“Faith healing.” A goddamn oxymoron, if you ask me. Over the last couple of decades, it is estimated that hundreds of children have met their demise due to such practices. Despite this, as many as 30 states have legislation exempting parents who neglect their children by failing to seek medical treatment for them on religious grounds. This legislation, much of which was instituted back in the 1970s, has been tested in recent years, resulting in a handful of states repealing the laws and others yet scaling it back in cases of criminal mistreatment and manslaughter. But these are empty gestures if recent sentencing in faith healing cases is any measure.
Take the case of Leilani and Dale Neumann, for example. The Neumanns were associated with the Unleavened Bread Ministries, an organization that advocates (but does not restrict their members to) faith healing. In 2008, the Neumanns allowed their 11 year old daughter, Madeline Kara Neumann, to die from treatable diabetes. Their sentence? Six months in jail to be served one month a year and 10 years of probation. They were allowed to maintain custody of their other children despite bold statements that they were unapologetic about their handling of their daughter’s illness.
Juxtapose this with the case of Elizabeth Dawn Thornton and Christopher Steven Washburn. Their 22-month old son died after his parents neglected to seek immediate treatment after the toddler fell and hit his head. A clearly remorseful couple, Thornton and Washburn agreed to terminate their parental rights to the other children and were sentenced to three to fifteen years in prison – a sentence much more appropriate for a couple who negligently stood by while their child suffered and eventually died.
Although I am not pious, myself, I suppose I understand the struggle courts have experienced in dealing with faith healing. There is no federal statute mandating that parents seek medical treatment that conflicts with their religious beliefs, and courts are bound by the Constitution to maintain freedom of religion. But, to maintain this form of religious freedom, we will continue to pay with the corpses of children who relied upon their parents for life – and received nothing but prayer in return. Hardly seems worth it, if you ask me.
More reading:
Children’s deaths test faith healing exemption
Press Release from Unleavened Bread Ministries
Tags: Child Abuse, Child Neglect, faith healing, Freedom of religion, religion
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