Faith-Healing Parents Charged With Baby’s Death
Thursday, Oct 8, 2009 | Updated 4:15 PM EDT
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Herbert and Catherine Schaible say they didn't realize their 2-year-old son was dying when they opted to pray for him instead of seek medical help.
A Philadelphia couple is facing manslaughter charges for praying over their ill toddler rather than seeking medical help before he died of pneumonia.
Prosecutors say the parents' religious beliefs led them to neglect their child's medical needs.
But lawyers for Herbert and Catherine Schaible say they didn't realize their 2-year-old son was dying.
Kent Schaible died in January, about 10 days after he fell ill. The couple has several other children, including a new baby.
The Schaibles work as teachers at their fundamentalist church, First Century Gospel Church in Northeast Philadelphia. They quit school after the ninth grade.
A Philadelphia judge this week upheld involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and conspiracy charges against them.
Copyright Associated Press
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