The Bish

DENVER - LaVeda Frasier fears proposed changes to Colorado’s child-abuse law would criminalize her practice of relying on prayer - instead of medicine - to heal her five children when they are sick.

Frazier, a Colorado Springs resident, joined fellow members of the Christian Science Church (oxymoron much?) on Tuesday testifying against House Bill 1286, which would allow district attorneys to pursue child-abuse charges against faith healers whose practices result in the serious injury or death of a child.

The Christian Science Church is one of 12 religious organizations in Colorado whose members use prayer and other spiritual practices instead of medicine to treat illness.

If the law does go through, who is to say that I am a criminal or practicing my religion?” said Frasier, who says she has seen prayer heal everything from concussions to complications in a pregnancy. “The line is so thin.”

Despite the objections of Frasier and about two dozen followers of Christian Science, the House Criminal Justice Committee voted 8-3 to approve HB1286, setting it up for a vote by the full House.

Rep. Kay Alexander, R-Montrose, said the bill is needed because of several high-profile faith healing fatalities, including the Feb. 5 death of 13-year-old Amanda Bates in Grand Junction. Amanda died of complications from untreated diabetes. Her parents are members of the General Assembly Church of the First Born, a religious sect that eschews medical treatment in favor of prayer.

“We are not imposing medical treatment on anyone today,” Alexander said. “We are truly here for the protection of Colorado’s children. We still would encourage people to pray.”

She points out that Mesa County has seen three faith-healing related deaths in the past three years, all stemming from members of the Church of the First Born.

“All would be alive today if their parents had sought routine medical care,” said Frank Daniels, Mesa County district attorney.

“My real concern is the message that the state of Colorado is sending to people who practice faith healing in lieu of medical care,” Daniels added. “Right now, the state is saying there is an exemption in the child-abuse law.”

The exemption has been on the books since 1989, and many who are skeptical of the faith-healing practice feel it is time to change it.

“Faith healing cannot be used as a substitute for appropriate medical care,” said Tamara Grigsby, a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital in Denver. “A majority of these deaths are preventable. We support legislation that holds parents accountable legally when they withhold proper medical care.”

Followers of Christian Science, however, believe their treatment, which consists of prayer and little else, is just as effective.

“The imposed choice of treatment, medical treatment … would ignore 100 years of spiritual treatment in Colorado,” said Robert Doughtie, a spokesman for the Christian Science Church. “We are serious people, and we do not neglect our children.”

That thought resonated with Rep. Richard Decker, R-Fountain, who voted against the bill.

“I think it is going to hurt a lot of good people,” Decker said. “They aren’t perfect people, but they are sincere people.”

Rep. Lynn Hefley, R-Colorado Springs, felt differently. She voted for HB1286.

“Adults, you can choose what you want do,” Hefley said. “For children, we as the state have an obligation to protect our children.”

- Kyle Henley covers state government and politics and may be reached at (303) 837-0613 or khenley@gazette.com.

House Bill 1286

SPONSOR: Rep. Kay Alexander, R-Montrose

WHAT IT WOULD DO: Repeal a 12-year-old law that exempts those who believe in faith healing from the state’s child-abuse laws.

PROGNOSIS: The bill seems to have broad bipartisan support, but there are those who believe it tramples the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

WHAT’S NEXT: A vote by the full House.

ON THE WEB: www.leg.state.co.us/2001/pubhome.nsf

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