http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:15:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23729/followers-of-christ-church-faith-healing-deaths http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23729/followers-of-christ-church-faith-healing-deaths#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:29:33 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23729 Detectives are investigating the death of an infant born over the weekend in Oregon. The child's parents are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City.

Over the years, that church has left a trail of dead children as many of its members have chosen faith healing over proper medical attention.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23729/followers-of-christ-church-faith-healing-deaths/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23684/ava-worthington-father-freed-from-jail http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23684/ava-worthington-father-freed-from-jail#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:03:33 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23684 A man who failed to provide medical care to his dying daughter in favor of attempts at faith healing has been freed from jail after serving six days short of two months.

Carl Worthington, who treated his dying 15-month-old daughter Ava with faith healing rather than taking her to a doctor, was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment.

Both he and his wife Raylene had originally been charged with charged with second-degree manslughter and criminal mistreatment.

The Worthington's are members of the Followers of Christ church -- theologically considered to be theologically a cult of Christianity that has left a trail of death children its wake.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23684/ava-worthington-father-freed-from-jail/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23527/ava-worthington-parents-acquitted http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23527/ava-worthington-parents-acquitted#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:37:46 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23527 A jury today found Carl Worthington guilty of criminal mistreatment in the death of his 15-month-old daughter, the first conviction under a 1999 state law passed to protect the children of parents who believe in treating illness solely with faith healing.

Of the dozens of children buried in the Followers of Christ cemetery since the 1950s, at least 21 died from medically treatable conditions, according to a 1998 investigation by The Oregonian.

But the Worthingtons were the first members of their church to be prosecuted for failing to provide adequate medical care to their children.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23527/ava-worthington-parents-acquitted/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23522/ava-worthington-jury-deadlocked http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23522/ava-worthington-jury-deadlocked#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:44:14 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23522 The judge in the faith-healing trial of Carl and Raylene Worthington sent jurors home this afternoon after they sent a note saying they were deadlocked on all charges.

The Worthingtons are charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminal mistreatment for failing to provide adequate medical care for their daughter in favor of faith healing practices.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23522/ava-worthington-jury-deadlocked/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23516/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23516/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial-2#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:53:00 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23516 The parents of Ava Worthington are members of the Followers of Christ, an independent church that shuns conventional medicine for spiritual healing practices such as the laying on of hands and anointing the sick with olive oil.

They are accused of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of their 15-month-old baby girl.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23516/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial-2/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23511/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23511/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:05:24 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23511 Its extreme, unbiblical believes regarding faith healing make the 'Followers of Christ' church theologically a cult of Christianity.

Parents of the cult's latest victim -- their 15-month-old daughter -- are currently on trial, charged with criminal mistreatment and second-degree manslaughter. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23511/ava-worthington-faith-healing-trial/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23039/ava-worthington-5 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23039/ava-worthington-5#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:17:38 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23039 A Clackamas County, Ore., couple accused of letting their infant daughter die by relying on prayer, rather than medicine, today asked that the charges be dropped, arguing that they infringe on their freedom of religion and their right to raise their children in their own way.

"Mr. and Mrs. Worthington maintain that their prosecution contravenes their right 'to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences,' as guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Oregon and the Constitution of the United States," the motion said.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23039/ava-worthington-5/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23038/parents-charged-in-faith-healing-case http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23038/parents-charged-in-faith-healing-case#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:19:56 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23038
Jeffrey Dean Beagley, 50, and Marci Rae Beagley, 46, pleaded not guilty on Friday to criminally negligent homicide charges in the death of their son, 16-year-old Neil Jeffrey Beagley.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23038/parents-charged-in-faith-healing-case/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22634/followers-of-christ-church-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22634/followers-of-christ-church-2#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:04:56 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=22634 Neal Beagley, 16, died because of bladder complications nearly four months ago. Authorities said his parents belong to the Followers of Christ Church, a religion relying on prayer in place of medical care.

Several of the Beagleys' relatives attended the arraignment, including their daughter, Raylene Worthington and her husband, Carl, whose 15-month-old daughter died under similar circumstances in March. The Worthingtons are awaiting trial on charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22634/followers-of-christ-church-2/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21659/teen-from-faith-healing-family-dies http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21659/teen-from-faith-healing-family-dies#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:41:07 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=21659 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21659/teen-from-faith-healing-family-dies/feed 0