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June 20, 2008 | Letter to ReporterNews.com

Response to article: “Prayer vs. medicine: a child's death and a crisis for faith”

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Dear Editor:

As a member of the Christian Science Church in Abilene, I wanted to respond to the article, “Prayer vs. medicine: a child’s death and a crisis for faith,” which appeared June 20, 2008.

The article may lead readers to associate Christian Science with events leading up to the tragedy at the heart of the article. However, that situation did not involve Christian Science in any way.

The death of a child under any circumstance is heartbreaking, and alerts us all to the need for constant vigilance in caring for our children. My own practice of Christian Science is not an exercise in blind faith, but is based on its effectiveness in my life.

Results matter to me. During the pregnancy of my first child, I was diagnosed with a form of diabetes that was completely healed through prayer. The physician could not explain what had happened, but said that it would likely return with future pregnancies, which it did not.

I am grateful that my church has been willing to work with lawmakers to ensure that the laws intended to protect children do just that — while providing families the fullest and most effective range of care possible.

Again: Results matter. Parents should be judged not by how they care for their children, but by how well.

Shellie Evans
Abilene, Texas, USA