A 2yr old dies because parents relied on prayer alone

[sflynt]

They let their child die.... This is sickening...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110202/ap_on_re_us/us_prayer_death_toddler

PHILADELPHIA – A fundamentalist Christian couple who relied on prayer to cure their dying toddler must take their remaining children for medical check-ups as part of their sentence in the boy's death, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Herbert and Catherine Schaible, who belong to First Century Gospel Church in Philadelphia, were previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the pneumonia death of their 2-year-old son Kent.

Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Engel Temin said that, as adults, the couple is entitled to follow church teachings shunning medicine, which is seen as a lack of faith in God.

But the law says parents may not make that decision for their children.

"The welfare of the child is more important than the religious freedom of the parents," Temin said.

Defense lawyers had argued the Schaibles did not know how sick Kent was before his death in January 2009. The boy's symptoms had included coughing, congestion, crankiness and a loss of appetite, but the parents said he was eating and drinking until the last day, and they thought he was improving.

Speaking in court, Herbert Schaible asked the judge for leniency to allow the couple to support their family.

"We are grieving and will always feel the loss of our son," Schaible said. "With God's help, this will never happen again."

Temin sentenced them to 10 years of probation, during which they are required to seek routine and emergency medical care for their seven children, ages 1 through 15.

Schaible declined comment after the hearing, except to say that they would follow the judge's order.

Temin said she wrestled with the sentence, noting that prison would not address the problem or serve the needs of society. Both parents have been described as upstanding citizens and pillars of their community, Temin said.

Herbert Schaible teaches school at the church while his wife stays at home. Both are the eldest of nine children in families who belong to the church as well, the judge said.

The Schaibles have never had medical care, except for a midwife who attends home births, according to pastor Nelson A. Clark. He said the congregation has about 500 members.

Experts say about a dozen U.S. children die in faith-healing cases each year.


What do you think? Do you think they deserve a more severe punishment?

Well, I do.

[jcribb16]

I have faith in God, and my family, friends, and I pray for different people/family who are sick, etc., and we thank God for the continual wellness and answer to prayer no matter the outcome.  I don't agree with the ones who go strictly by faith-healing with no help from doctors, specialists, etc.  These doctors are learned and have gone to school for practicing medicine.  I personally believe God gives these doctors, etc., the ability to learn what they need to know to help people.  I wish these faith-healing people would realize that doctors are there to help them and have medications or remedies to help them in so many different ways.  Prayer is absolutely important, but for these people to shun the help that would be a help to their requests, is a real shame and is a danger to the health of their children.

[sflynt]

I agree, It is a shame. Its very sad.... 

But what do you think about the sentence they got? Shouldn't they have gotten worse?

[queenofnines]

They have a bunch of these stories at http://whatstheharm.net/ under "Religion".

[sflynt]

Oh my qon!!  ...wow...


Thanks for sharing. I haven't ever seen this before. You'd think it would be a real eye opener for people.
Its a shame it isn't...

[Theladyjoker1817]

  I THINK PEOPLE ARE STUPID FOR DOING THIS TO THERE KIDS YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEM NOT KILL THEM.. THERE WILL NOT BE A FUTURE  FOR THEM TO HAVE IF THERE JUST KILL THERE OWN KIDS... LOVE NOT WAR.... LIVE LOVE LIFE.... THATS WHAT YOU HAVE TO TEACH YOUR KIDS TO LOVE EVERYTHING AND TEACH THEM HOW TO RESPECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

[bschumacher]

I think these people DESERVE a more severe punishment. At the same time, we don't want to punish the remaining kids by depriving them of parents & forcing them into the foster care system where this large brood would probably be split up. I'm sure the court determined that the mother & father were, aside from the faith-healing nonsense, good parents, and that, provided they're properly supervised,  it is safe to let them raise their kids.

[sdecaro558]

God helps those who help themselves - that much is simply common sense in cases like this.  Faith does not involve the absence of action - it merely implies the presence of God with you in the actions you take.

[mlhnceh]

Although this story is a tragedy, I don't know what kind of punishment the parents could have gotten that wouldn't have made things worse.  Taking the remaining children from otherwise good parents would cause more problems.  Although they should have to take their children for well checks too.  How are they to define emergency care, when they didn't know their son was dying?

[queenofnines]

God helps those who help themselves

Which is the cop-out excuse Christians give when they know their sh*t is bananas.

Interesting how both atheists and Christians will statistically have the same chance of success/failure when it comes to seeking medical care.

[mh874892]

I've read a few stories like this and it is so sad. Being a Christian should not be an excuse for harming your child by not taking the necessary actions to care for them. I am glad that part of their "punishment" is required check-ups for their other children, but I do think harsher punishment was necessary. Such a heartbreaking case.

[slowg8]

i agree with the post right before mine.  so sad.

[mstachitus]

This is clearly a tragedy.  Faith requires action to actually truly be faith.  If we do all we can do to help the situation, and it is God's will, then miracles can happen.

Doctors have been given (rather worked for) a gift to help heal people.  Who's to say that proper medical treatment is not the answer to some of our prayers?  Why would God miraculously heal someone when it would have been just as easy to go to the hospital and get it done the conventional way?

I don't really know what more the sentence could have included for the parents.  They probably deserve a harsher punishment somehow, but honestly what more could they have done without hurting the rest of the children?

[queenofnines]

Faith requires action to actually truly be faith.

No, the definition of faith is believing for no good reason.  Action does not come into it at all.

[lucky382001]

They let their child die.... This is sickening...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110202/ap_on_re_us/us_prayer_death_toddler

PHILADELPHIA – A fundamentalist Christian couple who relied on prayer to cure their dying toddler must take their remaining children for medical check-ups as part of their sentence in the boy's death, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Herbert and Catherine Schaible, who belong to First Century Gospel Church in Philadelphia, were previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the pneumonia death of their 2-year-old son Kent.

Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Engel Temin said that, as adults, the couple is entitled to follow church teachings shunning medicine, which is seen as a lack of faith in God.

But the law says parents may not make that decision for their children.

"The welfare of the child is more important than the religious freedom of the parents," Temin said.

Defense lawyers had argued the Schaibles did not know how sick Kent was before his death in January 2009. The boy's symptoms had included coughing, congestion, crankiness and a loss of appetite, but the parents said he was eating and drinking until the last day, and they thought he was improving.

Speaking in court, Herbert Schaible asked the judge for leniency to allow the couple to support their family.

"We are grieving and will always feel the loss of our son," Schaible said. "With God's help, this will never happen again."

Temin sentenced them to 10 years of probation, during which they are required to seek routine and emergency medical care for their seven children, ages 1 through 15.

Schaible declined comment after the hearing, except to say that they would follow the judge's order.

Temin said she wrestled with the sentence, noting that prison would not address the problem or serve the needs of society. Both parents have been described as upstanding citizens and pillars of their community, Temin said.

Herbert Schaible teaches school at the church while his wife stays at home. Both are the eldest of nine children in families who belong to the church as well, the judge said.

The Schaibles have never had medical care, except for a midwife who attends home births, according to pastor Nelson A. Clark. He said the congregation has about 500 members.

Experts say about a dozen U.S. children die in faith-healing cases each year.


What do you think? Do you think they deserve a more severe punishment?

Well, I do.

 Apparently they weren't praying for wisdom also.

As for the more severe punishment they already are receiving the severest punishment a parent can ever receive. The loss of their child.