No church, its minister or its congregation should be allowed to endanger the life of a child by having as part of its doctrine a ban on receiving medical care. I am firm believer that the government has gone too far in regard to removing religion from the public venue. However the parents of this child should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Nowhere in the Bible old or new can I find passage that justifies denying medical treatment to a child. Even in Biblical times there were physicians. Prayer is meant to supplement medical treatment not replace it. I understand that they were devout in their belief and firmly believed prayer would cure her. When this happens the Minister of that congregation has an obligation to intercede and counsel the parents or insist they take the child for medical treatment. There are limits to Religious and Civil rights and those rights end when it effects the health or life of a helpless child.

I grew up in a very religious family, having a father who used to be a preacher, and am VERY familiar with this (crazy) way of thinking.

When I was 13 years old, a very large speaker (3ft. tall by about 18″ wide) fell onto my hand, crushing it, and mangled my pinky to a twisted bloody mess. My parents would not take me to the hospital, even though there were OBVIOUS broken bones, not to mention the risk of infection from the EXPOSED bone.

I spent 3 days in excruciating pain, all while being made to feel guilty, and like a “sinner” because of my “lack of faith” because evidently, my desire to go to the hospital was a direct indication of my doubting God’s ability to heal my injuries.

The pastor of our church saw my mangled hand the next Sunday at church, and when he asked why I hadn’t been to the doctor, I explained that we were “praying for God to heal it.” The pastor had a discussion with my father, and had to explain to him that while prayer and faith are a good thing, wisdom and discretion must be exercised.

I was finally able to go to the hospital the next day. Unfortunately, due to amount of time between the injury, and getting medical attention, my crushed bones had already begun to nit together, and I have since suffered through several surgeries to try and repair all the damage.

For a girl who played piano, and did sign language interpreting for the deaf, having the full and proper use of my hands was very important. It’s hard to let go of the bitterness I still sometimes feel over it.

So yes…. Shame on these parents! While it’s all well and good to pray for an injury or an illness to be healed, it doesn’t make you any less of a Christian to take your child to a medical professional, and pray for God to guide the doctor, and give him wisdom to help cure your child’s illness or injury.

P.S. Sorry this is so long, it’s simply a subject that I feel VERY strongly about due to my own personal experience with such religious zealot ideals.

This is just too sad and hard to understand.

Why didn’t some agency step in and do something? Why didn’t a doctor set off an alarm?

The family should get some counselling. Depending upon what faith they are, their clergyperson might get them to where they will seek medical attention. Their children should not be taken away and that idiot who said they should be charged with murder needs to be taken to some REAL murder crime scenes so she knows the difference. Her arguement of separation of Church and State was ludicrous. No information as to whether the family had insurance or could afford health care. Since when does the state get to control every aspect of our lives.

Should government be able to tell people what they are to do as parents? Will we end up with government mandated autism? These are touchy issues and some of us work in the medical field but still do not trust the pharmaceutical companies. Americans are being made into guinea pigs. It is sad about this girl and her parents should have sought medical assistance when it was clear that she was not getting better but can government tell us not to attempt to exercise and practice our faith? These parents should not be prosecuted but they should be counselled on using reason and common sense in conjunction with their faith. BTW Nice dress Alisyn !!!

A.C.
Such a sad story. I have heard of other stories like this but can’t remember how it turned out in court.. I remember one young gal cutting her long hair.. She died too as her parents made her actually eat her hair she had cut off. It was against their faith to cut hair.
These type of tradgecies should never happen. Where was their Pastor? Did he or she incourage them not to take anymore actions than only prayer.. It seems they must of had some trust in the teachings of their church..Maybe the Pastor needs to fess up to this horrible mess.

Good Morning,
I BELIEVE in the power of prayer, but you also have to believe that the Lord puts people in places to do his work Through them. When they are praying for healing they must seek the Healers that are here to do his work! Faith without works is futile!!!! Do what you can & HE will do the rest! When she passed the good Lord took her home!

May He be with you,
Me

Good Morning Ms. Alisyn,

First the kids should be removed to some place safe, if they haven’t already. These people are NOT parents, not in any real meaning of the word.

Then these people should be burried under the entire weight of the law. I am pretty sure the Judge would concur with both courses of action.

