Parents Pray Daughter to Death

It’s a sad headline, but it’s absolutely true. In March, it was reported that Madeline Kara Neumann, an 11 year old girl, died needlessly of diabetes because her parents failed to take her to the doctor, believing they could pray her back to full health. Police say that she was probably ill for about 30 days “suffering symptoms like nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness.”

The Neurmann’s are part of the “Unleavened Bread Ministries” and if you type that into the Google, you will know right away that it’s probably not the best church to be involved in. They are an “end-time” church who don’t believe in modern medicine and when members get sick, their only option is to begin praying. Tragically, that policy resulted in the death of this 11 year old.

The young girl died in March, and it’s news now because the trial of the mother, Leilani Neumann, has begun. No defense witnesses were called, but Madeline’s grandmother said to the press that she was proud of her Leilani for showing faith in God by not getting medical attention.

(Leilani) Neumann’s mother, Evalani Gordon, 62, of San Diego, Calif., said her daughter was comfortable with the decision to offer no defense witnesses, believing God has “influenced” Linehan to give wise counsel.

Gordon said she told her daughter on the morning that Madeline could not walk, talk or drink to take the girl to a doctor for at least a medical checkup.

But Gordon said she is now proud that her daughter displayed such strong faith in God, a stronger faith than hers at that moment.

“It was a tragic loss and we miss our granddaughter very much,” the grandmother said. “But we believe God had a purpose in taking her. We don’t understand, but God’s ways are perfect and sure.”

Most would argue this as a pretty clear cut case, the parents should be held responsible and be punished with the maximum penalty. The Wisconsin Law Journal (is there any other) thinks this case isn’t so clear cut.

Constitutional law, religion, philosophy, medicine, ethics and common sense are just a handful of the issues involved in the ongoing murder trial of a 41-year-old Weston woman.
….
One of the questions raised is whether a parent’s First Amendment right supersedes the need to act in a child’s best interests.

So what do you think, is this case more complicated than it appears?

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• Wisconsin Law Journal: Neumann case poses complex legal, ethical questions
• Yahoo News: Defense calls no witnesses in prayer death trial
• KWTX: Police: Parents Prayed, Girl Died
• ABC News: Parents’ Faith Fails to Save Diabetic Girl
• Unleavened Bread Ministries