Couple Who Believed in Faith Healing to Be Sentenced for Second Son's Death
Herbert and Catherine Schaible face 20 or more years in prison after the death of their second child, who died after their 8-month-old son died without seeing a doctor. The Schaible family put their trust in faith-healing and lost two sons to illness.
The Schaibles were initially convicted of involuntary manslaughter in their son Kent's death. Kent, 2, died of untreated pneumonia in 2009 and in addition to the conviction, the Schaibles were ordered to seek medical care if any other child got sick. Baby Brandon showed symptoms "similar" to those of his brother, prosecutors said, and passed away.
"We believe in divine healing, that Jesus shed blood for our healing and that he died on the cross to break the devil's power. [Medicine] is against our religious beliefs," Herbert Schaible told police in 2013.
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"My husband and I decided we wanted to trust in God," Catherine said while explaining why they did not take Brandon to a doctor.
The Schaibles pleaded no contest to third-degree murder in Brandon's death and have seven surviving children. They are third-generation members of a small Pentecostal community in Pennsylvania and attended the First Century Gospel Church in Philadelphia. Their lawyer plans to bring up their religious beliefs and freedom during their sentencing hearing today.
Pastor Nelson Clark, who has overseen the Schaibles' spiritual welfare, told the Associated Press that the couples lost their sons because of a "spiritual lack" in their faith. He also stated that the family would not stop believing in faith-healing and never use medical care, even if another child was ill.
The seven remaining children have been in foster care ever since Brandon died, and their mother has been allowed to visit them with court supervision. Members of the First Century Gospel Church raised 10 percent of her bail, which allowed her to be put on electronically monitored house arrest at her parents' home. Herbert remains in jail in lieu of $250,000.