Hope you have a simply wonderful day.

chas

The family court should order the parents to couseling with their clergy person and a competent social services person. They should not be prosecuted and thier children should not be taken from them. The STATE is not the ultimate judge in peoples lives. While I do not agree with the parents theology I can understand it. Of course if the child was unborn……..anything goes.

I am greatly relieved, and yet apparently saddened that these parents had no church home or religious leadership to guide them. These people were not members of the Church of Christ (Scientist) nor were they members of a Rhema-Word Faith fellowship. Having no church to guide them, they have no claim to a separation of church and state reason for their action. I’m sorry to say, but they should be charged with child endangerment leading to death.

People who don’t take advantage of what God has already made available expecting God to do MORE for them are not more faith-filled they are foolish. There are no medical capabilities that have not come from God’s hand, so utilize them.
To allow your child to suffer and die when help is already available is criminal.

Dear Alisyn…its tragic that the child’s life ended for what we believe is a preventable cause. And, I hear, loud and clear, the morale outrage by individuals claiming we’re a nation of laws and church/government separation is the foundation of our Republic.

However, no such separation exists…The Supreme Court interprets such separation as an inference not a delineation.

My point is that however preventable, however tragic, and whatever outrage we may feel as a society…the child’s parents, yet to be proved but believed by me, were acting in a manner they believed were in the best interests of the child.

Unless we’re willing to turn the rearing of our children over to lawyers, parents must have their parental rights respected…if not, protected.

I believe that Constitutionally protected freedom of religious expression takes the foundation of the presiding issue (I am assuming there are religious beliefs motivating the parents…I could be wrong).

Rather than persecuting the Parents…lets mourn the loss of a little one. By doing so, we should help the grieving of this mom and dad.

I am a parent, and while I would never deny my son access to any health care or procedure, I cannot dictate that other parents raise their children as I would mine.

I am sad; yet, I, thank G-d, do not know the pain of losing a child.

Shalom Aleichem, Mark P.

Greetings it was so sad to here what happen to that little girl.As a Pastor I feel that her parents did not use wisdom regarding their child.I believe that prayer is a very powerful tool,we practice praying for the sick in our church.I have always instructed our members who have been sick to have their Doctors check them out.The parents will need to much couseling I put some of the blame on the parents spiritual leaders who might have taught them the ways of this kind of faith.I hope this never happens again.

God Bless
Pastor Pete Valdez

How could this have been prevented? Other than neighbors or friends who recognized an issue, the parents were the only ones that could have helped her, unless you think the government should have been able to prevent this. I think this tragedy will at a minimum get the debate going and possibly change the laws in those states that allow this type of stuff to happen without punishment to the parents.
Personally, I do not know of a single person that would let this happen to their kid/s. Most of them use prayer in conjunction with medical science and even their prayers are not always answered.

See you on the couch, after I win the sweepstakes.

Scott

There is a big difference between people refusing TYPES of medical care based on religious grounds and ALL medical care. What these people did was as criminal as it was ignorant. Some may try and point out Jehovah’s Witnesses and their refusal on blood transfusions, but at least in their situation, they have a solid basis and foundation for their beliefs……the Bible. Also, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will heartily and earnestly seek out ANY and EVERY available type of medical treatment for themselves and their children, provided that it doesn’t violate the Biblical prohibition on blood. These parents had NO basis for doing what they did, absolutely no justification, and all the child needed was some basic diabetic treatment that would have absolutely saved her life.

These people need to be locked away for life with a big picture of their child and the every-day knowledge that their ignorance and neglect caused that child’s death and the situation that they’re in.

I am a mom of a child with diabetes for the last 15 years. There is something innately wrong with parents that can sit by and watch their child die of blood sugar issues!! We all do what ever we can to prevent our children from experiencing any pain and they were the ones responsible!! They should face the full charges of the law. Our family is christian, believes stronly in God and pray daily. This does not replace the responsiblity of providing for your children!!! I am horrified by this.
In addition, I guess since “God took their child” they did not pray hard enough!!! this is insane!

Two comments:
Did they change the lighting setup or did Brian dip his head in a bucket of gel?
Glad to see Tony Snow looking healthy. He was in our prayers. Modern medicine AND prayer are the way to go.

