The Harm

3 Children Removed From Home Where Girl Died Of Diabetes

WAUSAU - Three siblings of a Weston girl who died from untreated diabetes as her parents prayed for healing instead of taking her to a doctor have been removed from the home to stay with other relatives, police said Friday.

An agreement was reached between the parents and social services experts that the move would be in the best interests of everyone, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.

The children are not in danger, he said.

“They were checked out by physicians. … Physically, they are fine,” he said. “There is no physical evidence of abuse or neglect. None.”

Its a travesty that they take there children away now after one of there children are allready dead. Parents do not have the right to deny there children medical care no madder what there religion says and if any one denis there children medical care for what ever reason (including religion) there children should be taken from them.

Parents surrender to police over daughter’s death

CLACKAMAS COUNTY - The parents of a baby girl who died from a treatable illness voluntarily surrendered to police Friday night after arrest warrants were issued for them.

Carl Worthington, 28, and Raylene Worthington, 25, face charges of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal mistreatment in connection with the death of their daughter, 15-month-old Ava Worthington.

The infant died March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and an infection, both of which the state medical examiner said could have easily been cured with common antibiotics.

Numerous sources told KATU News that instead of taking their daughter to a doctor, her parents prayed over her.

The Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, a church that has a history of faith healing. The couple also lost a son in 2001.

It is sick that such things are allowed to happen. Such churches should be shut down and parents who deny there children medical care should have there children taken from them.
Parents have the right to have what ever religion they want but they have no right to deny there children medical care no madder what there religion is.

Accused Witch Beaten in Eastern India

PATNA, India (AP) - A woman accused of practicing witchcraft in eastern India was tied to a tree and beaten by enraged villagers, police said Friday.

Lalpari Devi was attacked Wednesday in a village on the outskirts of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, local police official Nishant Tiwary told The Associated Press.

Tiwary said Devi claimed to be a faith healer and was treating a mentally ill woman in the village. When the woman attempted to commit suicide, Devi was attacked by angry villagers, Tiwary said.

He said Devi was tied to a tree with rope and repeatedly beaten. Her hair was then cut off and she was paraded through the village, Tiwary said. A video of the attack was aired Friday by New Delhi Television.

Ram Ayodhya Rai, the mentally ill woman’s husband, was arrested and charged with assault, Tiwari said. He added that police have started an investigation to find out how many other villagers were involved in the assault.

Devi is being investigated for fraud, Tiwary said.

Rural areas in India remain deeply superstitious, despite the country’s economic progress in recent years. Many people believe in black magic and dozens of people are beaten or killed every year for practicing witchcraft.

The price if the beliefe in magic.

Questionable Oregon City church came under fire a decade ago as well

“Ten years ago I couldn’t express my feelings for what was going on out there, but I can now,” Hass said. “This is child abuse. Pure and simple. There is no other way to say it.”

Hass said he remembered standing in the back of the church listening to the Followers of Christ service. There was no pastor and no sermon, just a series of hymns sung by the congregation. The leader apparently died years ago. An elder in the church told Hass that the followers believe their faith in God will cure the sick.

The question now is, did 15-month-old Ava Worthington die three weeks ago because of her parents’ belief in faith healing? The medical examiner said she died in her parents’ home from an illness that could have been cured with common antibiotics.

In the Bible there are are many passages that talk about faith healing. In the King James Version of the New Testament it says, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” - James 5:14 - 5:15.

One church member told us this past Sunday to read The Book of Daniel and the story of how he was thrown to the lions for his beliefs, to understand why the members are not afraid to go to jail. The passage reads, “So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.” - Daniel 6:23.

The power of faith to delude people. How many people have to die before something is done about this cult. Maybe we should test there beliefs, shoot some of them, throw some Molotov cocktails into there church, see if God protects them.