This article was published in May of 2013.
It talks about a couple whose kid died of pneumonia because they did not take
him to the doctor. The couple believes that they should pray in order to heal
people rather than seeking medical attention. The 8-month old child was
suffering from diarrhea and breathing problems; the child was also reportedly
not breathing. His condition worsened, but the parents still refused to seek
medical care. They simply prayed for him as his condition got worse and worse.
This is not the first incident with this
couple though. In 2009 the couple was charged with involuntary manslaughter and
child endangerment after their 2-year-old son died of pneumonia. As a part of
their probation, they were ordered to start seeking medical care for their
other children. They did not follow orders and are now facing 14 years in
prison. Following the death of their second son, their other seven kids were
placed in foster care.
The parents are members of the First
Century Gospel Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The church teaches its
members that it is wrong to trust medicine over faith. It also forbids them
from going to the doctor or taking medicines.
This article faces a big controversy. It
brings about the issue of the limits of religious freedom. Some people would
argue that the couple was simply following their religion, and that they have a
right to practice their own beliefs. On the other hand, some people would
argue that human life is more important than an individual’s religious beliefs.
I have mixed feelings when it comes to
this issue. I feel like the family truly believed that praying for their son would
save him, but I think at a certain point medical help should have been received.
It is very sad that the lives of two kids were lost to a fairly treatable
disease.
I find praying for a sick love one to be a
good thing, but I also think that kids should always receive medical attention.
There is a reason why we have doctors who were trained for many years in order
to get their degree. The medical field has made so many advancements and every
child should have a right to receive help. These kids were at such a young age,
and were completely dependent on their parents’ decision. I feel like kids
should be required to receive medical care until they are old enough to form
their own beliefs on what they want.
I do believe the parents should be
punished for what they did. 14 years of prison might be a little harsh though.
If they don’t want to believe in medicine that is fine, but their children have
the right to receive help when they are sick. If the judge lets this issue go
then he is just putting their other seven kids right back in harm’s way.
Overall, I believe people should have the right to religious freedom, but when
a person’s life is being put in danger the government should be allowed to step
in.
http://www.iscast.org/rough_diamonds/past_papers/Day_A_2001-02_Bible_and_Medical_Ethics.pdf
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'm not a religious person at all, I'll be honest. But people are stupid if they think that prayer will magically heal pneumonia. As harsh as that may sound, it's logical. This is not biblical times, this is not 200 b.c, a.d. or whatever this is 2014 and we have far surpassed health goals people 200 years ago didn't think were possible. Clearly, a lot has changed. People are reading way too far into the bible and it's putting children's health at risk. As a future pediatric oncologist, I can't say that I agree with what these parents did. 14 years isn't enough to me because two kids had to die before it even happened, and 7 more were left parentless. Think a little people,Jesus...
As a religious person this is a bit harsh. My religion does not believe that, but on the same note, that doesn’t make them stupid. What I believe is that in this case, their religion should not automatically fall unto their child. It should be law that if you infringe on someone’s ability to be healthy and safe, then you are infringing upon their ability to live. In this case, they should of asked the child what he would like. If he his too young, then the parents have a moral and human responsibility to seek healthcare. But by no means is anybody stupid for believing that their God will heal them. I know many people pray that their cancer will be healed. To this day they truly believed that God is the one who saved them from cancer that was pronounced incurable. My sister in law no longer shows turrets syndrome symptoms. This is not something that I am claiming that God had a hand in, but I have no room to say she is stupid for believing in such things.
DeleteTo andrew. I get where you're coming from, but at the same time a child cannot make logical decisions nor do they have any way to pay for medical bills. Stupid was not a correct word to use in the situation I suppose, but for parents to lose not one but TWO children AFTER being told to seek healthcare seems inhumane in a way to me, not only this, but leaving the other seven parentless. It's just not good parenting, God or no God.
