Religion = Child Abuse
Offline The painful and apparently preventable faith-healing death of a 16-year-old Oregon City boy this week brings the secretive Followers of Christ Church back under legal scrutiny, just four months after the boy's infant niece died in similar circumstances.
But unlike the girl's death, which resulted in criminal mistreatment and manslaughter charges against her mother and father, Oregon law may protect the parents of Neil Jeffrey Beagley, who under state statute was old enough to make his own medical decisions.
Beagley died Tuesday at his grandmother's home, a week after first complaining of stomach pain and shortness of breath. As Beagley's family and several dozen church members prayed for what church members call spiritual healing, the teenager deteriorated and died, according to police and medical investigators.
Dr. Cliff Nelson, Oregon deputy state medical examiner, said Wednesday that an autopsy determined Beagley died of complications from a constriction where his bladder empties into his urethra. Beagley became unable to urinate, an intensely painful condition that caused his kidneys to stop extracting urea from his bloodstream and triggered heart failure.
Nelson said the blockage, which may have been congenital, easily could have been treated. "Basically, he couldn't void," Nelson said. "But it definitely was treatable. Something as simple as catheterization (the insertion of a tube into his bladder) could have saved his life."
(Bold is mine)
Members of this church do not allow medicine of any kind to be administered to their members as they believe healing comes from the "laying on of hands". The 15 month old "Niece" died of Pnuemonia which of course is treatable w/ antibiotics.
My questions are these:
How can a child that has been victimized by this kind of religious indoctrination possibly make a rational or "adult" decision ?
Does the effect of any religious indoctrination retard human growth ?
And more importantly, isn't it about time we (laws/Gov't. in particular) explored the possibility that religion can be as potent a form of child abuse as beating a child ?
Full article here:
www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
George Orwell
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I don't know how I missed the already existing post.. Don't throw things.
of course religion , in the case of this childs` death, is as much a method of abuse as any other method, whether sexual or physical. if a minor is prevented from receiving medical aid in order to save his/her life simply because parents havtecte ridiculous and idiotic beliefs the government should be taking action to protect them. the innocent and defencless are always the ones to suffer, abortion can be equated with the point in question. if a child was being "cared " for by a pair of lunatic parents would the social services(government) not take action to protect that child? of course they would, and rightly so. religion totally infuriates me, it is the single cause of all the problems throughout the planet. born and raised an irish catholic it took 57 years for me to wise up..............
Any form of religious indoctrination is child abuse however minor even telling kids they will go to hell if they are naughty is child abuse
BUT
You need to be careful that any society/government cure is not worst than the disease. I wouldnt want to see kids being put into care for being bought a bible for their birthday etc.
In life and death circumstances most all? western countries can overall religious views of parents when it comes to minors if the case involves a danger to health
Oregon City church issues statement in faith-healing trial
by The Oregonian Saturday June 20, 2009, 12:26 PM
The Followers of Christ church in Oregon City released a statement Saturday in advance of the trial of two church members, Carl and Raylene Worthington, accused of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the faith-healing death of their 15-month-old daughter.
Steven B. Ungar, counsel for the Followers of Christ, issued the following statement, referring to pre-trial hearings and the church's legal position:
1. There were many members of the Followers of Christ church in court last week; like many congregations, the members of the Church care for and support one another, especially in times of great need.
2. Concerning the question of parental prerogative in making decisions for children, where core religious beliefs are invoked: Family autonomy is a deeply respected value and tradition in our country, as is religious freedom. Both are reflected in a myriad of laws at every level. And while the government traditionally has a say in some decisions involving parent and child, criminally charging the Worthingtons under these circumstances violates the Constitution and is an abuse of power.
3. The Worthingtons loved their child and are grieving her loss as any devoted parents would; the Church shares in their grief and its congregants rely on faith, scripture and the power of prayer to seek God's mercy and direction.
4. This prosecution compounds and prolongs the Worthington's grief. The loss of a child is the most tragic event any parent could suffer. The Worthingtons will never stop loving or missing their daughter and the Followers of Christ congregants grieve with them.
5. The Followers of Christ have resided in Clackamas County for many generations, keeping to themselves, supporting their families and respecting the rule of law."
The Worthington trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Clackamas County Circuit Court.
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/06/oregon_city_church_issues_stat.html
The trial for only second degree manslaughter (gotta love the US right?, grow a field of buds, kill a kid..all the same right?) has just begun with apparently no organized counter by the "everyone watch what the bleep...see we don't know anything" Portland liberals and the seemingly right wing libertarian dominated atheist groups in the area to a supposed court room full of supporters of the killers.
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/worthington_trial/
The murderers were let off as usual. Faith healers, cops and US military are systematically not held accountable for murder. Got to love the good ol' USA. Even the atheist group in Portland is still flying the flag proudly...disgusting.
To those who may be awaiting replies from me. I haven't even looked at the threads and don't intend to, sorry. I'm interested in engaging on levels much higher than what was on offer here, but I still appreciate your efforts.