I grew up in a VERY small church that did not believe in going to doctors. A friend of mine who was thirteen died the exact same way as little Madeline. It happened in a small town in Mississippi in 1991. Many people ask me now how our family could have remained in a church like this. It is impossible for anyone to understand the power of brainwashing until they have been under it for fifteen or more years. Often we see the stories on the news and judge without knowing any of the details. Should these parents have called the doctor? Yes. Absolutely, but have a little concern for these misguided people.

I think we should have government mandated vaccinations and birth control to help line the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies and to create a national epidemic of sterile autistic kids. Then these same companies, with a little help from the government, can create a mandatory pill to cure them. Government knows best! Look, this story is a tragedy. People with no common sense are a growing tragedy in this country but to use a broad brush to paint all people who have a system of faith as a bunch of nutbag zealots is just plain ignorant. Like every freedom in this country there are limitations. No one has a right via freedom of religion to endanger the life of their dependant child. Government, conversely has no right to tell people that they cannot raise their children (safely without endangering them) in their faith.

As a devout Christian, it is my opinion that God gave us doctors for a reason. In Matthew 9 : 12 Jesus states “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick”. The statement was metaphorical but I still don’t think he would have said that if the practice of medicine were in contradiction to the faith. These parents should face criminal charges and have their other children taken away from them. The freedom of religion that I believe in doesn’t extend to such blatant neglect. Common sense should prevail.

Ever since the advent of Row v. Wade our children have become a throw away commodity by our government. Judges also see them as this as they give child molesters extremely easy sentences. So as your guest said that we hold our children in high reguards doesn’t hold water. As far as this couple is concerned they truely had their childs best interest at heart. They truely wanted her well. They didn’t ignore her illness and allow her to die in some closed room with no intervention. They did what they were taught would work.

Take the children. Prosecute the parents for murder.

They should be put in jail. Who are they to tell God that doctors and medicine aren’t HIS answer to their daughter’s illness?

God made humans and he designed us to be in his image. Since he’s the Creator, it’s natural for us to be creators. Even creators of medicine!

It reminds me of the joke (even though this is no laughing matter) of the guy who was stuck on the roof of his house during a flood. He prayed for God to save him. God sent 2 boats and a helicopter and the guy refused saying “God will save me.” He died and went to heaven and asked God why He didn’t save him? God said “I sent you two boats and a helicopter.”

In this case, God has provided us with doctors and healthcare. If you can’t afford insurance, there are government and nonprofit clinics galore. How dare these “religious” people say that’s not God’s answer to our ailments and illnesses.

Send the parents to some third-world country where THEY have no health care and take away the children. God created medicine and gave us health care.

PS C’mon guys with the mile-long blogs. Leave some space for others!

Remi Spencer like most demonic attorneys has it wrong! “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN AMERICA!” If you are not educated past the limits of your IQ and read the Constitution of the united States Article I prohibits nuts like Spence from making any Law respecting religious practices. This is properly called “Separation of state and Church”. The improper version used by demonic people like Spencer comes from the Communist Manifeto. Our Republic form of government is founded on “freedom of Religion” not freedom from Religion. The medical gods kill more people every year than religious practices have killed in the last 50 years! No one and no law has the right to intrude in how a family lives! For people of no faith there is demonic life as tought in our school system. God isn’t incompetent that comes from the people who don’t read the Bible and become lawyers and politicians. God is the only one who grants life or sets the time we leave his foot stool called earth.
Not only defective cars are recalled by their maker!

The good news is “In hell there are no atheists. The bad news it’s to late to change sides!”

Although I do not agree with the parents decision in this matter, I always wonder where is the goverment when doctors and hospitals refuse to provide medical care to people who can’t afford life saving care. I recall a story a few years back about a young girl in Florida who died because her parents could not afford the costly medical procedure needed to save her life. If we are going to prosecute parents the we need to apply the same standards to the hospitals and doctors.

Hello Alisyn, I wish I could have been on the show today with my Collegues Reme and Doug, to explain the why the parensts will not be held lkiable under the Wisconsin Child Engangement statue in this case.

First, let me say this. I think it is appalling that these parents are going to get away with obvious parental neglect and it’s all because of the way the Wisconsin Law is written. Unfortunately I’m afraid that the Wisconsin law won’t hold the parents accountable for parental neglect so bad as long as it is faith-based and here is why what they did is legal.

