Child Abuse Under the Guise of Religion

The growing problem of vaccinated children has thankfully brought some much needed attention to the abuse of children that masquerades as practicing religious belief.  Sadly, too many of those still following the dogma of ignorance based - and ignorance worshiping - religious traditions (the Bible was authored by unknown, ignorant writers with Bronze Age levels of knowledge and the Koran was authored by someone who would be institutionalized nowadays) continue to treat their children as chattel property and abuse them accordingly.  Sadly, too often the law gives undeserved deference to such religious based insanity/stupidity.   It is something that needs to change sooner as opposed to later.  Religious belief should never trump medical knowledge or child abuse statutes.  A column in the New York Times looks at the need to stop child abuse under the guise of religion.  Here are highlights:

Every kind of child abuse has been rationalized by someone as a religious practice: beatings, dangerous diets, forced marriages, slavery, exorcism, sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, conversion therapy for L.G.B.T. youth and medical neglect.

America has hundreds of religious denominations. We would have anarchy if everyone was allowed to act out his religious beliefs without restriction. It is well-settled case law that parents do not have a constitutional right to abuse or neglect a child. However, largely because of lobbying by the Christian Science church, states have given parents statutory rights to deprive children of immunizations, health screenings and, in some states, medical care.

Nearly all states have religious exemptions from preventive and diagnostic measures such as immunizations, metabolic testing, blood lead-level tests, newborn hearing tests and other screenings. Two have had religious exemptions from bicycle helmets.

The scope of statutory religious exemptions pertaining to medical care of sick children varies widely. Some are ambiguous, some give only the right to rely exclusively on prayer for trivial, self-limiting illnesses, while others, such as Idaho law, give parents the legal right to withhold lifesaving medical care. 

Many Idaho children have suffered and died without medical care because of the Followers of Christ beliefs. Arrian Granden, 15, died in 2012 after days of nausea and vomiting so much that her esophagus ruptured. Micah Eells, 4 days old, died in 2013 of a bowel obstruction, which usually causes excruciating pain and vomiting. Pamela Eells, 16, died in 2011, of pneumonia, drowning slowly as her lungs filled with fluid. Cooper Shippy died in 2010 of untreated diabetes shortly before his second birthday.

Idaho public officials take no action about these deaths. Criminal charges are never filed. The legislature is not willing to repeal Idaho’s religious defense to manslaughter and criminal injury. The Canyon County coroner told the press she doesn’t even do autopsies when children die without medical care in faith-healing sects.

Medical neglect may not be as sensational as other religion-related abuses but it has been just as deadly. Religious exemptions discriminate against children, depriving them of protections the state extends to others. They should be repealed.

Throughout history, religion has brought death, wars, bigotry and evil.  There is no room for religious exemptions in child abuse laws.  The parents referenced in the column all deserve to be criminally prosecuted and locked up in prison and their other children permanently removed from their custody.