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.
Why not add honor killing to religious freaks' allowance? If you wholeheartedly believe your rape-survivor daughter is now a slut bringing you great shame, and that your holy book requires her murder, why should the law stand in your way? These laws privilege religion so much they should be unconstitutional, if we had a functioning high court.
Hey at least they're owning it. I keep arguing with evangelical MAGA that if they reject science and believe in their god so much, go to a church instead of a hospital when they get sick.
I guess god has other plans, amirite?
I will never understand how the same people who ban abortion will allow child manslaughter through negligence. It feels like there is a general acceptance of absolutely any behavior as long as the people doing call it Christian religion (being white helps too).
[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.
rectovaginalfistula | 15 hours ago
Why not add honor killing to religious freaks' allowance? If you wholeheartedly believe your rape-survivor daughter is now a slut bringing you great shame, and that your holy book requires her murder, why should the law stand in your way? These laws privilege religion so much they should be unconstitutional, if we had a functioning high court.
tiregroove | 14 hours ago
Hey at least they're owning it. I keep arguing with evangelical MAGA that if they reject science and believe in their god so much, go to a church instead of a hospital when they get sick.
I guess god has other plans, amirite?
Grimke42 | 10 hours ago
I will never understand how the same people who ban abortion will allow child manslaughter through negligence. It feels like there is a general acceptance of absolutely any behavior as long as the people doing call it Christian religion (being white helps too).