GOD HELP THEM: FAITH HEALING AND CHILD DEATHS

[HairOfTheDog]

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.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that a decision on charges will be made after they get the results of an autopsy.

A jury convicted the Schaibles of involuntary manslaughter in the January 2009 death of their 2-year-old son, Kent. The boy's symptoms had included coughing, congestion, crankiness and a loss of appetite. His parents said he was eating and drinking until the last day, and they had thought he was getting better.

The Schaibles were sentenced to 10 years' probation.

At a hearing Monday, a judge told the couple they had violated the terms of their probation, noting the Schaibles had told investigators that they prayed to God to make Brandon well instead of seeking medical attention.

"You did that once, and the consequences were tragic," Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner said, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Prosecutors on Monday sought to have the couple jailed, but Lerner permitted them to remain free because their seven other children had been placed in foster care.

Herbert Schaible, 44, and his 43-year-old wife grew up in the First Century Gospel Church in northeast Philadelphia and have served as teachers there. The church's website has a sermon titled "Healing – From God or Medicine?" that quotes Bible verses purportedly forbidding Christians from visiting doctors or taking medicine.

"It is a definite sin to trust in medical help and pills; and it is real faith to trust on the Name of Jesus for healing," says the message, from last May.

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Should these parents be imprisoned if the autopsy shows that another of their children died from an illness that could have been effectively treated with medical attention? Or, does the parents' right to practice their religion freely extend to how they care for their children?

[Duchess]

Should these parents be imprisoned if the autopsy shows that another of their children died from an illness that could have been effectively treated with medical attention? Or, does the parents' right to practice their religion freely extend to how they care for their children?

Yeah, I think they should pay a price for their ignorance even though it involves their religious beliefs. I read someone who has similar religious views and it is her thought that God works through people, Doctors/nurses/other healthcare providers. She didn't see it as black & white as this couple does. I think when your beliefs play a role in someone's death that it's time for the authorities to step in.

[username]

Yes. Jail. Especially because they were already convicted once. I think the manslaughter conviction and probation might have been reasonable the first time around. It was a slap but they got leniency based on their religious views. 2^nd time you're out.

[Eat Shit And Die]

Ignorance is not a defense.

[HairOfTheDog]

JUDGE SENTENCES SCHAIBLES' TO 3.5 TO 7.0 YEARS



Snip:
PHILADELPHIA -- A couple who believed in faith-healing were sentenced Wednesday to 3½ to seven years in prison in the death of a second child who never saw a doctor despite being stricken with pneumonia.

"April of 2013 wasn't Brandon's time to die," Judge Lerner said, noting the violence committed throughout human history in the name of religion. "You've killed two of your children. ... Not God. Not your church. Not religious devotion. You."

Their pastor, Nelson Clark, blamed Kent's death on a "spiritual lack" in the parents' lives, and insisted they would never seek medical care, even if another child was dying.

"It was so foreseeable to me that this was going to happen," said Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore, who prosecuted both cases. "Everybody in the system failed these children."

After the first death of one of their children, she and public defender Mythri Jayaraman agreed that the couple's beliefs were so ingrained that their children remained at risk. They asked the earlier judge to have the family supervised by a Department of Human Services caseworker. Instead, the judge assigned them to probation officers, who are not trained to monitor children's welfare.

The Schaibles pleaded no contest to third-degree murder in Brandon's death, and faced a maximum 20- to 40-year term. Pescatore asked for eight to 16 years, while Jayaraman sought less than two years for Catherine Schaible.

"I didn't know what to do when Brandon was sick, because it was much quicker (than the first child's death)," said Catherine Schaible, who said he died within a few days. "The D.A. is actually right. I feel like I failed as a mother because they're not alive."

A videotape played in court showed her on a weekly supervised visit, when she brought her children their favorite meals, along with games and birthday treats. Six of their children are now in foster care, some with relatives. They attend public schools for the first time, and are getting medical, dental and vision care. Several now wear glasses.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?sectio...id=9437462

[crash]

Assholes.