DeleteI do agree that the couple truly thought praying was the answer but to a certain degree. When you experience your child getting worse, it may be time to take action instead of rest it in faith. Although the couple would be going against their religious beliefs of trusting medicine over faith, it is also true that when you are facing life or death there are other options to consider. We also have to think that if prayer was the key to healing the child of pneumonia or any disease for that sake, then we would not need doctors. I believe that it is logical to pray for a sick person but getting medical help is the only way to cure the human being. The children have no say in the decisions their parents make and are purely influenced by everything their parents believe in when their that young. I do believe that if the parents themselves were sick and chose to avoid the practice of medicine and depend on faith then that’s their life. To sum it up, being an adult gives you those life decisions and choices to make for yourself but to put your children in harm when they are purely innocent and cant decide for themselves, that just cruelty. I do believe the parents deserve to spend time in prison for them to realize what they did. And is 14 years enough for this couple to never think about pulling this stunt again?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tampabay.com/news/business/letters/your-letters-hobby-lobbys-beliefs-imposed-on-employees/2161568
ReplyDeleteI'm a very spiritual person and I believe in the power of the Lord's healing. However, there is definitely a difference between completely irresponsible and being hopeful. If your child is sick, you should immediately take him to the doctor, and THEN pray for him! God doesn't just magically make things happen; He works through people. The parents can pray all they want, but God can't heal the kid until they take the child to the doctor! ^In this article, it talks about religious freedom, and in reference to the Hobby Lobby case, sometimes your religion doesn't matter when it comes to medical related issues. Someone's health should always come before your beliefs. I believe that these parents deserve everything they get convicted of, and more. I don't think 14 years is harsh at all; these parents killed two children. Let's say those kids each lived 80 years, that is 160 years of life those parents took away, so I believe they should get 160 years in prison.
This article is hugely controversial. The parents of the two children that were lost were practicing their religion through these two incidents however after the first child passed away they should've made a decision to try to save their children. I think the courts made the right decision by putting their children up in foster care. Who knows how many of their other kids would have faced the same fate as their other two. As for their jail sentence, I do not believe they should have to spend 14 years in a penitentiary. They did not murder their kids they simply failed to seek medical treatment and since they were practicing their religion, putting them in jail could be looked at as religious intolerance. If they took away a medication that they already had which then lead to the death of a child then they should be put to jail but since they just failed to seek treatment I do not think they should be put away.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is, damn. To be honest it truly does suck that these two innocent children had to die suffering at the hands of their medical problems. Regardless of what you believe in faith helping your children feel better should always be the number one priority. Granted I understand some people will choose to "not lose faith" in rough situations but as Kara Dawson said, "God doesn't just magically make things happen; He works through people." and I strongly agree with that. Now as for the parents, I agree with the punishment in some ways. I don’t agree with the length of time, but I do agree with them going to prison. I know it sounds bad, but they have to be made an example of. If not, who knows what other bizarre stories will appear in the future where this same problem of religion appears in court in the same manner as it did here.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very controversial and it has given me many mixed feelings on the situation. It is really sad that those two kids lost their lives because of their parents beliefs. I understand that the parents really believed if they prayed that it would heal their son because in any religion prayer is very important. They have the right to believe and practice what they want but when it is endangering their children's lives they should seek medical help. Their kids are dependent on their parents and need them to take them to the doctor when they are ill. I don't think they should be jailed for 14 years because they did not murder their kids. Religion versus state has always been controversial and are supposed to be kept separate. I do think they should be punished but not for that long. I also think it is fair for the kids to be put in foster homes so it prevents this from happening again.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a spiritual person and have my religious beliefs. I believe that it is possible for God to heal the sick and create miracles, but you cannot expect a miracle to happen everyday. These parents should have realized after the death of their first child that there should have been some medical attention for their second child. When a child gets worse then you must seek medical attention to save his or hers life. Given that this is the second child they let pass there should be some punishment but then again we have the right to freedom of religion. No one has the right to infringe upon their beliefs whether they are right or wrong. The punishment should be less than 14 years because they are making decisions based off their faith. It might be impulsive and different than others but it is their decision.
ReplyDeleteI really think these parents deserve to be placed in prison for 14 years for what they did to the two children, but that sure is a large part spent away from their 7 other children's lives. I mean they did kill two children but i am not sure what a fair conviction would be in this case. I also believe that God does answer many prayers from his worshipers, along with the prayers you also need to do actual things in order for your prayers to be answered as well. In this case medical attention was truly needed but they chose their false beliefs over their children's lives. I really agree with Destiny and how she said "this is not 200 b.c, a.d or whatever this is 2014''. I haven't heard any other stories such as this story. I also did not know that people today had beliefs such as this case.
ReplyDeleteThis is one topic I feel rather extreme about. These parents seem to have a highly contradictory mindset. They seem to hold the health of their offspring highly by their act of praying for them, yet they allow them to die of terrible sickness. They pray to God for mercy, and while he does not submit to them once with their first son, they allow the same thing to happen to the second. This point of view is rather demented, where they would rather wait and hope for some superior force to save their offspring rather than taking personal action themselves. This seems to go against the general understandings of God's workings where he does not necessarily directly affect everything. He simply allows certain scenarios to happen. For example, if the parents actually took action and aided the offspring, one could argue that God willed this to happen, and willed the parents to take just action.
