Bill Ending Legal Protections Of Prayer Over Treatment Urged By Child Advocates

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Child advocates urged Wisconsin legislators Wednesday to pass a bill to end legal protections for parents who pray for their sick kids instead of seeking treatment. Assembly Democrat Terese Berceau introduced the bill last year, after Dale and Leilani Neumann of Weston were convicted of reckless homicide for praying while their 11-year-old diabetic daughter was dying. Right now, parents cannot be convicted of child abuse by choosing prayer over medical treatment. Berceau’s bill would end that, but its chances of passage are uncertain.

While it would not apply to homicide cases, Berceau said the current legal exemption made it impossible for authorities to step in and save Kara Neumann’s life. Barbara Knox of the UW-Madison children’s hospital said the state must end needless suffering and death. Many states have prayer exemptions, which were promoted by the Christian Science church in the 1970’s.

Christian Science lobbyist Joseph Farkas was the only speaker Wednesday to oppose the bill. He says church members want to protect kids, but the bill is not clear on when parents should seek treatment – or if the state can take custody of a child even when there’s no threat to the youngster’s health.

Meanwhile, a competing bill from Senate Democrat Lena Taylor of Milwaukee would allow religion as a clear legal defense in child abuse cases – but it would still allow treatment for Christian Science youngsters if it’s required by law.