In a shockingly proactive move, social services has decided to remove three girls from their parents after failed attempts to sustain their eleven year old diabetes-ridden sister's life through the proven healing power of prayer.
The family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, Leilani Neumann said.
While I'm a little too pragmatic to fully comprehend the "power of prayer," I see religion as an interpersonal choice and as long as we mind our own business and stop trying to force our faith or lack there of on others, a whole bunch of bad shit can be avoided. If prayer in itself can comfort people and provide them some type of security to help them lead mentally healthier lives, I'm all for it. With that being said, I'm of the opinion that these fuckers should be locked up. What do the cops think though?
"There is no physical evidence of abuse or neglect."
Far be it for me to say what constitutes "physical evidence of abuse or neglect" but THERE'S AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL IN A FUCKING COFFIN!
Note to all fans of the bible: If you interpret this book literally, bad shit will always happen.
Note to people who believe in the healing power of prayer: Prayer and medicine don't have to be mutually exclusive. Perhaps instead of God just going all "Mr. Miyagi in the sky" every time someone asks for healing, he just gave us science and doctors and things of that ilk?
You're right, Vandelay. This is worse abuse and neglect than those parents who lock a kid in a cage without food and sanitation. Why? Because they sat blithely by while their child suffered, and let her die. Can you imagine the child's desperation? A sick kid just wants to feel better, and they want mom and dad to take care of them. The parents knew their daughter was ill—they weren't too stupid to notice that. But they chose to pray rather than to seek life-saving medical help. (Oh, until it was too late—they called 911 at the very end. What, couldn't they just pray that an ambulance would come? Calling 911 seems inconsistent with their worldview.)
Posted by: Schmoopie | March 31, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Can you imagine the child's desperation? A sick kid just wants to feel better, and they want mom and dad to take care of them.
Exactly. The sad part is that the kid was probably too scared to say "Mom and Dad...if you don't get me to a hospital, I think I'm gonna die. You gotta stop praying and try to find out what the fuck is wrong with me." They probably would have performed an excorcism.
You can't convince me that this is anything less than murder.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | March 31, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I've got an aunt that won't wear a seatbelt because Jesus will protect her in case of an accident.
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Posted by: Assman | March 31, 2008 at 12:35 PM
It's like we're in the fucking middle ages. Lock 'em up! Free the stoners!
Posted by: ZaZ | March 31, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I seem to remember something about "the Lord helps those that help themselves."
Yeah, this was manslaughter at least. If these people were animists, Muslims or Buddists, they would be in jail.
Posted by: TMan | March 31, 2008 at 01:27 PM
There's a Darwin joke in this some where.
Posted by: Dr. Strangejazz | March 31, 2008 at 04:38 PM
I've got an aunt that won't wear a seatbelt because Jesus will protect her in case of an accident.
Maybe natural selection will take care of all these Jesus-freaks, in the end.
Posted by: H.E. Pennypacker | March 31, 2008 at 06:10 PM
The family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, Leilani Neumann said.
I think this goes way beyond biblical literalism. I mean, does the Bible even say "Don't go to doctors"?
At least in the Old Testament, it was clear that while God would look out for the chosen people, like by making all of these cities run with the blood of their enemies, the chosen people still had to do the actual smiting.
Posted by: Steve H. | March 31, 2008 at 08:24 PM
I've got an aunt that won't wear a seatbelt because Jesus will protect her in case of an accident.
Does Jesus pay when she gets a ticket for that?
Posted by: DFS | March 31, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I think this goes way beyond biblical literalism. I mean, does the Bible even say "Don't go to doctors"?
Not that I know of. I've never known one Christian that was anti-medicine. I think they've managed to confuse it with Scientology. Don't even get me started on those whack-jobs.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | March 31, 2008 at 10:10 PM
eh, scum of the gene pool being removed...oh well.
Posted by: Babu | April 01, 2008 at 12:42 AM
eh, scum of the gene pool being removed...oh well.
Really, dude?
Posted by: Art Vandelay | April 01, 2008 at 09:26 AM
"eh, scum of the gene pool being removed...oh well."
If that were true, the parents would have died instead of the kid.
Posted by: TMan | April 01, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Scientology doesn't have a problem with doctors or medicine. Just psychiatry and any substance that has an altering effect on the brain.
You're thinking of Christian Scientists, I think, Vandalay.
Posted by: Faith | April 01, 2008 at 01:20 PM
You're thinking of Christian Scientists, I think, Vandalay.
Either that or I'm just a moron. Anyway, thanks for the clarification, Faith.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | April 01, 2008 at 01:32 PM
"Scientology doesn't have a problem with doctors or medicine. Just psychiatry and any substance that has an altering effect on the brain."
Or anesthesia during childbirth. Wouldn't want any "traumas" getting in the way of some good old fashioned cultish brainwashing. You want to climb the Operating Thetan ladder, you need to hand over your brain to L. Ron.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | April 02, 2008 at 09:29 AM