YOU! 1 IS THE SAVIOR...2 IS YOU.

John Owens

Almost every comment on this page should also be directed against Islamists. Just saying...

Beth K

All of the comments here can be directed toward any religion - including Islam. It's just that in the US, Christianity is by far the dominant religion, in all of its range of denominations - from Roman Catholic through Pentecostal through LDS through Jehovah's Witness. Refusing medical care with a stated religious reason, with horrific results, is fine if you're doing it to yourself. It's not if you're making the decisions on behalf of another person who cannot make their own decisions, such as a child, a comatose person, a person not fully in control of their mental faculties, or so forth.

James

So much anger and need for revenge! These people, (the parents) are ignorant, trained to be ignorant by their own upbringing and experience. The disability is sad, of course, but how will revenge improve things. Always work towards truth and love. When you do otherwise, you've lost the path.

Kristy

Good morning, So I've read most comments and they range from one end of the spectrum to the other. What we cannot forget here is that this you woman (now and when she was a child) has rights, medical care is one of them. If she took herself to the Dr and was properly diagnosed and her parents knew but STILL chose prayer-they are accountable,period. This girl will continue to suffer for her short life. Maybe a sentencing for the parents that was community service in a children's hospital would be appropriate here as they need to "learn" from this. As for Mariah, my heart goes out to her-I'm deeply sorry for her suffering at the hands of ignorant parenting. Peace people ✌??

Heggie Speller

This is neglect, pure and simple. I don't think doctors do always know best - they can advocate to extend suffering or to withdraw treatments which still offer hope. I think parents should, to some extent, be able to choose what is in their child's best interests (which can lead to court involvement) but not even getting her a diagnosis? Not hearing what the treatment options were much less seriously considering them? That is not faith, that's stupidity.

Mike Seiler

I believe that God helps those who help themselves. God will guide a surgeon's hands if that is His will. When there is no alternative to surgery, modern medical treatment or recognized medicines, then we should look to God and pray to God. God's will shall then prevail and we should be ready to accept it. But only after we have used our God-given intelligence and experience accumulated over the ages. Just my opinion though.

Skottie

As a parent I am beyond conflicted by this. I have a chance of with a disability and have made decisions for him that are permanent, because I felt that would be what would give him the best life. I have researched and followed medical advices, but I have also disagreed and refused at times. So my issue is could this extend beyond religion to parents simply not agreeing with a doctor's assessment? This young ladies story, in my opinion, is basically torture. As a Christian I personally believe God created us in his image thus all the advances that have been made are his vision for us. Praying for a miracle for my child may come in the form of news story about the exact condition my child has and where to be treated. Or a miracle could be that a child wakes up and is healed. Who is to know? I think that is where faith healing has it's fault, the focus is much too narrow. So in the end what may have to be legislated is forcing people to open their minds.

Charissa

We will never know the circumstances that led to this woman's life in jeopardy. Perhaps if her parents had healthcare and birth control she would have had quality of life. I feel for her parents and think we are all responsible for her wellbeing. How many people in this child's life turned a blind eye because they weren't her parents? I implore you all to give support and encouragement to a large family in your life. They often have many children early in their life due to social expectations and then spend the rest of their days trying to rise to the responsibility. Invite them over, make them food, share your resources and give them lots of hugs before it turns into a tragedy.

Daniel

Let me express my deepest mourning for this child. For I too fear for the lives of my 8 year old nephew Izak and my 4 year old niece Sarah. Christian science , anyone hears of this? My whole family is a part of that community. Please, prayers for my sister and her children. As i have been so deeply grieved for years at my anger against God for this. It has in the passed caused persecution unto being revolted in some churches of Christ that meant the world to me. Not you guys though I've never been to church there although I am ordained by y'all via the internet which is hilarious to me.

Anyways it's sad but the truth is worse for such families who in some cases have given themselves to certain "unflexible" beliefs but God is plentious in mercy, everlasting even!! And hats off to you Mariah. I personally believe that Jesus is totally on your side through all of this. Father....Healings and commendations made by the spirit of God for provisions unto reward. For this child is yours! Amen!

