The Child Cases: How America's Religious Exemption Laws Harm Children

The book delves into the tragic deaths of children from Christian Science families, spotlighting a legal and moral battle over religious freedom versus child protection. It examines the case of a California girl whose mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter for opting for spiritual healing over medical care. Legal historian Alan Rogers analyzes seven similar cases, revealing how the First Amendment's "free exercise" clause was invoked by parents, yet ultimately, courts upheld that religious beliefs cannot override laws designed to safeguard children.