http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:29:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 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/23184/faith-healing-5 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23184/faith-healing-5#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:56:24 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23184 About 300 children have died in the United States in the last 25 years after medical care was withheld on religious grounds, said Rita Swan, executive director of Children’s Health Care Is a Legal Duty, a group based in Iowa that advocates punishment for parents who do not seek medical help when their children need it.

Criminal codes in 30 states, including Wisconsin, provide some form of protection for practitioners of faith healing in cases of child neglect and other matters, protection that Ms. Swan’s group opposes.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23184/faith-healing-5/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