Prayer instead of medical care in Idaho

[IDemo]

BOISE - A clause in an Idaho law protects parents from being prosecuted if they choose not to bring their child to a doctor, and they end up dying from a treatable illness. Only five other states have such a religious exemption.

Former member of the Followers of Christ Linda Martin walked KTVB’s Tami Tremblay around Peaceful Valley Cemetery. Martin says she is related to most of the people buried in the private Caldwell cemetery.

"There's just so many of them out here," said Martin as she looked at the graves. "You look around and it's like where do you start and where do you end?"

Martin says when you are raised in the Pentecostal church you are taught to never talk about the religion. The "Followers" believe in faith healing. They do not believe in medical care for adults or children.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/investigations/7-investigations/7-investigates-the-hotly-debated-topic-of-faith-healing-in-idaho/43996944

I can relate to this story, up to a point. As a child 50 years ago, I was taken on several occasions to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where Kathryn Kuhlman, a popular "faith healer", held services. This was so my Type 1 diabetes could be addressed by a higher power. The services lasted for hours, and I found myself absorbed into the Egyptian themed murals surrounding the stage, mentally walking among the palms and pyramids. At no point was the idea of withholding my insulin brought up, and I was a regular patient of an outstanding diabetes specialist.

"I think these people try very hard to take care of their children," said Heider. " I don't find fault in the fact that because of their religious beliefs we should prosecute them if a child dies. You know, it's a first amendment right, the freedom of religion."

Heider just happens to be the Republican chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

I cringe to read "We don't feel this is an issue that needs to be addressed in Idaho this year" from an Idaho legislator, but am not a bit surprised.

[joeybee12]

1. I remember Kathryn Kuhlman

Boy was she creepy...as creepy as this Idaho law exemption.

[drm604]

2. To my mind this is child abuse, plain and simple.

Children have some basic rights and if the parents refuse to honor them then the state has to step in. If parents refuse to feed their children, or clothe them, we intervene, and almost no one objects to that intervention. Why should health care be any different?

[Wounded Bear]

3. Forced birthers, I assume...

followed by lack of proper care.

Yay, Pro-life!

Yeah,

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Worked with a couple of these

Fundies that believed in the laying of hands garbage. Still remember this group,four of them. Ever break they would do their little verse readings as well as chants. This went on for about seven years until on of the group members son suddenly became ill. You guessed it,these fellows as well as others,held a laying of hands on the one fellows son. Two days of this hokus pokus and the little guy passed,he had a ruptured appendix. One of my fellow workers and I went to the families home to offer condolences and offer our help in making arrangements. We were told to get the heck off the porch because we were infidels and not strong enough Christians. Long story short,this fellow left this so called fundamentalist group when the reality hit that his son would be alive today if they had taken the little one to the ER. Last we heard was the fellow is agnostic and speaks out against these Fundy Groups.