Christian Science

Backed by some of the most powerful members of the Senate, a little-noticed provision in the healthcare overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses. The provision was inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy -- both of Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist. The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments -- which substitute or supplement medical treatments -- on the same footing as clinical medicine.

A church in the West Adams district that formerly rang with Christian Science hymns is soon to resonate with such unfamiliar sounds as chanting and the voices of yoga teachers urging students to breathe smoothly. The Art of Living Foundation plans to rededicate the century-old Second Church of Christ, Scientist and an adjoining reading room in a public ceremony Wednesday. The foundation intends to use the inner-city building for courses in meditation, as a research center and for conferences for "raising social awareness," according to Rajshree Patel, the foundation's executive director in Los Angeles.

When I read the article "Child Deaths Put Faith on Trial" (Part I, June 27), I struggled to separate fact from fiction and fear from truth. I was particularly surprised and disappointed by your use of the deliberately defamatory and misleading statement of David Dunn, assistant district attorney in Sonoma County, who apparently believes that Christian Scientists are similar to Jim Jones' followers. Whatever one may think about spiritual healing, such opinions are meaningless in comparison to the Jonestown tragedy.

Backed by some of the most powerful members of the Senate, a little-noticed provision in the healthcare overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses. The provision was inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy -- both of Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist. The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments -- which substitute or supplement medical treatments -- on the same footing as clinical medicine.

For the first time, a federal judge has struck down Medicare and Medicaid payments to Christian Science healers as a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state. Although Christian Science practitioners use no drugs or conventional medical treatments, they have received millions of dollars in federal reimbursements because the law explicitly applies to the Christian Science church. "Legislative accommodation of religious beliefs is a valuable and worthy enterprise, but here .

Students at Principia College, a Christian Science school, were restricted to the campus Monday because of a measles outbreak after reports that 69 students had become infected with the disease. The Health Department said that 212 persons on the campus, with a student enrollment of 712, received free measles shots over the weekend, despite their Christian Science belief that forbids immunizations.

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to let stand a Minnesota appeal court's $1.5-million damage judgment against four Christian Scientists, including the mother of a Minnesota boy who died from diabetes treated with prayer instead of medicine. Without comment, the court rejected arguments that the award won by the boy's father--who is divorced from the mother--violated religious freedom. The case had been closely watched since the death of 11-year-old Ian Lundman of Independence, Minn., in 1989.

The state's highest court on Wednesday overturned the manslaughter conviction of a Christian Science couple whose son died after they relied on spiritual rather than medical healing. But the court did not rule out all prosecutions of parents who rely on spiritual healing. It said they can be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter if they are found to be "wanton and reckless" in their care of a child.

Officials of the Christian Science Church have issued a report saying the organization's dismal finances have taken a turn for the better. The report was immediately assailed by critics of the church administration for its tone and its lack of detailed information.

The Christian Science Activity Center will offer a Bible lesson on Christian Science at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Sunday school will take place. A testimony meeting with readings on the "Healing Effect of Gratitude" will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The center is at 31591-C Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Information: (714) 443-2537. St. Irenaeus Church will have Bible studies for beginners from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through July 30. A $5 material fee is requested.

John Lewis Selover, publisher of the Christian Science Monitor and a Christian Science Church leader who helped shepherd the church's expansion, has died. He was 72. Selover, of Boston, died Friday "among family, after a brief illness at home," said Peter Osterlund, spokesman for the Christian Science board of directors. Osterlund said the family had declined to specify the nature of Selover's illness.

A $50-million museum and library inspired by the ideas of Mary Baker Eddy is to open Saturday in Boston, home of the Church of Christ, Scientist, which she established. Eddy (1821-1910), a religious leader, author and teacher who founded the church in 1879 and the Christian Science Monitor in 1908, espoused the philosophy that all healing comes through the power of God.

When top-ranked Washington plays at No. 2 Arizona in a Pacific 10 Conference game Friday night, Hart High Coach Cathy Giordano plans to be there. When Hart plays two Thousand Oaks tournament games Saturday, Giordano plans to be there. When Washington plays at Arizona State on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, Giordano plans to be there, too. That's a lot of planning for Giordano, who will fly to Tucson on Friday morning to watch daughters Jeanine of Washington and Nicole of Arizona.

The Placentia Library will host a discussion on Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy at 7:30 p.m. May 9 at the library, 401 E. Chapman Ave. Eddy (1821-1910) founded the Christian Science denomination and the Christian Science Monitor. She was elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1995 for leaving "an indelible mark on society, religion and journalism." The talk will concentrate on her life and achievements in the context of the history of women's rights in the United States.

From the jacket and frontispiece of Gillian Gill's massive, impeccably researched biography, a haunting photo of Mary Baker Eddy, taken when she was a young widow, stares at you. Her gaunt face, especially her enormous eyes, seem tinged with suffering, perhaps also with madness.

A Christian Science reading room may look like a bookstore or library, but regular visitors will tell you there is more to a reading room than books. "It's an oasis," said Linda Ruthenbeck, a Christian Science practitioner. "It's a quiet, private place where I can pray and think about God undisturbed." Reading rooms today are part bookstore, part library, part sanctuary.

Robert Peel, 82, who chronicled the life of Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science, which Eddy founded. In addition to her biography, Peel also wrote books such as "Christian Science: Its Encounter with American Culture" and "Spiritual Healing in a Scientific Age." He was a journalist for the religious group's newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor. During World War II, Peel served as a civilian intelligence officer in the South Pacific. On Wednesday in Boston.

The Christian Science Church, Stanford University and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art have agreed to divide a $97-million bequest from the family of a biographer of the church's founder, Mary Baker Eddy, officials of the three institutions announced Tuesday. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the museum and Stanford against the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

A state appeals court, citing religious freedom guaranteed by the 1st Amendment, has upheld a lower court decision to throw out a civil lawsuit against the Christian Science Church over the death of a 12-year-old Orange County boy. In a 2-1 decision, a Court of Appeal panel in Santa Ana decided that Christian Science followers have a right to follow their belief in spiritual healing over mainstream medicine.

ON FORGIVENESS: The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council will unite members of various religious denominations to discuss "What My Faith Tradition Tells Me About Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Part 1," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple, 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave., North Hollywood.