The Detroit times., 1915-12-09
Let the People
Rule-and Write
Courts Uphold Christian Science

10 me Editor Of The Times:
Under the caption Religion is
blamed AN article In your issue of
the 9Th inst. relating TO a matter OF
guardianship OF certain children In
the Wayne county probate court, re-
quires some correction In its allu-
sion TO Christian Science In connec.
lion with the case. Whatever the
motives may have been on the part
OF the petitioners bringing this nc
ton. the facts brought out in the
evidence hardly warrant the conclu-
sions and assumptions in connection
Herewith, outlined in the article in
question, concerning Christian
Science. The article would lead to
the impression that the petition to
have a guardian appointed for these
children was instituted because of
the parents inability To properly
care for them on account of his re
ligious convictions. II having been
shown that he IL Christian Scien.
| tist.
In the first place. the right OF par
ents 20 employ Christian Science
treatment for their children has
been 80 many times upheld by court
decisions throughout the United
States and has been so often definite.
ly recognized by federal and state
statutes tMichigan being no excep-
tom. and this method of treating the
sick has become SO well and favor
ably known and permanently estaO-
| listed, that The question OF ones tit
ness to properly care for children
could not possibly hinge on that is
sue, and, as the evidence In this
| case will show, IL had no bearing in
| the least in this instance. The thor
oughly Just and equitable decision
rendered by the court inf the matter,
with the sanction and approval of
the respondent. the father of the
children. IL sufficient evidence Gat
the religion Of the parent was not
considered bar to proper guardian
ship.
Nothing in the evidence could war
rant the statement that the mother
| OF the children became insane as the
| result OF her religious beliefs. Moth
Ing In the religion OF Christian
Science could possibly be used AS al
argument to support such charge.
In fact. Christian Science has been
very potent factor In curing insan-
fly Of the very worst type and In
removing the fundamental causes
thereof in a countless number OF in
stances.
Furthermore. the statement that
the respondents religious beliefs
constituted a strange story" and the
inference that they took the shape
OF religious fanaticism could have
no foundation in any Of the evidence
| brought out at the trial and nothing
appears in the evidence to warrant
the statement that the parents be
lleved that their baby was destined
to become the greatest exponent OF
the Christian Science faith IN the
world" Furthermore. your article
does not make II clear that the death
OF the three months old child OF the
respondent occurred after its re-
moval from the homo Of its parents
to the home OF the petitioners In the
case ard that the child vas In a
perfectly normal and healthy condi.
ton when II was so removed.
In fact the allegations that the
children were neglected by the re.
spondent and that the respondent
would be an unfit guardian for them
was not proven in tho least instance
"a VAS evidenced by the decision of
the court in the matter.
| w. ID. FITZPATRICK.
Detroit. Dec. Z, 1915.