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State Petitions To Get Medical Treatment For Amish Child

By Howard M. Friedman

In Watertown, New York, the Department of Social Services has filed a petition in St. Lawrence County Family Court seeking to have a one-year old boy removed from his Amish parents and placed in foster care so he can receive medical treatment for his potentially fatal heart condition. WNYF TV News reported yesterday that Eli Hershberger needs open-heart surgery, but that his parents, Barbara and Gideon Hershberger, on religious grounds object to use of medical treatment and hospitals. The court has appointed the County Conflict Defender to represent the parents, and a guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent Eli's interests.

On a related issue, yesterday Religion News Service published an interview with Shawn Francis Peters, author of the book, When Prayer Fails: Faith Healing, Children and the Law. Asked to explain the theology behind various denominations' choice of prayer over medicine, Peters cited James 5:14 which reads: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 04, 2008 (boomark / email).