Personal Liberties and Parental Rights

You're right. I think it's probably a subset of Christianity. But they have specific beliefs that are not in the mainstream Christian beliefs. It's probably not correct to say that they're NOT Christians. Sorry. What I meant is that they don't hold all the same beliefs as Mainstream Christians. They have a LOT of the same beliefs.

I will say that I do see where you are coming from on this one, and I do think that parents should be the chief authority when it comes to the medical care of their children.  I am uncomfortable with the idea of forcing vaccinations on parents, and think that much of the trouble we have now with super-bugs has a lot to do with the over prescribing of antibiotics.  I also have no issue with the use of alternative therapies and prayer, because I do not believe that conventional Western medicine has all the answers.

However, if a child is laying there dying of pneumonia and the parents will not get that child the treatment they need to save their life, then I do believe that it has gotten to the point where the parents' right to practice their faith freely must be overridden by that child's right to life.

janet_rose

Aside:  My personal belief is that if God decides to heal a child or adult, he/she can do so regardless of what treatment is being given. 

I am sorry I ever posted the above, because the point of my post was ignored!! 

The definition of wrongful death is a civil matter in the U.S., not a religious one. 

There are some civil laws that religious groups can challenge and win.  Others are just too fundamental to a society for this to happen - like those reflecting the value that society puts on a human life.. 

No religion, however devout, will ever be able to trump society's civil definition of wrongful death - especially where it relates to children.  The only recourse for any person (religious or not) who disagrees with this civil definition is to find a different society that agrees with them.

The equal enforcement of civil laws on wrongful death are not disrespectful of anyone's religious beliefs.  Everyone (religious, agnostic, or atheist) who violates those civil laws will face the civil authorities with equal vengenance.

Religous groups can complain all they want, but fighting the value that society places on a human life - especially that of a child - is like spitting into the wind.  It is an exercise in futility.