Tom Reno

One of the definitions of faith is "confidence or trust in a person or thing". In my belief system, I have faith in our Heavenly Father and also in those to whom He has given various gifts, such as the Gift of Healing. Yes, I agree that we should always pray for healing; however, part of praying and part of faith is also listening for guidance to have discernment. Physicians have been given the Gift of Healing and, by virtue of that gift, can be considered part of our Heavenly Father's promise to heal those who have faith in Him. There are many gifted physicians and surgeons whose hands can be considered extensions of the hands of Christ to do healing in His name, including LDS physicians. I believe the girl's parents used too narrow of a view of faith - they expected a miracle and in doing so tested our Heavenly Father, when all the time he was providing a means of healing through one of His gifted servants. Should they be punished and open to prosecution? I can't make that judgement. I just hope that they have learned from their mistake and pray that the girl will have the faith to seek out inspired medical assistance.

David Rediger

Prayer is always appropriate in daily life. But as far as faith healing is concerned, God will heal who God want to heal. This may sound cruel and callous, especially to parents of a seriously sick child, but God has not made us privie to his purposes. We need to pray for discernment prior to attempting any sort of faith healing. Is it in Gods plan to perform a miracle or is it more that he wants to teach the hands of the surgeon for his purpose. God gave us knowledge and skills to use not to let Him do all the work for us.

Matthew

Unfortunately Idaho law is very stiff. People cannot understand the way the state operates unless they've lived here themselves. Idaho is half-assed backwards and way behind the times. I mean come on we still have laws in the books that are legal that if you're surrounded by three or more Indians or Native Americans you can shoot and kill them because there are hostile Indian war party. Because it's still legal in Idaho you could use it as self-defense in court and win! The system is very broken unfortunately it's up to each individual State whether or not they would uphold particular laws some states hold religious laws that go far beyond normal law and other states do not uphold religious laws as much. The federal government can't control everything. The federal government could say this is neglect and is therefore punishable by law however the state government can say this is not neglect and it's not punishable under law because they are guaranteed freedom of religion in the United States Constitution and in our state constitution therefore they are protected under law and cannot be prosecuted. Now the next step is you got to prove that it was neglect. This is a little difficult for law enforcement. Law enforcement has to First prove that it was neglect and not protected under Idaho law under religious freedom. That could be notoriously difficult to do especially if the family to the outside world and within their own home made it seem as if they did everything they could under their religion and was practicing religious freedom. Under this circumstance they would have had I witness is from both the inside of the family and out that would have said that they did practice religious freedom on faith-based healing this outing law enforcement to be able to prove a case of neglect or at least why is making it more difficult. Do I personally believe the parents should be prosecuted for this I do. They permanently cause life-long damage on their child. Because of their results they will never be able to have a regular healthy adult child. Once more sad is this innocent child will never have a regular normal life. That's not right. It would be one thing if they went to the doctors and the doctors couldn't do anything but they didn't.

drrgrivera

Another thing- How can anyone who's been neglectful expect their faith to operate towards healing. The only thing that can arise from neglect is more ignorance and less of what the neglectful call faith. There is 'no faith' in necglet. None! There is 'no faith in anything causing injoury or furthering injury. Why who anyone think that- Faith is working hand in hand with ignorance, neglect, and injury causing practices.

Only people do that. An analogy revealing the meaning governing this neglect working with faith: A beautiful flower is cut at the stem, you take it home and admire it and praise of its beauty by all who it while the flower slowly whiters away.

The flower was supplied with everything it needed to be beautiful. Placing it in a container with whatever is neglect, depriving it of what it needs to be the beauty it's admired for.

CERTAINTLY NOT FAITH. NOR ITS PRACTICE.

Minister Norm Gold

I am a very religious person, and a retired surgeon. And I truly believe that praying to God is very important when someone is ill. To believe in God's powers to heal is part of every religious person's beliefs, no matter which religion he or she practices. But to BELIEVE in God's powers to heal is one thing; to COUNT on them, however, is quite another. That is not faith, that is conceit. God listens to ALL our prayers, but doesn't always choose, for whatever His reason may be, to respond to them as we request. Therefore, not having any way to know what God's response will be, it is absolutely criminal of parents to refrain from seeking medical care for a sick child.

I think all parents like the ones in this story should be prosecuted, if only to make other parents think very carefully before deciding on prayer alone, as opposed to prayer plus medical care, for a sick child. And let's not be easy on these or any other such parents because "their intentions were good and sincere". The road to hell is paved with such good intentions. Only it is not the parents that have to suffer in that hell, but their abused kids. And abuse, not faith, is EXACTLY what it is.

