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Good To Know: Faith And The Needs Of The Faithful

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May 15, 2009 10:52 pm US/Central

Good To Know: Faith And The Needs Of The Faithful

Reporting
Don Shelby
(WCCO) The debate over whether a judge can order the life-saving medical treatment of a child over the wishes of the child and the parents has focused national attention on Sleepy Eye, Minn. Don Shelby says a lot of people don't like law trumping faith.

It doesn't always. There are still several states in the country that will not prosecute parents who choose their faith over medical treatment of a dying child. But, in most states there is no religious immunity when faith interferes with what is called "duty to care."

But, some churches have effectively lobbied their legislatures against prosecution for manslaughter or murder if the child dies. That is, if the spiritual or faith healing is supervised by a religious practitioner.

Here, the judge has said that the cancer treatment process for a 13-year-old boy will begin, because there is an overriding interest in the protection of the child. Testimony before the judge says the medical treatment will likely result in the boy's survival, without it, he will not survive.

It is worth considering that sometimes in our lives we change our minds about our faith. We cannot bring a dead child back to life.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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