State Supreme Court Ruling in Christian Scientist Case

The prayer healing case offers a unique opportunity to consider the role of the state in regulating the free practice of religious beliefs. The Walker family, and officials of the Christian Science Church certainly are grieved at the loss of 4-year-old Shauntay Walker, but their faith requires them to accept her death as being a manifestation of God’s will. In their eyes, seeking conventional medical treatment would be interfering in a matter that can only be decided by the almighty himself. The young girl’s death, even after prayerful petitions, must have been the will of the creator for her.

An interesting question to consider, and one which will be answered when this case is granted a ruling, is this: If God was going to do his will anyway, of what use are any prayers or medical treatment? According to most religions, if God has decreed that a child will die of meningitis at age 4, no amount of prayer or medical treatment will bring about a cure.

Is the state, then, justified in mandating medical treatment that will ultimately prove useless?

MICHAEL D. BATCHELOR

Riverside