Faith Healing Parents Assert Religious Rights

[moobu2]

They Want Charges Dropped in Faith Healing Death of Their Toddler Daughter
By DEAN SCHABNER
Dec. 10, 2008

A Clackamas County, Ore., couple accused of letting their infant daughter die by relying on prayer, rather than medicine, today asked that the charges be dropped, arguing that they infringe on their freedom of religion and their right to raise their children in their own way.



Carl Worthington, 28, and his wife, Raylene, 25, belong to a church that believes in faith healing, and police said that, instead of going to a doctor when their 15-month-old daughter Ava got sick, they turned to prayer.

The infant girl died March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and an infection, both of which could have been cured with common antibiotics, the medical examiner said.

<snip>

"Mr. and Mrs. Worthington maintain that their prosecution contravenes their right 'to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences,' as guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Oregon and the Constitution of the United States," the motion said. "Further, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington urge that this prosecution contravenes their fundamental right to raise their children without interference by the State." A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2009.
<snip>

A decade ago, the church received national attention after ABC News affiliate KATU-TV in Portland, Ore., reported that the state medical examiner believed approximately 20 children, whose parents belonged to the church, had died from untreated illnesses that were curable.

ANIMALS

[enki23]

1. sorta like people who beat their child to death. only, this one took longer and hurt more.

is the death penalty applicable?

so, i want to know: if your child is choking, should one sit back and let "god" make its decision? if your child is drowning, is it ok to pull her out? if your baby is perched at the top of the stairs, should you pick him up? or does "let god decide" only apply to easily curable diseases?

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. LOCK THEM UP

[moobu2]

7. Guarantee you they’ll get a slap on the wrist

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. Something like that happened a few years ago in Massachusetts.

The cultists were found guilty of murder.

[Crunchy Frog]

4. It wasn't the prayer that killed her

it was the lack of appropriate medicine. I don't understand why people think they can't do both. In any event, I hope they get the absolute maximum. This sort of thing is unacceptable. What's going to be next, faith feeding? Praying instead of giving your kids food?

[Warpy]

5. The state has a vested interest in a born citizen

and someone should have stood up for this child and called the authorities.

This isn't religious freedom, this is neglect of someone who is unable to speak in his or her own behalf.

Manslaughter doesn't seem out of the question for these loons. A codefendant should be the preacher.

[SidDithers]

6. Hope they only practice faith healing on themselves...nt

Sid