Neglecting in the Name of God

“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. [Read more...]