It’s very sad in our modern society when we hear of children who died because their parents denied them medical attention due to their religious beliefs.

And it’s happened again, apparently.

Doctors in Oregon City, Oregon said a it appears that a 15-month old girl was malnourished when she died of pneumonia.

At this instance, the parents are members of the Followers of Christ Church and are accused of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death last year of their child, Ava.

The state medical examiner said she could easily have been saved with antibiotics. Ava weighed 10 pounds at birth. She weighed just 16 pounds when she died.

Let’s restate this: Something as simple as antibiotics could have saved this child from religious fanaticism and ignorance.

The religious freedom declared in our great First Amendment does not free one from responsibility. It’s a pathetic group who promote withholding modern medical care from a child. If an adult want to wallow in their religious dogma and refuse such care for themselves, then so be it. But give the child a chance to grow up strong, jump rope, go on picnics and perhaps one day be a loving parent.

Many of us believe in prayer and look to our faith for strength and healing. That doesn’t mean that we exclude modern medical care. It’s ironic that this church calls itself Followers of Christ in denying a child lifesaving medication as if medical science is some kind of “abomination.”

Ignorance is not bliss. Nor is it spiritual.

God help us!