FAITH: No substitute for modern medicine

I was raised by a mother who was a Christian Scientist. Immunizations were given in the public schools, however I had a religious exemption. In a class of 30 students, I was the only one who was not inoculated. When I was ill, my mother stated I was not, and no help was given. I cannot adequately describe the suffering, mental and physical, this caused. I continually told my mother that I could not see the blackboard at school. She said nonsense, that was error speaking. I was seriously nearsighted and finally able to obtain glasses at age 16 when the school intervened. As an adult, I was able to escape this “abuse” and promptly had all the immunizations I had been denied as a child.

Christian Scientists believe in prayer for healing, using a practitioner, whose qualifications are a two-week class with a teacher who spent some weeks at “metaphysical college.”

In high school I had a friend who was Jehovah Witness. Her brother had an automobile accident and simply needed a blood transfusion to save his life. He begged his parents to allow it. They would not. He died.

Many children have suffered and died in the name of religion. The abusive parents went unpunished in the name of religious freedom.

Religious freedom ends when the life and well-being of a helpless minor is in question.

DIANE DePRIEST

Hayden