Christian Science Case

[Michael McConnell]

Just a note on CHILD, Inc. v. Vladek, the Christian Science case:
Contrary to the implications of several posts, this case does not
involve children. It is about poor and elderly Christian Science
adults, who have paid during their entire working lives into the
Medicare and Medicaid systems, and receive in return *only* certain
nonmedical nursing services (such as changing bandages, assistance
with personal cleanliness and movement, proper food, etc.). The
government does not pay for spiritual healing itself, but only for
physical nursing care. The accommodation at issue enables
Medicare and Medicaid-eligible Christian Science adults to
receive nursing care without being forced to accept medical
care, in violation of their religion. The only constitutional problem
identified by the district court was that the statutory accommodation
refers to the Christian Science religion by name. -- Michael McConnell (U of Utah)