The spiritual healing "defense" in criminal prosecutions for crimes against children

Spiritual healing as a defense in cases of parents' rejection of medical treatment for their sick children involves questions of the rights of parents, of children, of the state, and of the U.S. Constitution. State legislation protecting rights of religion, long on the books, is coming into conflict with new legislation on child abuse. This article reviews the current picture of applicable laws in the states and in recent court cases. Limiting the use of spiritual healing as a legal defense is an emerging trend.