Faith-Healing Parents Get Probation

[Acturus]

I think we had this story as a thread back when it happened, but the parents of the kid who died because they prayed over him rather than send him to a doctor are on 10 years' probation for it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/us/03pray.html

Faith-Healing Parents Get Probation
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: February 2, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — A couple who prayed over their dying son rather than taking him to a doctor were sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years’ probation, and ordered to ensure regular medical care for their seven surviving children.

The couple, Herbert Schaible, 42, and Catherine Schaible, 41, members of the fundamentalist First Century Gospel Church, a congregation in the Juniata section of Philadelphia that teaches faith healing, were convicted in December of involuntary manslaughter after their 2-year-old son died of bacterial pneumonia in 2009.

Judge Carolyn Engel Temin of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas ordered the couple to arrange for their children, ages 1 to 15, to be examined by a doctor in the next month, to make follow-up visits, and to immediately follow a doctor’s advice on medical care for the children, said Tasha Jamerson, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney’s office.

The Schaibles put their son Kent to bed with what appeared to be a heavy cold, and prayed over him rather than seeking medical help, jurors heard during a three-day trial. He died on Jan. 24, 2009, after a two-week illness.

A version of this article appeared in print on February 3, 2011, on page A18 of the New York edition..

[Ragnus]

Yea, well, unfortunately it would be "religious persecution" if they were charged with murder...

[Yabby]

I hate people.

[Pirian]

Damnit, how can Darwin do his work if the courts keep getting in the way?!

[Qalbert]

As far as I know murder implies a deliberate premeditated act, and while no one can guarantee it, they certainly sounded dumb enough to think they were doing the right thing. I am not in any way excusing it, but from what I know of people who believe in faith healing it would not be legally defined as murder.

[Mizango]

[Surealistic]

yeah, not "murder" persay, but involuntary manslaughter at the very least

though i do believe fully in faith healing (faith that my doctor can cure whatever the fuck is wrong with me)

[Mizango]

yeah, not "murder" persay, but involuntary manslaughter at the very least

though i do believe fully in faith healing (faith that my doctor can cure whatever the fuck is wrong with me)

lol right on

[Day]

I blame obamacare

[gandorf]

As far as I know murder implies a deliberate premeditated act, and while no one can guarantee it, they certainly sounded dumb enough to think they were doing the right thing. I am not in any way excusing it, but from what I know of people who believe in faith healing it would not be legally defined as murder.

This plus the state doesn't want to have to take custody of their seven remaining bastard children. They still got off too easy though.

[Day]

I'm personally looking forward to a thread full of attacks on someone's religious views\beliefs.

[Alleya]

IMO the kids should be taken away. Then both parents infected with HIV and not allowed to get any treatment other than prayer.

[Tsuko_Asura]

As far as I know murder implies a deliberate premeditated act, and while no one can guarantee it, they certainly sounded dumb enough to think they were doing the right thing. I am not in any way excusing it, but from what I know of people who believe in faith healing it would not be legally defined as murder.

Choosing to ignore the signs of serious illness in a toddler could definitely be passed as murder. My understanding of murder and manslaughter is lose, but I'm fairly certain that you only need to know that what you're doing could result in death to be charged for the former.

[Surealistic]

manslaughter is basically someone dying because of your actions, not because you intended to kill them

[Day]

They weren't ignoring it though, they were praying very hard for God to cure him.

In life, god take, god give.

[Tsuko_Asura]

manslaughter is basically someone dying because of your actions, not because you intended to kill them

When it comes to involuntary(as the word relates to law) acts, the distinguishing factor is whether or not you're aware death is a possible/likely outcome. Homicidal intent isn't necessary for murder.

[Antithesis]

Thread is going to erupt into a debate over semantics. Calling it now.

[aurik]

Parents didn't kill the kid, GOD DID. Or Jesus. It's just His way of Saving their child before he grows up and becomes a Sinner. All glory to God, Amen.

[Day]

Seems like he was one of the weak anyways. Who dies from a cold. Psshhht.

[Mizango]

semantics.

Reported.