The Wisconsin statute 948.03(6) provides an exemption from the law against failing to act to protect children from bodily harm for what is referred to as ‘Treatment through prayer.’ The statute says: ‘A person is not guilty of an offense under this section solely because he or she provides a child with treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with the religious method of healing … in lieu of medical or surgical treatment.’

The faith healing exemption (section 948.03(6), read together with the child abuse statues sections 48.981(3)(c) and or 448.03(6), explicitly state that it is not considered child abuse nor neglect to rely solely on prayer or cultural practices or ‘Christian Science’ for healing a child, even to the exclusion of medical means.
Unless there are other issues uncovered by the police investigation for example, previous child abuse, beatings, maiming, etc, other than this child’s illness then there are no charges the parents will face.

I am available M-F to appear whenever you need me and would love to be make regular appearances as a FOX contributor, on all legal stories, to add clarity and unbiased bottom line opinions. You may recall that I was just there last week on the Workplace gambling, March Madness story, and had a great time. Just ask Brian! Hope to hear from you all on Fox and Friends soon.

Gwen Lindsay-Jackson, Esq.

Back in 1986 here in Florida Amy Hermanson, 7, died at her home in Sarasota, a victim of diabetes, her parents were convicted of child abuse and third- degree murder. They knew Amy was sick but said that their Christian Science faith kept them from seeking medical attention for her. In 1992 the conviction was over turned by the Florida Supreme Court.

The court criticized the state’s child abuse statutes, calling them so incomprehensible that no reasonably intelligent person could tell when his actions regarding his children cross the line into criminal behavior. Making a case against a parent, and sadly, even an abusive parent, whose child dies for lack of medical attention is nearly impossible if the parent can show ties to a religion, even a tiny circle of like-minded friends, that disdains modern medicine.

The big debate. Faith Healing vs Medicine has been, “Do we want to say medicine is the only alternative for health care when we know that prayer does help some people in some situations? And to be fair. When a doctor makes a horrendous mistake, which they do, they aren’t charged with murder.

Personally I think the parents of Madeline need to be charged with a crime so at the least:
1, they are placed in the system.
2, cases like this continue to be debated. It’s a tough call.

Ali,
What do you think?? How do you personaly feel about this? You are a mother too.

As a Pastor, the one thing that many Christians worry about is the loss of their rights to make Christian choices for their children. Having said that, our faith in God and our Savior can not “endanger” our children. The problem is the word “endanger”. There are some out there that would place homeschooling, Christian schooling, church school, and even the preaching of the Gospel as “endangering” people. The debate will continue, as many will not give into another’s position. My personal thoughts are for the child. Does the situation truly endanger the child when it comes to their life and personal well-being?

Good Morning,

I agree with both Pogger an Lucky…..where I do believe that God is our Great Physician and can heal, going to a doctor is necessary. Excellent point Lucky, going to a doc doesn’t make one any less of a Christian. I pray for guidance and wisdom for doctors when I know of someone going in for surgery, etc.

Lucky, thank you for sharing your experience. Praying for you today.

Blessings….

Leave the children home! ! ! The state has not given berth to them and knows nothing about rearing children. If you want to see how state reared children turn out look at all of them on welfare for two three and five generations. The state is the poorest level of parenthood.

Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Exo 21:15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

Exo 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Deu 5:16 Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deu 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Deu 21:19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
Deu 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Deu 21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Speaking of the blog… Things seem to be getting a bit behind. Too many open items from yesterday and day before…

This should not have been allowed to happen. Murder one, no questions asked.

Hello Alisyn:

First, let me just say that I think it is appalling that these parents are going to get away with obvious parental neglect and it’s all because of the way the Wisconsin Law is written. Unfortunately I’m afraid that the Wisconsin law won’t hold the parents accountable for parental neglect so bad as long as it is faith-based and here is why what they did is not illegal.

The Wisconsin statute 948.03(6) provides an exemption from the law against failing to act to protect children from bodily harm for what is referred to as ‘Treatment through prayer.’ The statute says: ‘A person is not guilty of an offense under this section solely because he or she provides a child with treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with the religious method of healing … in lieu of medical or surgical treatment.’

