Children's welfare should take legal priority over their parents' freedom of religion

First of all before I get into the debate, I would like everyone to know I am a Christian and have been for almost 20 years. I firmly believe in God, the Holy Bible, and everything else that goes along with Pentecostal beliefs. While my opponent does bring up a good point that the situation he has brought up does happen pretty much daily around the world, I would also like to point out that freedom of religion and speech are just a couple of our rights as American citizens. There are many different religions in our country. Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Christianity, and Wicca are just a few. Every religion practices different things. I am in no way trying to be hateful towards any other religion but in this society today, all religions can practice what they believe and not have penalties for it, unless they are Christians. What I mean by that, is, every other religion I have heard of in this country can do what they want, even if it refuses medical attention and it's ok. If someone from a Christian belief does it, they are instantly the bad guys. Why is it that the Christians are the ones being attacked while every other religion out there can basically do as they please in this country and no one says word one about it? "Every year in the United States dozens of children die as a result of their Christian parents' devotion to what they call ‘God's will' and "in all but four states (Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska and North Carolina) parents can use their religious ideology as a shield against prosecution for withholding medical treatment from their children." " Ok this I will admit does happen. However, unless you are doing something that is completely against the law like murdering someone, the government is not allowed to step in under any circumstances. http://www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com.... They are "to remain neutral" and "government will neither control nor prohibit the free exercise of one's religion." As for why these four states are not allowing that I do not know. Using this as just an example, I am not trying to start a whole other debate, but look at abortion. My opponent asks the question, "Given a blank sheet of paper, how many of those dead children would have refused the chance to live if they were given that option?" The same could be said about abortion. So called "doctors" are going into a mothers womb and killing unborn babies who have no choice in the matter. So is he saying that it is ok for something like this to happen but not for parents to use their religion? Yes, the law should step in and control child abuse in any way they can, except if it is because of religion, as my opponent also stated. Although, if the law steps in and does anything against parents' religious beliefs, that is going completely against the First Amendment (see above link). I do not agree that the law should step in on any circumstances when parents are enforcing their First Amendment rights of religion. If there was that much of a concern, then doctors can at least try to negotiate with the parents a neutral ground where the patient can get a little bit of relief, and the parents may practice the religious aspects they wish to. http://www.foxnews.com.... Notice the dates on this link versus my opponents'. His is from 2001, and mine is from 2005. This link shows that, yes, doctors are concerned for their patients, but will not step in too far. They know the boundaries they cannot cross. My opponent believes that "the law should put their best interests ahead of their parents' freedom of religion." However what he does not realize is if this happens then the law will be going AGAINST our First Amendment right as American citizens. I firmly believe that would be wrong. As you can see, I have shown many reasons why the law should not step in and overstep the power of religion parents have in this country.