It is one thing to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on yourself because of some unsubstantiated, fanciful belief system that you want to hold on to: it is something entirely different and more reprehensible to cause other people, especially dependent, innocent children, to suffer because of your beliefs.
If you want to self-flagilate because you think you god wants you to do that, go ahead, but don’t hurt children in the process or encourage them to hurt themselves. If you want to fast and deny yourself food because you think that it somehow helps you to be ‘holy’, fine, deny away to your heart’s content, but don’t inflict unnecessary suffering on those that you have a responsibility to protect and care for.
Dale and Leilani Neumann of rural Weston, US, have been charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter Sunday death of their daughter, Madeline. Their 11 year old daughter died needlessly of diabetes. The parents decided it was better to pray for her than seek appropriate medical treatment.
Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard says courts in two states have tossed out similar cases while courts in two other states allowed them to go to trial.
I have no desire to inflict revenge on parents who have already experienced an overwhelming tragedy. And I am aware that because the case is in the US where not everyone has access to free medical care, there may be other factors at play here. However, for the sake of Madeline and all other children in religious households, I personally feel that an important principle is at stake and that the prosecution case should not be dropped.
As I have argued elsewhere, prayer is a pastime that those who believe in it, always have a ‘get-out’ clause for whenever it appears to be blatantly unanswered - as is the case here. Perhaps Madeline’s parents are telling themselves that she died because they never had enough faith - maybe they showed that lack of faith by considering going to get medical assistance. Perhaps Madeline’s parents are trying to comfort themselves by telling themselves that it was somehow god’s mysterious will that an otherwise healthy 11 year old girl should be taken from them.
There is a view amongst the polite classes that prayer is a relatively harmless activity. Perhaps it is in most cases. I would argue that the time could be spent more profitably and that it is ultimately psychologically damaging to go through life believing things that blatantly aren’t true. However, whatever you think about my personal views, it is difficult to escape from the conclusion that prayer was deadly for an innocent 11 year old American girl.
Although the death of a girl is a dramatic and tragic example of religious abuse of children, such abuse is far more common than the West, with its historical Christian ‘heritage’ might be prepared to admit. I also came across today a moving account of what happened to Nate Phelps while growing up in a Christian home. Nate was the son of the infamous Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church - you remember, the one that specializes in appearing at the funerals of homosexuals with ‘tastefully’ worded posters. If you have the stomach, you can read Nate’s account here.
Faith and child abuse. There is a topic I should also tackle one of these days.
Somebody should LIE to these “faithful” parents and tell them that God created science, doctors, and pharmaceuticals. He was too busy taking care of EVERY person in the world, so He decided to educate scientists to help Him with His HEALTHCARE plan.
As much as I support the principle of freedom of conscience (and religion), there are times when I cringe at the results of encouraging such freedom. On the other hand, history has given us far too many harrowing examples of what happens when such freedoms are denied. Will it be possible for the Western world to work out better ways of drawing the lines between religious freedom and social responsibility? I hope so.
I always tend to think of “religion” as some nice little hobby that people have. And as long as they get on with it by themselves, and attend their little meetings and do all the little hobby things without involving others then that is fine. I can get pretty evangelical about running on occasion and wax lyrical about my beautiful new running shoes.
But of course religion isn’t a bit like a hobby when things like this happen. It would be like me insisting that a 2 year old child accompanied me whilst I ran and if he couldn’t keep up, I would drag him along on a lead. It is too horrible for words.
Clearly we all want our children to share out hobbies and beliefs - my children ski because I like it for instance and are very sceptical about anything religious but if they had different views then that would be fine - but “believers” seem to lose sight of reality and cannot enter into any rational discussions. We talk about anything in this house and everyone is entitled to their point of view.
The comment by the sister of Nate Phelps, underneath the piece you linked is frightening.
the issue that always makes me cross is the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their refusal to allow blood transfusions for their children. How can this be anything other than madness?
I agree with Lorena’s comment.
The one thing that screams out to me about this, well its two words. CHILD PROTECTION.
What on earth went on here? Yes, parents prosecute them big time for manslaughter and jail them.
But why did not someone in the medical profession take this child into care and custody before her death?
Perhaps, I need to read this case again. Did this happen in America?
You don’t die from Diabeties necessarily quickly, though I must hasten to add you can do, in an unstable acute episode. She must have had it diagnosed, perhaps at an earlier age. Medical people would have been involved. Why did they not know if she was receiving treatment, insulin etc?
Lots more questions this raises.
I do believe in the power of prayer but not like this. Where does it say in the bible to pray and not receive treatment?
This case does religion no favours.
My God would not have wanted this child to die needlessly. It relates back to pastoral care and my own blog about accountability. Was the parent’s church encouraging this position of prayer and non-treatment? If so they need to be in the dock as well.
Dreadful, dreadful story and I am appauled to hear of it.
Another example of extreme Christian brain washing which I don’t support.
I do agree with many of reluctant bloggers points too. I can see why having a faith feels like a hobby and being part of a club. I haven’t read the other story yet, I don’t know if I Want too.