Christian Science

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. What happened in Jonestown is very removed from the practice of Christian Science. It is obvious that Mr. Dunn has yet to discover that Christian Scientists have, for over 100 years, been successfully healing themselves, their children and others.

This article is a good reminder that once again our civil liberties are in jeopardy, as having legislatively passed exemptions from health and welfare codes, etc., are no guarantee against prosecution. Those Christian Science parents whose children died must now bear a financial burden, in addition to the loss of their child, of defendingthemselves against what the law guaranteed to them as Christian Scientists in the first place.

As a nation that prides itself on the spirit of free thinking and living, surely we must be open-minded enough to accept another legitimate and proven means of healing.

ELLEN VUKOVICH

Sherman Oaks