THE Secular Coalition for America says it is “thrilled” that the House of Representatives has decided to remove language found in all three draft bills that would require private and public health care plans to cover the spiritual needs of individuals with religious objections to medical treatment.
Nothing fails like prayer
The House this week released their version of the health care reform bill devoid of any language requiring private and public health plans to cover spiritual care for any person.
This “spiritual care” includes reimbursements for payments that Christian Scientists make to members of the Church who pray for them when they are ill, said the SCA.
Sean Faircloth, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition, pointed out:
Requiring American taxpayers to reimburse Christian Scientists and other religious sects that deny themselves and their children necessary medical care would have been incredibly unethical in addition to a violation of church state separation.
I am thrilled that the House of Representatives has chosen to remove language that would have required Americans to foot the bill for religion-based care. Their actions demonstrate that common sense secular values are being heard in the halls of Congress.
If this language had been included, taxpayers would be forced to help foot the bill for this religion-based ‘care’ – ‘care’ offering no scientific evidence of effectiveness. ‘Care’ which, in fact, endangers lives by placing government approval on non-scientific practices.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
October 30th, 2009 at 11:11 am
That is welcome news and I hope we might see some similar attention to the money being sought in the UK to some similar fantasies. I have in mind Prince Charles pushing for “alternative medicine” to be paid for on the NHS.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hooray for logic.
Rarer than rocking horse shit these days.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Hooray for that. Of course the wingnuts will be crying persecution but why should anyone demand payment for talking to their hands anyway?
October 30th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I’m gobsmacked! All those years during which I spent hours in prayer for people, and I never thought of charging them for my time. I was an even bigger idiot than I realized!!
October 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
You Atheists might not believe me on this so get a Bible and read The Gospels .Jesus supports believers having medical attention . ” The sick need not a physican” -Jesus said . The Apostle Paul said , “Luke I have with me “. Why did he have Luke with him? Luke was a physician and I learned a Historian . God denied The Apostle Paul healing and Paul was content .God said to Paul , “my grace (strength) is sufficient for you.”
As far as Christian Scientists are concerned The Baptists (that’s me) , The Assemblies of God , and Pentecostal Holiness label “Christian Science” a cult see Larson’s Book of Cults .
October 30th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Hey kids. Thought you could do with a distraction from your usual hate filled posts to focus on some Christian positivity. Hope that’s not too freethinking for you? Looking to give you a nice foil to the usual stuff you publish to put people of faith down. I’m sure you’re broad minded enough for this not to be a problem. What a surprise. It looks like Christians aren’t all the child molesters you would have us believe. You may also want to check out Bear Grylls – leader of the Scout Movement. Best get your kids out of that organisation too as he’s a leading Christian. Anyway – enjoy below.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/.....ife-mob.do
HERO STABBED AS HE SAVED CHILDREN FROM KNIFE MOB.
A youth worker is fighting for life after he was stabbed while protecting a group of children from a gang.
The 43-year-old father of four, named by friends as Simon Somerville, was attacked outside a Christian anti-crime event at the Albany Theatre in Deptford.
Today his brother-in-law, Pastor Eddie Hypolite, told the Standard that Mr Somerville was “a hero” who had shielded the children from a violent gang. The church-going former amateur boxing champion was stabbed several times in the stomach and chest and police are investigating the possibility that more than one of the attackers was armed with a knife.
Pastor Hypolite said that Mr Somerville was in a “critical” condition in hospital but “making a remarkable recovery”.
Witnesses described a “running battle” on the street outside the theatre. A 16-year-old also suffered stab wounds but was not seriously hurt and has left hospital.
Pastor Hypolite said: “Simon stood between the gang members and his kids. He was protecting them. He was trying to be the peacemaker and one of the gang members just went at him with a knife. The children told us that if Simon had not stepped in, they could have been killed. Simon is a hero.”
It is believed the violence erupted after security at the theatre had earlier refused entry to five youths.
