Wednesday, June 5

Religion takes another victim

Freedom of religion should not extend to harmful religious actions. You can martyr yourself, but not your child.
"Two Philadelphia faith-healing churches have a long history of the youngest members of their congregation dying because parents refused medical care.
"Families who attend Faith Tabernacle Congregation in North Philadelphia and First Century Gospel Church in Juniata Park have lost more than two dozen children to illness since 1971, according to non-profit Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc. (CHILD, Inc.). Both churches believe in the power of prayer over modern medicine.
"The Schaibles are one of those families.
"Herbert and Catherine Schaible stand charged with third-degree murder and other crimes after their 7-month-old son Brandon died from bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and a group B streptococcus infection on April 18.
"Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams says the boy's death could have been prevented, but the couple instead turned to prayer.
"This is the second time the couple lost a child to illness. They were sentenced to 10 years probation after the 2009 death of their 2-year-old son Kent. Kent died after contracting pneumonia, an illness prosecutors said could have been prevented with basic medical care."
Faith-Healing Churches Linked to 2 Dozen Child Deaths