For decades, Idaho law has allowed parents who belong to the faith-healing sect Followers of Christ to pray rather than seek medical care as their children die.
Lawmakers in Oregon, where similar religious groups exist, removed the state’s faith-healing exception to child abuse laws nearly 30 years ago. More parents chose to allow their children to be seen by medical professionals after the change, Oregon authorities said.
But Idaho lawmakers have chosen a different path. They have repeatedly rejected efforts to dial back Idaho’s exemption, instead codifying “parental rights” legislation to further limit the role of anyone but a parent when it comes to children’s health and safety.
ProPublica gathered death records in five Idaho counties and shared them with more than a dozen pediatricians and birthing specialists. At least 15 babies and children from this faith-healing sect died from 2015 through 2025 from illnesses that doctors could have successfully treated, the experts concluded. That estimate is almost certainly an undercount.
The records also show at least five sets of parents have lost multiple children, a phenomenon that has not been previously reported.
None of the parents responded to letters or text messages from ProPublica, and one declined to comment during a phone call.
Asked why God would not want children to live full and healthy lives, one patriarch explained that the Followers believe that life on Earth is “a preparing ground” and said the Book of James tells people to “be afflicted and mourn and weep.”
“It isn’t necessarily that we’re supposed to have a joyous life here,” he said.
Let’s all regress to previous myths where parents/dieties birth their children and then eat them in an insane rage? C’mon man. Stop listening to fairy stories. See it as an allegory. Parents willingly killing their children.
Science and medicine isn’t perfect yet but it beats the hell out of antiquated text that has no application to current life.
Basically, yeah. It also means that they don't have to spend budget enforcing childrens' human rights, which is something that fascist - I'm sorry, conservative - politicians seem to really dislike doing.
Idaho has a nearly complete abortion ban. So it’s okay to give birth and let the baby die, and past the first trimester you can let both Mom and baby die to avoid abortion. And those are both pro life? How is this anything other than supporting the power of (religious) men over women and children?
I don't have this mindset so I miss a lot of the rationalizations, but it's just weird to me to think that a god wanting your child dead is a good reason to continue worshipping it.
You've got medical science on one side that absolutely wants to keep your child alive and healthy, and on the other side a god who may or may not kill your child, and you won't know its choice until your kid is dead.
“In the case of Malachi, the police and coroner reports don’t say how long before his death his parents first noticed him breathing fast, making a gurgling noise “like stuff was in his throat or chest.” Nor do the documents say what the parents did in the interim other than that they “chose not to perform life saving measures.”
But when they noticed their next newborn, Liam, was struggling to breathe and his “color was not good,” they again did not call for help, and he died over the course of at least 12 hours. While he was dying, members of their church came to see the baby and pray for him. Ten people were in the room when the boy died, and more had gathered outside the room, Liam’s father told police.”
My daughter had pneumonia when she was a toddler and it was agonizing to hear her cough so hard that her tiny body shook. It tore my heart out every single time, and you feel so helpless. But I also did every thing I possibly could to help her get better, taking her to the doctor and giving her the medicine around the clock, constantly taking her temperature and checking her color and staying up all night just watching her breathe because you’re worried she might stop. I was so incredibly thankful to live in a time and place with the modern medicine to help her get better (and she recovered fully and is completely healthy now!). I cannot fathom as a parent just sitting back and letting that happen, knowing that you could treat it but just don’t want to. I truly wish the very worst for these parents who can blithely let their children suffer like that.
You don't understand.... there was a whole story about a guy who was told by God to sacrifice his kid, and when he proved willing, God offered a substitute.
There’s a couple in prison right now who profess the belief that if they keep praying the child who died because they didnt get her medical care, she’ll come back to life. The kid is dead and buried many years.
Second kid they lost the same way. If only God allowed medical care. If only Jesus said something in 2 different books about how sick need doctors.
If only they chose to abort the kid instead of watching him turn blue and violently gasp for air.... If only they felt the pain that baby did, and die knowing that literally no one will save them.
This article is horrifying. I think both this religion, and the authorities in Idaho who condone and therefore approve of infanticide for God's will, are evil to the core.
I went to a very highly ranked college and there was a very very intelligent young woman who was a member of the church of Christ science who broke her wrist. She went 3 days without medical attention because of this…. We all , including her boyfriend tried to convince her to go to the ER… finally she relented.
[OP] propublica_ | 17 hours ago
For decades, Idaho law has allowed parents who belong to the faith-healing sect Followers of Christ to pray rather than seek medical care as their children die.
Lawmakers in Oregon, where similar religious groups exist, removed the state’s faith-healing exception to child abuse laws nearly 30 years ago. More parents chose to allow their children to be seen by medical professionals after the change, Oregon authorities said.
But Idaho lawmakers have chosen a different path. They have repeatedly rejected efforts to dial back Idaho’s exemption, instead codifying “parental rights” legislation to further limit the role of anyone but a parent when it comes to children’s health and safety.
ProPublica gathered death records in five Idaho counties and shared them with more than a dozen pediatricians and birthing specialists. At least 15 babies and children from this faith-healing sect died from 2015 through 2025 from illnesses that doctors could have successfully treated, the experts concluded. That estimate is almost certainly an undercount.
