No Hearing for Faith-Healing Bill
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(BOISE, ID) – House leaders will not grant a hearing on a bill aimed at curbing the number of children who die because their parents opt for faith healing rather than medical treatment. Democratic Rep. John Gannon of Boise authored the bill after hearing about the deaths of several children affiliated with the Followers of Christ, a fundamentalist Protestant group in southwest Idaho. The kids died of treatable conditions including pneumonia and food poisoning. Opponents say that while the intent of the measure is admirable, they didn’t want to start an emotionally-charged debate pitting religion against child welfare.