Also, the faith healing exemption (section 948.03(6), with the child abuse statues, sections 48.981(3)(c) and or 448.03(6), explicitly state that it is not considered child abuse nor neglect to rely solely on prayer or cultural practices or ‘Christian Science’ for healing a child, even to the exclusion of medical means.

Finally eventhough we may all feel that parents who refuse to provide available medical care for their very ill children should not be trusted with the safety their safety, even if they honestly believe their rituals have healing power, you can not make thier conduct criminal if the law exempts these acts.

The solution here is legislative action not Criminal action. It is high time for Wisconsin state legislature to pass an act removing these exceptions.

Unless there are other issues uncovered by the police investigation for example, previous child abuse, beatings, maiming, etc, other than this child’s illness then there are no charges the parents will face.

Gwen Lindsay-Jackson, Esq.

Alisyn, how could the pastor of that church let this happen.
Sal

My heart goes out to the dear parents who loving their child so much were unwavering in their faith and continued doing what they thought would heal their child. Would a parent be accused of murder if they took a sick child to a hospital and the doctors or nurses some how screwed up and the child died? Or perhaps hospital staff honestly did the best they could but the child still died. Would the same people accuse the parents of being negligible if medical treatment had been the choice for those parents? Who is to say medicine is the only and best choice for healing? Proportionally it is very possible that a larger percent of people that use medical treatments are harmed than are harmed by relying on prayer alone. We live in a democracy which should give us choices. We are not living in a dictatorship where everyone is mandidated to use the same treatment (medical) to cure sickness. Parents still have the right in this country, thank God, to choose their own means of health care for their children. What they did in their reliance on prayer was only out of love not hate and what they believed was best for the child. I would venture to say that their family had had many successful healings in the past while relying on prayer alone or they would not have had such faith this time to continue seeking a healing through prayer. Their faith has truely been tested and they now have a lot to consider and I hope they will continue to call on God to help them get through this “valley of death” Ps 23.

This comment is in response to Bob Loblaw. I do not endorse these parents actions or their reasoning. But your reasoning is flawed too. What about the Bible verse in James that says, “The PRAYER of FAITH shall save the sick.” My bet is that this was a strong motivator for these parents. But, if you take the Bible as a whole, then you will see that this verse is not in exclusion to doctors or BLOOD TRANSFUTIONS!

Of course I believe in God and doctors, BUT……. Until we are a communist state, and the government assumes all ownership and responsibility (down to every little diaper needing changing and every bad word ever said, and every penny required to raise them) of children in US borders, it is absurd to think of criminal charges for these parents. This is a country of freedom and personal rights. The government is elected officials — elected by we, the people. There are also those people with hired jobs being paid by you and me. They are not some mysterious being. They are friends, relatives and fellow citizens. Freedom, freedom, freedom, whether you like it or not, is why this country was founded. My neighbors and friends are welcome to give me their opinions, but have absolutely no business telling me what I can or cannot do. Anyone supporting prosecuting the parents should ask themselves if they want their friends and neighbors telling them what they must do. It is absolutely sad and horrid that this sweet little girl died. Instead of talking about putting the parents in jail (infringing on peoples’ rights by taking up lots of money) lets find solutions that uphold personal preference and rights. How about neighbors and churches reaching out to people in this same situation? How about the rest of us praying that future parents seek doctors when necessary? How about us recognizing that these parents did not try to hurt this little girl. There is nothing criminal about that. It is not my business to decide what is right for other people’s children unless those children are infringing on my rights. God gave that girl to those parents, not me or you, like it or not. How can this be criminal when many, many ill-intentioned things that do infringe on other peoples rights aren’t criminalized? Find your own examples. The pain or her dying is certainly punishment enough. The answer to every news story is not let’s sue or let’s prosecute. Surely we are more intelligent than that.

Would the parents of the prescicous child that left this maddening world of irate and irracinal humans been arressed if she had lived,along with refusing medical treatment: because they prayed?
I do disagree with the parents for deciding to disallow medical treatment, but I have to respect their faith and respect their all consuming want to pray so intently for her recovery…..ashamedly her passing…..I believe as in with my own faith, they have and will forever mourn and feel accountable, sadly. Let them bury their child holding her always close at home in Peace rather than behind bars.

