More heartfelt testimony on both sides at faith healing hearing…
More of the testimony from today’s faith healing hearing:
Rev. Sarah LaWall, a Boise Unitarian minister, said, “The bottom line is children’s lives are at stake. Minors are subject to the choices of their parents no matter how dangerous.” She urged lifting the religious exemptions, saying, “I do hope for the sake of our children it will cause parents to think carefully about the path they choose.”
Judy Cross, board president of the Interfaith Alliance, quoted a 1944 U.S. Supreme Court case, saying, “The parents are free to martyr themselves, but they are not free to martyr their children. ... Why are our laws not consistent with this principle? … Change this, save children’s lives and end needless suffering.”
Paul Shippy said, “I believe in faith healing. I’m not much for public speaking. We have a large family. I know the power of prayer works.” He then quoted extensively from scriptures.
Dan Sevy, a member of the Followers of Christ, said, “It is a way to try to make my belief illegal. We have the right to practice, guaranteed in the Constitution.”
Charles Keister said, “I know that these children are not neglected. They are not starved, they are not beaten, they are not abused; they are loved.”
Valerie Charles, a member of Health Freedom Idaho, urged lawmakers to keep the religious exemptions. Repealing them, she said, “would open the door to restrictions in choices of medical freedoms for all citizens.” She said she saw it as a step toward repealing exemptions from child immunization requirements based on parents’ religious or philosophical exemptions. “The removal of these laws is a slippery slope,” she said, “that will have far-reaching consequences. … This will be the beginning of the loss of medical choice.”
Rosa Martinez, who said she’s “just a mom,” said, “I went into the hospital with my son and was told that he was fine. He died that night. … I lost four, four children that I buried in this very dress.” She said she, too, has suffered from medical issues that doctors initially told her were all in her head. She said a naturopath’s advice helped her save her son. “Help me help my children, because it’s all I have,” she said, her voice breaking, “two out of six.”
