2nd child of Pa. couple dies after only praying

AP Yahoo ^ | 4/23/13 | MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARYCLAIRE DALE

[OKRA2012]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A couple serving probation for the 2009 death of their toddler after they turned to prayer instead of a doctor could face new charges now that another son has died.
Herbert and Catherine Schaible belong to a fundamentalist Christian church that believes in faith healing. They lost their 8-month-old son, Brandon, last week after he suffered from diarrhea and breathing problems for at least a week, and stopped eating. Four years ago, another son died from bacterial pneumonia.

[driftdiver]

They can rely on prayer alone for themselves. For children its child neglect.

God gave us doctors.

[soycd]

> Principles are more important than life itself

Anyone withholding medical care from their children and letting them die, has no principles.

[jwalsh07]

Prayer and technology are not mutually exclusive. The Good Lord was a firm believer in healers. Why these two think they know better is beyond me.

[stormer]

You don’t think that neglect is an action?

[ken in texas]

Since I believe God heals miraculously, I don’t want to insert my “sensibilities” about doctors, God and healing between a parent and their children.

There's no doubt that God can heal miraculously, but sometimes His will may be that you go to a doctor. Relying on prayer alone and refusing to seek competent medical treatment is putting God to the test, something the Bible warns against.

[driftdiver]

Jesus was a healer.

[plain talk]

Well I fervently believe in the power of prayer. God oftens answer them. But not always. It is a mystery we cannot fathom.

But I also believe God gave us brains, doctors, life and liberty. Hopefully these people will be charged and do jail time. This is not right. It is not only about the parents. We have two dead children. What about them?

[driftdiver]

Excuse me, Jesus IS a healer. I was referring specifically to the times he healed people during his 3 years of preaching.

[caww]

“I think if a deer knew how to fix a broken leg, it would.”

I like this one...”If babies had guns there would be no abortions”.

[stuartcr]

I’m sure you draw the line at abortion though.

[tsomer]

Personally, I don’t consider it a Constitutional issue; I consider it a 10 Commandments issue, namely “Thou shalt not kill.”

These parents are quilty of neglect and reckless endangerment. If they didn’t have the sense to know their child was seriously ill, they should be institutionalized. If they did, they should be in prison.

Three children died. If the Constitution can be invoked to excuse this, then I’m for gutting it.

[AnAmericanInEngland]

does one’s religious freedom exceed another person’s right to life and liberty?

[Lurking Libertarian]

"Parents may be free to become martyrs themselves. But it does not follow they are free, in identical circumstances, to make martyrs of their children before they have reached the age of full and legal discretion when they can make that choice for themselves."--Prince v. Massachusetts (U.S. Supreme Court 1944).

[stormer]

It does seem pretty unlikely. But who knows what other environmental factors were at work, i.e. poor nutrition, inadequate shelter, etc, that could be factor in both children's deaths. At any rate, they should be allowed to pray to their hearts’ content for the rest of their lives in the state penitentiary.

[jwalsh07]

Yup.

[absolootezer0]

i have faith that God always answers prayers, but as i’m a realist, i understand sometimes the answer is “No.”

so i have faith that the doctor went to school, learned what they needed to and will do everything they can to take care of my children.

[Fido969]

What pastor tells people to do this?

[PA Engineer]

The odds are extremely against two babies dying even without medical attention.

We may have a case of Munchausen by proxy syndrome or baby murderers.

It could also be a Rotavirus. It is estimated to kill 450,000 children under the age of 5 worldwide. In the US it is easily treated.

Idiots. They murdered their child in a most horrific way. The treatment is simple and usually is just IV fluids until the virus runs it's course. Sad.

[driftdiver]

If my religion allows human sacrifice does it mean I can do it?

[cuban leaf]

Don’t give the kids food; just pray for them?

Don’t give them water; just pray for them?

Don’t give them warm winter clothing; just pray for them?

I set the bar a lot higher than most liberals, but I would see it as EVERY parent’s responsibility to provide their children with food, shelter and medical care. If they fail, they need to be held accountable.

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I agree.