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| A Pentecostal Christian couple who believed in 'faith healing' have been sent to prison after two of their children died | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A US couple who believed in faith healing have been sentenced to up to seven years in prison after the death of their second child. | |
| Despite their two-year-old son Kent dying of untreated pneumonia in 2009, Herbert and Catherine Schaible defied a court order to get medical care for their other children. | |
| Last year, eight-month-old Brandon also died of treatable pneumonia when the couple tried to comfort and pray over him instead of sending him to hospital. | |
| “My religious beliefs are that you should pray, and not have to use medicine. But because it is against the law, then whatever sentence you give me, I will accept,” Catherine Schaible, 44, told the judge, adding that her beliefs have since changed. | “My religious beliefs are that you should pray, and not have to use medicine. But because it is against the law, then whatever sentence you give me, I will accept,” Catherine Schaible, 44, told the judge, adding that her beliefs have since changed. |
| The Schaibles are third-generation members of an insular Pentecostal community, the First Century Gospel Church in northeast Philadelphia, where they also taught at the church school. | The Schaibles are third-generation members of an insular Pentecostal community, the First Century Gospel Church in northeast Philadelphia, where they also taught at the church school. |
| Experts say about a dozen US children die in cases linked to faith healing each year. | |
| “April of 2013 wasn't Brandon's time to die,” Judge Benjamin Lerner said. | “April of 2013 wasn't Brandon's time to die,” Judge Benjamin Lerner said. |
| “You've killed two of your children," he said, adding: "Not God. Not your church. Not religious devotion. You.” | “You've killed two of your children," he said, adding: "Not God. Not your church. Not religious devotion. You.” |
| After the first death, Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore and public defender Mythri Jayaraman agreed that the couple's beliefs were so ingrained that their children remained at risk. | After the first death, Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore and public defender Mythri Jayaraman agreed that the couple's beliefs were so ingrained that their children remained at risk. |
| Their pastor, Nelson Clark, blamed Kent's death on a “spiritual lack” in the parents' lives, and insisted they would never seek medical care, even if another child was dying. | |
| Six of their surviving children are now in foster care, while others are with relatives. They have since attended state schools for the first time, and are getting medical, dental and optical care. Several now wear glasses. | Six of their surviving children are now in foster care, while others are with relatives. They have since attended state schools for the first time, and are getting medical, dental and optical care. Several now wear glasses. |
| The oldest child, who is 18, sat in court with his grandparents, the family pastor and other supporters. | The oldest child, who is 18, sat in court with his grandparents, the family pastor and other supporters. |
| Additional reporting by AP | Additional reporting by AP |