CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS SUPPORT NEW LEGISLATION

Kim Shippey with contributions from Wendy Rankin

Two hundred Christian Scientists took time out of their schedules December 4, 2006, to gather in the Great Hall of Flags in the Massachusetts State House. They came from many towns and cities across the state to support a legislative bill to provide religious accommodation for the care of children. Second Majority Leader, Representative Byron Rushing, is sponsoring the proposed legislation.

The bill addresses the responsible use of spiritual healing for children, and takes the form of an amendment to current child abuse and neglect laws in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Though it would not serve as a bar to prosecution, and is not an exemption, the bill's affirmative defense language would allow parents who sincerely practice spiritual healing to at least argue the reasonableness of their actions.

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