[HairOfTheDog]

Michigan



^ Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari-Welch, both 27, were shocked when the judge read the charges against them yesterday:  felony murder and first degree child abuse in the death of their 10-month-old baby girl Mary.  If convicted, the maximum sentence is life without parole.

They cited their Christian religion as a defense for not calling doctors or seeking help for Mary, because according to them, "God is sovereign over disease". 

The Welches also advertised their beliefs on hand-painted signs nailed to trees and on the fence out front of their home. "Repent. Believe. Obey." They admitted to noticing that Mary was losing weight and wasn't healthy for at least a month before she died. 

(continued)

[HairOfTheDog]

After Mary ^  died, Mr. Welch called 911 to report that he found his daughter dead in her crib.  First responders found Mary with sunken eyes and cheeks. An autopsy on Friday ruled her cause of death as malnutrition and dehydration due to neglect by adult caregivers.

Poor baby -- rest in peace Mary.  

The couple has two older children, aged 2 and 4, who are now in custody of CPS (CPS filed a neglect case against the Welches in regards to those children yesterday).  None of the children had been vaccinated, again for 'religious' reasons.

The Welches are being held without bail and are due back in court on August 20.  Oh, and Tatiana Fusari-Welch is said to be pregnant again.

Story:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...asons.html

[HairOfTheDog]

Also in Michigan.......


Last year, ^ Joshua and Rachel Piland’s infant daughter Abigail died of complications from jaundice after the couple refused to seek medical treatment because of their Christian beliefs.  Their two surviving older children were placed into the care of their maternal grandparents, where they remain.

Immediately after Abigail died in February 2017, the couple spent hours praying for the infant’s resurrection, the records show. Police learned of the infant's death only after receiving a call from a relative in California.  They were charged with manslaughter and remained free on $75,000 bail each awaiting trial.

Well, two weeks ago, Rachel gave birth to another daughter, Verity, with similar health problems as Abigail.  The Pilands again refused medical treatment for religious reasons.

So, hours after Verity Piland's birth, state officials seized the baby and took her to the hospital, where she received lifesaving blood transfusions.  Verity remains hospitalized two weeks later.

The Pilands again told investigators they refused to seek medical treatment for the infant because “God makes no mistakes,” and they believe in the power of prayer.  

Full story:  https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/stor...848560002/

[Love Child]

Fuck You Baby Killers!

[Love Child]

Didn't they ever hear the story of the drowning man who prayed to God for help? A person in a boat shows up and says, "Do you need help?" "No" says the man, "God will help me" and so on-like 4 boats and then the guy dies and he asks God, "God, why didn't you help me?" and God says, "I did. I sent 4 boats and you turned them all away"

[aussiefriend]

Didn't they ever hear the story of the drowning man who prayed to God for help? A person in a boat shows up and says, "Do you need help?" "No" says the man, "God will help me" and so on-like 4 boats and then the guy dies and he asks God, "God, why didn't you help me?" and God says, "I did. I sent 4 boats and you turned them all away"

You've been watching Joel Osteen. I know you Love Child, I know. 

[HairOfTheDog]

Didn't they ever hear the story of the drowning man who prayed to God for help? A person in a boat shows up and says, "Do you need help?" "No" says the man, "God will help me" and so on-like 4 boats and then the guy dies and he asks God, "God, why didn't you help me?" and God says, "I did. I sent 4 boats and you turned them all away"

I've never heard that before. It sums up well the gist of what I think when people insist some of human nature and capacity is God's way, but other aspects of human nature and capacity are not.  

If one believes that God is the almighty "Creator", then it follows that everything is God's deal (according to my logic).

Anyway, in my opinion, people who refuse to care properly for their children's health based on religious beliefs are just as negligent as those who endanger their children's lives by leaving loaded guns unsecured in the home based on their cultural/lifestyle beliefs.  Book them all.