Bill Fox

There are many religious beliefs that are superseded by state and federal law. We can abort a baby, but once it's out of the womb, we cannot chop it up if its alive or throw it into the fire to appease Molech. Consenting, competent adults can refuse medical treatment, up to and including death, if the proper medical forms have been filled out and witnessed prior to the patient becoming incompetent. But like an incompetent adult, a child cannot agree to a contract. The state represents the legal rights of the child, not the parents and not a religion. If we don't like this, we can vote to change the laws or we can move someplace where there is no governing law. The woman will probably get more suing the state than her parents.

Adam, Minister, UMC

Regardless of how we feel, parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit. We may not agree with that. We may even find it absurd. That's how it is. Imagine if someone came and told you, regardless of the situation, "Hi, we are the government and we are telling you how to live your life and raise your children". Would you just lie there and say, ok, sure. As much as we like, we have no say I how other raise their children and how they live their life, no matter how ridiculous you may think it is. And for that matter, the fact that everyone want the government to protect our children is a very dangerous notion as well. It says, "I am incapable of of being a good parent, please government, take over." Each parent is responsible for their own children, free to raise and teach them how they see fit. Not the government.

Dave

Minister Adam, I vehemently disagree. It is a matter of degree, If you want to teach your children that the earth was made in seven days by an omnipotent being, then that's your right. If you want to deny your child medical attention and they die, that is not your right. The question is always where to draw the line. Parents who feel the government (which we have agreed to as a society, however wrong you may think this or the previous administration is) has an interest in how children are raised have not abdicated their responsibility. They are not saying “I am incapable of of being a good parent, please government, take over.” as you postulate, but rather, "There are limits to what I am allowed to do or not do with/to/for my children. I had a very abusive childhood, several times almost to the point of death. This was in the sixties, so child abuse did not exist. Children were owned by the parents. Are you advocating to go back to that time? And how long does it last? When the child is 18? 21? 40? Or is it earlier, when the child can tell someone? Who decides what age? Is it OK to deny care to an infant but not a youth? Society has to draw a line. In the case of Idaho, it seems that the line is drawn so as not to protect children from idiotic religious tenets that can actually make the rest of the life of the child both short and painful. I believe that is wrong. DaveJ

chiefhall

Seems pretty hypocritical to me.... If I'm understanding the parents' point of view, all they needed was prayer and God's intercession - medicine/medical attention not needed. So if all your faith's in God's personal touch - that's it, that's all you need - then why are you utilizing homeopathic medicine? Kinda reminds me of some snake-handling churches I knew when I lived in Louisiana: their doctrine said they could take up snakes without fear if their faith was enough, as well as drink poison, and no harm would come to them. And they always had a glass of poisen on the table as well during services when the snakes got handled. Interesting thing, though - I never saw anyone try drinking the poison.... Guess they didn't like those odds.... Hypocrites! I've always felt that churches who wrap their identity around a single set of verses are terribly afraid of the truth and are willfully ignorant to an extreme.

Herbert Moth

Make her parents Take LSD then flog them.

Jim Windwalker

Daniel 12:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased

Faith healing and medicine go hand in hand. One cannot work without the other. Even my lord Jesus took mud and formed eyes from balls of mud he fashioned the dust of the earth and healed a blind man

John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

if God directs one to a doctor then we take the doctors advice. But if God performs a healing that healing will come regardless if God chooses to heal and individual for His honor and glory.

But God does directs us decently and in order to His word n these matters as well... We do not do theses things on our own...

