Leilani Neumann: Holding her Accountable

Eleven-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann died because she didn't receive treatment for diabetes.

Although she was very seriously ill, Kara's parents decided to pray for her to be healed rather than take her to a doctor.

From the Associated Press, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A jury Friday found a central Wisconsin mother guilty of killing her 11-year-old daughter by praying for her to heal instead of rushing her to a doctor.

A Marathon County jury deliberated about four hours before convicting Leilani Neumann, 41, of rural Weston of second-degree reckless homicide. No sentencing date was set. Neumann remains free on bond.

"We have another shot on appeal," defense lawyer Gene Linehan said. "Obviously, there will be an appeal."

Neumann's daughter Madeline died of untreated diabetes March 23, 2008, surrounded by people praying for her. When she suddenly stopped breathing, her parents' business and Bible study partners finally called 911.

Prosecutors contend a reasonable parent would have known something was gravely wrong with Madeline, and her mother recklessly killed her by ignoring obvious symptoms of how gravely ill she was. During closing arguments, Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad described Neumann as a religious zealot who let her daughter, known by the nickname Kara, die as a test of faith.

"Religious extremism can be dangerous," Falstad said. "In this case, it was fatal. Basic medical care would have saved Kara's life - fluids and insulin. There was plenty of time to save Kara's life."

Linehan countered, saying Neumann didn't realize her daughter was so ill and did all she could do to help, in line with the family's belief in faith-healing.

He said Neumann is a devout Christian who prays about everything and took good care of her four children.

"Religious extremism is a Muslim terrorist," Linehan said. "They are saying these parents were so far off the scale that they murdered their child. The woman did everything she could to help her. That is the injustice in this case."

Linehan has a very narrow definition of religious extremism.

Religious extremism doesn't just refer to Muslim terrorists. Neumann isn't being accused of Muslim extremism.

When practicing one's faith results in the preventable death of an ill child, that's rightly considered religious extremism.

It is ridiculous for Linehan to argue that Leilani Neumann "did everything she could to help" her daughter.

The poor child was so ill she couldn't walk or talk; and Kara's mother did not seek medical care for her.

Obviously, Neumann did not do everything she could to help her daughter. Not even close.

It's an absurd claim for Linehan to say she did. Absolutely absurd.

Leilani Neumann's stepfather, Brian Gordon of San Diego, said he was disappointed by the verdict and the jury was mistaken. He said his stepdaughter did nothing wrong in trusting in God to heal her daughter.

"We should have that right in this country," he said.

There will be a vigorous appeal and an investigation of possible prosecutorial misconduct, the stepfather said. "I don't care how far we have to carry this. There will be vindication and exoneration."

Gordon also said he was angered by Falstad's description of his family as religious extremists.

"We definitely are not terrorists," he said. "We are Bible-believing, God-believing, Holy Ghost-filled people who want to do right and be right."

Who is calling Neumann and her family terrorists?

Religious extremism doesn't necessarily manifest itself in terrorism.

It's silly for Gordon to say that they have been accused of being terrorists.

That's a shameful attempt to deflect attention from the real issue. Kara desperately needed medical care and her parents failed to help her.

Leilani Neumann and others could have prayed for God to heal Kara while seeking medical assistance. It's not an either-or situation.

Kara was gravely ill and Neumann neglected her.

In this country, we do have the right to worship and exercise our religious beliefs. It's a precious freedom.

We do not have the right to inadequately care for our children and do harm to them in the name of those religious beliefs.

Neumann did nothing wrong in trusting God to heal Kara.

She was terribly wrong in deciding not to get her daughter the medical care she clearly needed.

I don't see this case as being about Leilani Neumann's right to practice her faith and trust in God. I see it as a matter of defending a child's right to life.

As Kara's mother, Neumann was responsible for providing proper care for her child's well-being. She didn't provide that care. She allowed Kara to die.

Kara's death was an injustice.

It's right for Neumann to be held accountable for her role in her daughter's death.