Twitchell Case

I was glad to see some reporting on recent developments with regard to the Twitchell case in the Aug. 12 article, “Court Overturns Conviction of Christian Science Couple.” Unfortunately, one of the statements gives your readers the wrong impression about their Christian Science neighbors: “The justices said the Twitchells ‘reasonably believed’ they could rely on spiritual treatment without fear of criminal prosecution because a church publication the father had read suggested as much.” Left without any other explanation, this sounds like the church tells its members what to do. Actually, the publication referred to was a summary of Massachusetts law, based on an attorney general’s opinion, with regard to spiritual healing.

Christian Scientists rely on spiritual healing not because of dogma or church authorities but because of positive consistent results, usually over a long period of time. In this regard, they can be likened to parents who utilize conventional medicine for their children because of positive experience rather than dogmatic faith in medical theories. Both sets of parents put the welfare of their children first and rely on experience to guide them.

ROBERT C. GILBERT

Christian Science Committee

on Publication for Southern California

Brea