Skip to content
Csbibliography

Annotated Bibliography of Christian Science

Academic and Other Literature

  • Home
  • About
    • About the ABCS Project
    • Support Opportunities (Donate)
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Annotations
    • Search Information
    • Category Search
    • Keyword Search
    • Advanced Search
    • Standard Search
    • Authors/Editor List
    • Title List
    • Recently Added
    • Search Support
  • Resources
    • The Book
    • Online Resources
    • ABCS Blog
    • Suggest Resources
  • Contact
Annotation Resource

“Medical Care for Dependent Children: Manslaughter Liability of the Christian Scientist”

“Medical Care for Dependent Children: Manslaughter Liability of the Christian Scientist”

Trescher, Robert L. and Thomas N. O’Neill. “Medical Care for Dependent Children: Manslaughter Liability of the Christian Scientist.” University of Pennsylvania Law Review 109, no. 22 (1960): 203–17.

Reading this article now in the decade of the 2020s gives a decidedly anachronistic perspective on the ongoing debate over the legal and moral issues related to the medical care of dependent children whose parents practice spiritual healing based on the teachings of Christian Science. The value of the article now lies in its historical evidence of the evolution of the debate. Trescher’s and O’Neill’s basic argument was that while the gradual judicial, legislative, and social acceptance of the development and spread of Christian Science (in the 1950s) was growing, a major question had not yet been resolved. Had the “healing effects of prayer been so far accepted that a death resulting from failure to secure medical aid because of that religious conviction … constitute involuntary manslaughter” (204)? Trescher and O’Neill concluded: “With the possible exception of cases involving contagious diseases, a parent’s decision to forego [sic] medical remedies and to employ spiritual means of healing—where that decision is based on a sincere belief in a religious tenet of a denomination whose beliefs and practices have been determined both legislatively and judicially to be lawful and not injurious to the community—will no longer subject him to criminal penalty if the healing be unsuccessful” (217).

ISSN: 1942-8537
Print ISSN: 0041-9907

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3310306

 

See also annotations:

“Healing and Conscience in Christian Science” by Thomas C Johnsen

“Christian Science: A Comment” by Thomas C. Johnsen

“The Law and Christian Science Healing for Children: A Pathfinder” by Elena M. Kondos

 

Trescher, Robert
O'Neill, Thomas N.

Related Annotations:

Annotations related by category:
  • Availability: Online - Academic Credentials or Fee
  • Controversy: Child Cases
  • Official Christian Science Publication: No
  • Publication Date: 1956-1980
  • Resource Types: Article
  • Subjects: Christian Science History after 1910
  • Subjects: Healing and Health
  • Subjects: Legal and Constitutional Issues
Annotations related by keyword:
  • Christian Science Treatment
  • Vaccination
More by authors or editor(s):
  • Trescher, Robert
  • O'Neill, Thomas N.

Comment on this resource: Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Home

Search application instructions and overview.

Search Support

Questions? We've got answers.

Category Search

Select subject, person, organization and/or controversy to provide a subset of annotation results. The results page includes the ability to further limit your search.

Keyword Search

Select one or more specific keywords to provide a subset of annotation results. The results page includes the ability to further limit your search.

Advanced Search

Select from all search options to obtain very specific results.

Standard Search

Might yield a mix of relevant and irrelevant results, but could be very helpful if you are looking for a specific term not included in any of the other types of searches.

Annotations by Author
Annotations by Title
Most Recent

View the 30 most recently added annotations.

New Since the Book

View new annotations available here that were not included in the book.

Suggest a Resource
Donate via PayPal

Scholarly Works on Christian Science is the nonprofit corporation that produces the ABCS website. We rely on donations to keep the bibliography updated and available to the public. If you find this site useful we hope you'll consider donating to support the work. Donate via PayPal by clicking the button above or send a check to:

Scholarly Works on Christian Science
420 Conway Meadows Drive
St. Louis, MO 63017

© 2022 and later by Scholarly Works on Christian Science, all rights reserved.

Privacy Policy is here. Cookie Policy is here. Comment Policy is here.

This material was printed from the Annotated Bibliography of Christian Science website produced and maintained by Scholarly Works on Christian Science (https://csbibliography.org). All rights reserved.