James 5:13-15 King James Version (KJV)

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Minister Norm Gold

Minister Adam, you say, “Hi, we are the government and we are telling you how to live your life and raise your children”. Well, if parents don’t take a sick child for medical care, that’s, exactly right – the government needs to step in to save the kid. Your comment borders on the ridiculous – here’s why: if parents “choose” to allow their young kid to walk out into the middle of a busy street, you would say that they’re crazy, and it’s a ridiculous and dangerous thing to let them do, right? But what about the “rights” of a parent to decide what is best for their child, eh? Well, not taking a sick child for medical care is potentially just as dangerous, just as possibly life threatening – and just as assinine. Just because someone is a parent has no bearing on whether or not they have the skills to keep a child safe. And when they demonstrate that they clearly don’t – like by not taking a sick child for medical care – you’re damn right the authorities need to step in. Do I want the government telling parents what to do, in general? Of course not! But the well-being, and certainly the life, of a child absolutely takes priority over the “rights” of the parents, or even over my objection to government meddling in my business. Children’s health and well-being trumps all other concerns or rights. I can tell you as a surgeon that I’ve seen MANY cases in my 35 years of practice where the parents wanted to refuse medical care – and it was only the authorities stepping in that saved the lives of those children, and protected them from their idiot parents or from abusive ones. Under your system of parental “right to choose” – all those children would have died. Do you actually think that would have been better?

Dr. Iris Gonzalez

"Faith healing" systems are an especially cruel form of victim blaming: if you are ill, it's because your faith is not strong enough.

Deborah

This girl has a reasonable complaint, but prosecuting her parents is not viable -- even if she manages to get the laws changed, there is no retroactive prosecution in the United States. She would do well to learn forgiveness, and focus her energies on making the world a better place, instead of contributing to the negative energy by going on the attack. Instead she can educate others, even if she can't change her past, or prosecute her parents. Faith is the foundation of all life, and all knowledge comes from God. Still, we must work within the level of enlightenment the world is at presently. Granted, if a person doesn't want to be cut upon, there are still many other options for improvement, if not complete healing -- her parents' error was in ignoring ALL knowledge.

Chris L Brackeen

Agreed! The parents should be held accountable. God may have given her this malady, but He also gave us our sciences to deal with the situation. This was preventable and constitutes child abuse. I wish her the best of luck.

Brian Balke

I feel so sorry for this poor child. It is a misunderstanding to believe that our faith heals another. It is only their faith that allows love to enter in and heal them. This is as Jesus always testified: "Your faith has healed you."

When faith is weak in others, our job as people of faith is to be the proof of love in the world. It is to provide for people so that they may survive to receive faith. Her parents, seeing that Mariah's condition did not improve, should have taken her to a doctor. That would have been the Christian thing to do.

I know that some "faith healers" turn upon the patient when their fraud fails to produce healing. They tell them "your faith is too weak," or even treat them as possessed. This is also abusive: it is not our place to judge others, or to try to profit from their faith when it allows them to receive healing. I hope at least that Mariah's parents never levelled that charge against her. That would be spiritually abusive.

But what I pray for now is that the family receive the healing of reconciliation. This must be terrible for her parents, who were doing what they thought was best for their child. The root of the problem is a misunderstanding of scripture. Sending the parents to jail is not going to help anyone - particularly the other children. Educating them will.

Tom B

Religion, which is man-made, should not be the basis for anything...everything should be based on loving and caring; period

Tom B

Keith...that is reasonable, as long as that is what they are lovingly taught...Tom

Tom B

Keith...that is exactly what is said in the pledge of allegiance...NOT "under religion"...God is an absolute: religion is an intellectual construct...Tom

Sandy

Ignorance is 9/10 of the law-- I know the power prayer is very real--but God does work through other people, ie, doctors,etc-- if her diagnosis early on was treatable and she would've recovered completely, and the parents knowing that, still refused treatment, yes, they should be prosecuted, along with their so-called religion and the politicians of Idaho as well!! Because of excessive ignorance, they basically threw Mariah to the wolves-- and she is the one that is suffering, not them!!

Ed

Here's the other side to that:

Mumps outbreak, despite vaccinations: http://www.healthfreedoms.org/mumps-outbreak-spread-among-vaccinated-individuals/

And how about suing the drug companies? Oh wait. In the US, you can't, despite hundreds of thousands reporting damages caused directly by vaccines; and who knows how many aren't: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-vaccine-ruling-parents-cant-sue-drug-makers-for-kids-health-problems/

Drugs whose side effects include death: http://www.offthegridnews.com/alternative-health/the-side-effects-include-death-the-real-truth-about-pharmaceuticals/

And who can forget the wonderful stories about Ritalin: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/30/ten-year-old-kills-himself-after-taking-ritalin.aspx

Is it any wonder that parents don't trust doctors, and the medical industry? They are doing what they thought would work best, just like all the people that used these medical drugs, which would wind up killing kids all the same. But you won't really hear about it much from MSM, because there's an agenda of money. Would we hear about it, if the methods parents used, that weren't "MSM approved" worked? No, only when it fails. Yet we don't hear as much, nor do we have serious debates, about any of the above topics.