Ali,

Someone should inform the parents that Our Heavenly Father gave us the brains and the means to develop medicine.

As for the parents;

a. I don’t want to be judgemental - that is why humanity developed law; an idea that was handed down from, need I say it. The rule of law is operative here. Actually, the law could have taken the means to have the child treated.
b. They will have to live forever with the decision. Clearly, they were grief stricken and their thinking is impaired. Once again, the court system will have to divine their guilt or innocence.

On another note- does the blog time out so that entries are not posted when you roll “outta der” (a little South Jersey lingo)?

So sad to hear of this. It was God that gave the physicians the talent to help others. Do these religious fanatics NOT understand this? Apparently not. So sad. I wonder if these same people will just pray if they get some sort of disease?
God will/has blessed this young girl by “getting” her away from them into HIS Kingdom!

Alisyn give us a new topic that is a lot lighter. We need to start celebrating that tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!!!!!!

I believe prayer can help, with a side dish of common sense and modern medicine would have been a life saving combination. The parents should face some type of neglect charges and the other children should be protected. What a tragedy.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned any cases that have come up over the years involving Christian Scientists where children have died because of parents belief in this religion. I was almost a victim of this in the early ’60’s when I was about 16 and deathly ill with an intestinal disease that left me down to about 92 pounds at 6 foot tall. I was old enough to finally realize that prayer was going no where and demanded my mother take me to a doctor. This resulted in a a hospitalization for 3 weeks that solved the problem and left me with a huge scar on my abdomen but alive for the last 47 years. I loved my mother dearly but realized she had lost her grasp on reality in this case. I still believe sometimes the mind controls our physical well-being but the Christian Scientists take this too an absurd level.

People pray for so many different reasons. One thing we must remember is that God has given the knowledge to doctors to heal. We have to trust more than just faith when it comes to taking care of our children.

ALISYN;
AS YOU KNOW THEIR IS NOTHING AS PRECIOUS AS A CHILD’S LIFE.A CHILD IS A GIFT FROM
GOD FOR PARENT’S TO CARE FOR AND TEACH THEM TO BE HONORABLE PEOPLE.IN THE BIBLE
THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE JESUS DIDN’T HELP SOMEOME THROUGH HIS MIRICLES.HE WAS
CRUCIFIED FOR OUR SIN’S.HE LEFT NO MIRICLE WORKER IN CHARGE.WE DID HAVE FREE WILL
ANOTHER GIFT FROM GOD.THIS ALLOW’S PEOPLE TO LEARN AND DISCOVER THING’S THAT ARE
LIKE MIRICLE’S.DOCTOR’S ARE AMONG THOSE SPECIAL PEOPLE,THEIR SKILL’S AND THE
PRAYER’S SAVE MANY LIVE’S.THE PARENT’S IN THIS CASE FAILED TO PROTECT THERE CHILD,
THEY SHOULD HAVE PRAYED OVER HER BEDSIDE IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE MIRICLES HAPPEN
DAILY.GOD’S WORK?SOMETIME’S.MODERN MEDICINE AND GOD’S WORK,MOST OF THE TIME.THE
PARENTS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR CRIMINAL NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE,AND THERE CHIDREN
KEPT TOGETHER WITH RELATIVE’S IF POSSIBLE WHO BELIVE IN MODERN MEDICINE AND GOD’S
WORK.THE DISCOVERIES WE MAKE ARE LITTLE MRICLES THAT LEAD TO BIG ONE’S AND WE ALL
KNOW WHERE MIRICLE’S COME FROM.I AM SADDENED BY THE PAINFULL AND NEEDLESS DEATH
OF THIS LITTLE ANGEL MADELINE.

There is a story about a man caught in a flood who has climbed to the roof of his house and prayed for God to save him. A boat comes by to save him and the man says “no thanks, God will save me”. Another boat comes by and the man gives the same response. Then a third boat.. same thing. The man eventually drowns and eventually stands before God. He says, “God, I prayed, why didn’t you save me?” Gods response - “I sent you three boats, what more do you want”.

I am a firm believer in prayer, but that doesn’t preclude me from using the blessings God has provided in this country. He has promised to feed me (Matt 6), but I still go to the grocery store every week. Someone once said, “Work as if all things depended on you, but pray as if nothing depended on you”.