Later, a gang of about 30 returned to the venue and attacked Mr Somerville and a group of children as they left at about 9.15pm on Wednesday.
Pastor Hypolite, 45, who belongs to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, said Mr Somerville was taken into a café and given first aid after he was stabbed.
He said: “It was horrifying scene. He was in a lot of pain and was losing a lot of blood. Thankfully there were a number of people who knew first aid. They saved his life.”
A local shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said: “It was a running battle. Around 30 youths were fighting very violently and chasing each other.”
Scotland Yard said a 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is in custody.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I’ve never heard of PAYING for prayer!
There is strong scientific evidence that prayer really works in healing. If it were a pill based on the studies (and yes there have been actual scientific studies-look it up) everyone would be touting it like aspirin! I don’t think the studies specified a particular religion.
But I can’t imagine paying for it let alone asking someone who doesn’t believe in it too! If someone told me they’d only pray for me if I payed them I’d think it was a cult or con game, not a religion.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
The trolls get madder and madder: Mr Dunnam with the usual quoting from a book of fairy tales and chindeck’s pointless post that some guy who just happened to be religious did something worthwhile for change – any person could have acted this way, you don’t need god disease to act honourably. And the relevance to the original topic is?
October 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I recall a challenge to the godphuqt by Christopher Hitchens (paraphrased from memory): “Show me any admirable statement or action by a religious believer that could not have been made by a nontheist.”
Then there is the self-evident observation from Nobel Laureate Stephen Weinberg: “With or without religion you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
Are people who think that citing a virtuous act by a believer is evidence that religion is a force for good unaware how insane that is? Are they unaware that religion has been the cause of ninety percent of all manmade evil for more than three thousand years?
October 30th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Never mind. At least they are visiting a site where their poor, benighted minds may receive enlightenment!
October 30th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
PS I couldn’t be bothered to read chindeck’s rant, but I did see some reference to Bear Grylls being a Christian, for some reason. This would explain, then, why he was using blatant fakery on his piss-poor “survival” programmes!
October 30th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I think this will be a problem over time. All the believers in quack cures–as well as the quacks–will want in on this action. Enough political clout (money and pull) will get your favorite witch doctor or crackpot into the system. What about Benny Hinn? We mustn’t forget him.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:16 am
Mr Dunnam
Just in case you have not picked up a dictionary lately.
A cult is:
“followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices”
…like people who eat crackers and pretend its the body of christ or drink wine and pretend its the blood of the same christ….explain that to your 7 year old son or daughter and see what the reaction is ….they would probably accept the notion……….. given that is so close to halloween.
You are all cults jewish christians muslims et al all fit the definition exactly….and all equally disgusting to the human race
October 31st, 2009 at 9:22 am
For the benefit of Mr Paxton and persons who believe that talking to your hands has some physical effect – it doesn’t. Their have been many proper peer reviewed, controlled scientific trials – even a trial funded by the religious Templeton foundation – all have shown prayer doesn’t work. In one study a group of sick people who knew they were being prayed for did slightly better than those who did not know they were being prayed for; a psychological effect rather than physical. Praying for someone is about as useful as ritual slaughter of goats – at least you can eat goat. Do a search of the Internet, there a many examples.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Slight correction. While the prayed-for experimental group and the unprayed-for control group produced identical (within error of measurement) results, a group that KNEW it was being prayed for did LESS well than the other groups.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Thanks for the correction Dr Harwood. In my haste I got my wires crossed.
November 1st, 2009 at 2:29 am
Haven’t seen my Christian Science friends in years but I have a hunch, given their fascist views, they must be blaming it on the muslim president obama. All in all a most sensible conclusion.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
There are always the extremes on both sides. Charging someone for praying for you is so against a “real” Christians way. True followers of the Lord would never charge for such a thing. They would agree with you on how ridiculous it is, as do I.
What amazes me about anti-religious people is that they are always ready to receive a miracle when it happens but will deny miracles exist, until it is a family member or friend who is need of “help”. Praise the Lord for His graciousness even to those who deny Him. Selah.