Jon

Another issue that this article does not address: that if the family had the procedure when the young woman was a baby, without insurance, they would be bankrupt today. Such procedures are costly, off the charts really, and this another justice issue.

BrotherTimothyClark (@KC3CDU)

There's nothing wrong with faith healing per say however, the problem comes in when faith isn't followed up by action. In the book of James it says faith without Works is dead. You can pray all you want but if you aren't willing to give in order to receive, what will it profit you? That would be like saying that you were going to look for a job, you prayed over it but never asserted the effort to find a job. That's not mobilizing your faith. That's relying on faith when faith is a gift of God. We can rely on faith but sometimes God want's us to also act.

Tracey Bowlas

2 of my children's grandmother there dads mum and sister are Mormons and there believe is if a child needs a blood transfusion they will deny them that even if it's a matter of life or death and if something happened to me and they had to look after them they can do the same to there grandkids too but not if you have a Will stating your wishes in the circumstance of your kids not only that who are they to bring there own kids up as Mormons with no birthday ,Christmas but there ok to marry at a young age doesn't every human being deserve the right to have there own religiou without there parents forcing there religious on there kids

James

Faith healing? Oils? ect? Prayer is good. But, What about the actual cause. The root of the matter? The genetic (dna) that was passed on to the offspring? One must apply corrective measure AND remove / correct the cause in conjunction and collectively. In this case her launching pad of defective construction of her heart needed more than the parents knew. Even if they sought an ND, Natual-path or a metaphysician.

Matthew

For a supposedly non-denominational community here, it has actually shocked me how denominational these comments are. Not to mention how the religion of science has crept into it all. Faith is Faith. If your Faith is in Jesus, Buddha, Zoroaster, Zeus, The Goddess, or the myriad of others, then awesome. But Faith is ours alone, individually. Judging others, like the parents of the article seems rather counterintuitive. I personally believe if, say, you are a Christian, then what Christ himself has said should be pretty compelling. The story of Jesus being asked repeatedly about forgiveness, and how many times one should forgive, ending with him making the final point of forgiving 7 times 70...making it clear that forgiveness is a wee bit important. And yet, where is the forgiveness of these parents? But, but, but.....if so many disclaimers, then why be a Christian? That baffles me.

Jill Schmitt

Jesus is no longer in human form walking the earth to teach the word of God. We now have the Bible and pastors to teach us. Jesus is no longer walking through crowds touching the sick and healing them. We have doctors. Doctors who have been given their wisdom through God. Did her parents attend church? After all, a man is the one speaking and not Jesus himself. I’m a Christian and firmly believe that God can heal the sick. I also believe that God has given the knowledge to the medical field and doctors to aid in the healing process. To deny a child the right to be possibly healed through a doctor, is absolutely negligent and neglect of a child’s welfare. While I understand the importance of religious beliefs, where in the Bible does is say to not seek a doctor when your sick? If her mother was in a car crash and torn apart, would the father have waived the ambulance by and said “no thanks. I’m taking her home to pray,” I don’t think so! This law needs to change. There is a huge difference between parental religious rights and the rights of a child to be given proper medical treatment. How can what they did even be legal? This poor young lady! I am so so sorry!

Aelric Kofoid

There is no excuse for puttin a child or any human in harms way and with exception of a few you guys are making excuses for it.

Aelric Kofoid

And by the way as an episcopalian I want to let you guys know. Joseph Smith was a con man. If every Mormon were to go to Nauvoo Illinois and look at the 1840 criminal records of Joseph Smith there would be no Mormons anymore. Because you guys would all learn you have been mislead by a sleezy guru leader who has brain washed generations of people of a horrendous cult.

John Owens

So, how come there is no great controversy over people disabled by vaccinations, or medical malpractice?

james

This is a tough call. Child disabled from lack of medical care VS prayer. What about all the children that die from medical care because of ... Lack of prayer? How about incorporating Natural Pathic type care AND prayer. See the documentary / reenactment on Youtube called "First Do No Harm -Full movie".