That being said, this case is difficult. How do you prosecute these parents in the way they deserve (in my opinion) without starting a slippery slope that could lead to the erosion of religious freedom?

yes ali you are right!
like I first posted Prayer without works is fultile! I am also in away glad that they were not part of a church who teaches just prayer! If just this small group of people decided to treat this baby that way THEY should ALL be CHARGED, but we all know the Judement will be by GOD not us!

May she now rest in peace & is surrounded by TRUE Love of God!
Maybe her parents will find THE Healer in the jail cell!!!!

God entrusts children in our care to love, nurish and care for their spiritual as well as physical well being. Although these parents may have loved thier daughter, they LET HER DIE! They need to be held accountable for that in some way. I pray for my children’s protection and well being every morning, evening and night and I also do everything in MY power to make sure that they are safe and well. If one of my children is sick I seek medical attention and PRAY. Unfortunately these parents were misguided in their intentions and their daughter paid the ultimate price.

Alisyn, I thought they belong to a church, and I was thinking why would the pastor let this happen, but what about the other people that were praying with them,not one person said maybe we should call a doctor, its a sad story
Sal

Alisyn-
I love they way you comment on some of these emails on the blog. The story about Lucky was incredible, you are very compassionate and everyone appreciates it. The parents of this little girl who died should go to prison. That’s it. She died because of thier decisions, not due to lack of faith. As a christian, it makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. God uses doctors too, to help make us healthy. How could these parents do this??? They are crazy! chris

I feel that prayer can be very powerful, but medicine also needs to be used when it can be. When you have a disease that can be regulated by medication, which can help you lead a fairly normal life, it should be used, but still pray. I am a great believer in God, but I also believe our God gave us the means to help and heal in other ways. This may be His way of keeping our focus on caring for one another.

Good Morning, Alisyn:

Everyone has covered the salient points on this issue. But, the basic issue here is how should the laws address this? I feel that laws should be written that trump religious beliefs and practices when it comes to the medical treatment for children. I also believe that there is a need for “deprogramming counselling” for parents found to be in these circumstances.

Religion and faith is good. But remember, it is still the cause of 90 percent of all wars and human persecution throughout history. God save us from the fanatics and zealots.

Thanks,

Gus

Alisyn:

Totally off topic, but the crew is talking about Super Delegates deciding the Democratic Nominee at convention. With the number of Super Delegates facing felony charges (Elliot Spitzer, Kwame Kilpatirck and probably others to be named), they may not have enough that can leave thier home states to attend the convention!

Dear Alisyn,
In an unrelated question. When do you present the winner of the Fox & Friends Breakfast that wonderful little gift from our own Internal Revenue Service the 1099 ?

You guys make my day!

A jail term is appropriate in this case. To sacrifice the life of a child by refusing to provide proper care is truly a criminal act. I am a Christian and have no trouble granting forgiveness to someone who repents and understands their wrong doing. I don’t think these folks have shown any remorse for their actions, and jail time is a must and needs to be harsh enough to act as a deterent to keep other parents from doing the same thing.

Good Morning Everyone!!!!!
We live in the area that the little girl is from.What a TRAGIC story!!!! The mom is part owner of a local coffee shop,the dad has a good job,they have a nice home.We are all wondering how this happened in our back yard.YES the parents should be held accountable.They said they did everthing possible to save Madeline.Also, the “church”they belong to,is an on-line congregation based in California. Berni

The parents were mislead by someone whether it be her Pastor, friend, etc. I firmly in believe in praying for the sick. The Bible calls upon us to ask the Elders to lay hands on the sick. Yet one must consider the fact that God not heals through prayer but through doctors, nurses, etc. We need to listen to God. He speaks in a still small voice. To merely watch your child go into oblivion is wrong. These parents should be charged with endangerment but given probation. Their loss is a severe punishment.

Dear Alisyn,

I am amased at how many people are ready to crucify this couple for what they feel they didn’t do for their child yet million of children are brutally dismembered without any anesthesia and dumped into a common dumpster (commonly known as being ABORTED). Where is their outrage for these children whom mostly are completely healthy and could of survived if their parents and their doctor would have given them proper medical ca