The records also show at least five sets of parents have lost multiple children, a phenomenon that has not been previously reported.
Read our full investigation: https://www.propublica.org/article/faith-healing-idaho-deaths-followers-of-christ
None of the parents responded to letters or text messages from ProPublica, and one declined to comment during a phone call.
Asked why God would not want children to live full and healthy lives, one patriarch explained that the Followers believe that life on Earth is “a preparing ground” and said the Book of James tells people to “be afflicted and mourn and weep.”
“It isn’t necessarily that we’re supposed to have a joyous life here,” he said.
Cut_Lanky | 15 hours ago
This is insane... why TF do "pro-lifers" protest abortion clinics when these people are killing children in bunches?? Wtf??
Adept-Housing-6940 | 14 hours ago
For redcaps, better to think of children (and in certain cases, spouses) as property, to be actioned upon or not as they please.
javoss88 | an hour ago
Let’s all regress to previous myths where parents/dieties birth their children and then eat them in an insane rage? C’mon man. Stop listening to fairy stories. See it as an allegory. Parents willingly killing their children.
Science and medicine isn’t perfect yet but it beats the hell out of antiquated text that has no application to current life.
Anis930 | 14 hours ago
A lot of "parental rights" are just legal ways to abuse children because the state sees them as property.
BKlounge93 | 9 hours ago
“The left is indoctrinating the kids!! Also don’t mind me not allowing mine to see literally any viewpoint different than mine!!!”
AkirIkasu | 5 hours ago
Basically, yeah. It also means that they don't have to spend budget enforcing childrens' human rights, which is something that fascist - I'm sorry, conservative - politicians seem to really dislike doing.
thatturtletouch | 13 hours ago
ProPublica doing the work as always!! This is why I donate to you guys. Thank you.
Grimke42 | 14 hours ago
Idaho has a nearly complete abortion ban. So it’s okay to give birth and let the baby die, and past the first trimester you can let both Mom and baby die to avoid abortion. And those are both pro life? How is this anything other than supporting the power of (religious) men over women and children?
elmonoenano | 14 hours ago
I don't have this mindset so I miss a lot of the rationalizations, but it's just weird to me to think that a god wanting your child dead is a good reason to continue worshipping it.
You've got medical science on one side that absolutely wants to keep your child alive and healthy, and on the other side a god who may or may not kill your child, and you won't know its choice until your kid is dead.
thatturtletouch | 12 hours ago
This part:
“In the case of Malachi, the police and coroner reports don’t say how long before his death his parents first noticed him breathing fast, making a gurgling noise “like stuff was in his throat or chest.” Nor do the documents say what the parents did in the interim other than that they “chose not to perform life saving measures.”
But when they noticed their next newborn, Liam, was struggling to breathe and his “color was not good,” they again did not call for help, and he died over the course of at least 12 hours. While he was dying, members of their church came to see the baby and pray for him. Ten people were in the room when the boy died, and more had gathered outside the room, Liam’s father told police.”
My daughter had pneumonia when she was a toddler and it was agonizing to hear her cough so hard that her tiny body shook. It tore my heart out every single time, and you feel so helpless. But I also did every thing I possibly could to help her get better, taking her to the doctor and giving her the medicine around the clock, constantly taking her temperature and checking her color and staying up all night just watching her breathe because you’re worried she might stop. I was so incredibly thankful to live in a time and place with the modern medicine to help her get better (and she recovered fully and is completely healthy now!). I cannot fathom as a parent just sitting back and letting that happen, knowing that you could treat it but just don’t want to. I truly wish the very worst for these parents who can blithely let their children suffer like that.
dehydratedrain | 13 hours ago
You don't understand.... there was a whole story about a guy who was told by God to sacrifice his kid, and when he proved willing, God offered a substitute.
They just didn't prove their faith enough. /s
brydeswhale | 5 hours ago
There’s a couple in prison right now who profess the belief that if they keep praying the child who died because they didnt get her medical care, she’ll come back to life. The kid is dead and buried many years.
michdap | 13 hours ago
Parents should be charged, at the very least, with negligence. Manslaughter seems more appropriate.
dehydratedrain | 13 hours ago
Second kid they lost the same way. If only God allowed medical care. If only Jesus said something in 2 different books about how sick need doctors.
If only they chose to abort the kid instead of watching him turn blue and violently gasp for air.... If only they felt the pain that baby did, and die knowing that literally no one will save them.
1HappyIsland | 12 hours ago
This article is horrifying. I think both this religion, and the authorities in Idaho who condone and therefore approve of infanticide for God's will, are evil to the core.
DenialOfExistance | 4 hours ago
The parents should be arrested &, tried for their babies death! How that baby must have suffered! Should be illegal but hey Pro Lifers says it all!
stupid_cat_face | an hour ago
I went to a very highly ranked college and there was a very very intelligent young woman who was a member of the church of Christ science who broke her wrist. She went 3 days without medical attention because of this…. We all , including her boyfriend tried to convince her to go to the ER… finally she relented.