ReplyDeleteI think a person or family should be able to have freedom when it comes to religion but to a certain extent. It is perfectly acceptable for a religion to believe that praying is more beneficial than healthcare but when it comes to children that are not old enough to make decisions on their own there has to be a line drawn. these views are person and should not be forced onto another human being even though it is their son or daughter especially if the children have not developed their own ideas and are in need of help from their parents. I understand that these parents were just following their religion but there is a point where religion has to take a backseat to the life of a human being.
ReplyDeleteThis article contains many mixed feelings with religion verse medical attention. Religion is very important and praying is a very good thing when it comes to people being sick because those people need prayers but if the prayers really worked then these 2 innocent children would not be dead right now. I feel like there is no excuse to not take a dying child to seek medical attention. These parents need to have a punishment especially because it was the second time of the innocent has happened. 14 years is a little harsh but they deserve at least 5 to 10 years in prison. This death could have easily been prevented but the parents chose not to help their innocent children. I believe these parents are not capable what so ever of having children because they simply can not take care of them. This religion also needs some sort of change because in this day of age we simply can not survive our whole lives without medical attention at some point.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that our country has freedom of religion. It is one of the reasons why the United States is one of the best countries in the world. Freedom is the reason that gives us a great economic freedom. But the First Century Gospel Church takes this freedom to the ultimate extreme. I am a Christian and believe that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We have faith in Jesus to forgive our sins and illnesses. I understand where the families are coming from. They are showing “God” and others how strong their faith is. I forget the Bible verse but when Jesus was about to die on the cross, he told the people of Jerusalem to seek out doctors when ill. If these families truly had faith, they would face reality and take their children to the hospital. From there they can pray along side their child while they receive medical help.
ReplyDeleteBeing a christian I do believe prayer can help everything that is wrong in someones life including diseases but I personally think this is wrong and a misinterpretation of the Bible. Because when they prayed for their child's health back, the answer to their prayers from God was medical help from the hospital but they refused to listen! Do I think what they did was right, almost, they did the right thing by praying but they did not hear the answer to their prayers which was getting medical help. It's sad to hear about this because even though the child did nothing wrong, he still suffered and at such a young age. The ending to this story is also controversial because of the prison time the parents could be facing, some people would say that it's religious freedom because they did what they believed was right but on the other hand they neglected their child which resulted in the child's death. Although it is a sad story and may cause some mixed feelings by hearing about this, its still a powerful story that can be learned from.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these parents had the right to follow there faith up to an extent, but when your child's life is on the line you shouldn't hope for a miracle, you should take your child to an expert who could have a definite way to save your child. I think that when you choose your faith over your children's health you deserve the punishment that is given to you, especially when the children had the same symptoms and the parents didn't change their view on the matter after their first child had passed away. In my opinion the parents deserved to be sent to jail for that amount of time because first off they broke their parol and secondly they selfishly put their faith and religion before the health of their children. I didn't know that people still held beliefs such as this, in no way could I ever imagine somebody ignoring a child's health because they don't believe in putting medicinal healing over faith.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up my parents always gave me the choice to choose whether or not I wanted to be affiliated with any religion, and I always respected them for it. With that said I chose not to, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I don't believe in something bigger then us, such as karma, fate and so forth. Because I have never really associated with any religion and I'm not sure how any of their practices work, I can't quite comprehend believing in something as far as risking not one but two of my children's lives and leaving it up to something intangible. I understand that everyone has there own beliefs, but to what extent do you let these beliefs control the important decisions in your life when it comes to saving your child's life? Maybe I'm just to narrow minded but I can't quite grasp the concept and I do believe that the parents do deserve the punishment they've been given.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to take a stance on this issue. Mainly because, for me, this is a perfect example of how strong religion is in this world and what type of extremes it can get people to believe in. I have seen how powerful religious influence is on people and the process of altering their minds. These people were doing only what they thought was truly righteous in the eyes of their church and God. They were blinded by the morals of their church and ignored the other realistic consequences of the question "What if we're wrong?" And unfortunately their children were the ones who had to pay the price of their own lives. With that being said, the tipping point in this article for me was that they were already ordered to seek medical help for their children if a case similar to the one where their 2 year old son had died, were to arise again. It did arise again, and they still chose to take the same course of action instead of following court orders. Therefore, they deserve whatever penalty is given to them by the court because they were obviously willing to break the law for their religion. If you break the law, you accept the consequences.
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