Parents Who Think Vaccinations 'Anger God' Are Putting Kids in Danger

on February 14, 2012 at 12:17 AM

vaccine jesus When it comes to hot-button parenting topics like how long to breastfeed and whether TV is okay in moderation, I try to avoid getting caught in the "I'm right/You're wrong" vortex of righteous indignation. Meaning, I might be opinionated, but I try not to be judgmental. At least not outwardly.

That said, the latest chapter in the To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate saga is disturbing enough to warrant, let's say, a formal expression of concern. (Which is not the same as a judgement. Not really.)

Look, it's dangerous enough to decide against vaccinating your child because of religious beliefs. But let's say another kid at school comes down with one of those communicable diseases your child didn't get immunized against. What if the principal temporarily banned your kid from school for her own protection?

Would you be grateful to that principal or would you ... sue the school?

If you were Fabian Mendoza-Vaca and Nicole Phillips of Queens, New York, apparently you would sue the school. That's right, they're asking a judge to nullify a law that would force their kids to stay out of school if classmates are carrying diseases such as measles, mumps, or chicken pox.

Explained Mendoza-Vaca:

It is my opinion that resorting to vaccinations demonstrates a lack of faith in God, which would anger God and therefore be sacrilegious ... We don't want anything being into our bodies at all. We'd rather rely on our natural immune system and our faith in God. This is about my children's rights.

Oh-kay. So not only are you NOT going to vaccinate your kids, you're also not going to let any person or institution take any measures to protect them?

To me, this takes the anti-vax argument too far. It's a huge, selfish step in the wrong direction: The direction of blatant irresponsibility.

I'm not religious now, but I was raised in a religious home. And my grandmother had a faith-related saying that seems to apply here, "God helps those who help themselves."

Here's hoping God helps the unvaccinated kids who can't yet help themselves, too.

Do you think these anti-vax parents are going too far?

Image via Ben Brown/Flickr

About the author Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance!

Filed Under: toddler health, in the news

Comments (84)

Boobookittt74

on Feb 14, 2012 at 3:41 AM

First of all I will say I am a religious person and believe in God and this pisses me off. This is why people think religion is crazy it's because people get a lil too wrapped up in "being religious " and not having a brain. I think that should be child endangerment and IF their kid does go to school cause they insist Nd DOES get sick I think they should be charged !!!!!!!

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butterflymkm

on Feb 14, 2012 at 5:02 AM

I am an agnostic but this reminds me of that story, the one with the guy lost in the boat where he shunned all the help people tried to give because god was going to save him. When he dies and gets to god he asks why he was forsaken and god says "well I sent the coast guard!"

femaleMIKE

on Feb 14, 2012 at 6:57 AM

i love that analogy butterflmkm! yes, this mother is going too far. if she doesn't want to do the vac, fine but the school has an obligation to society to keep these diseases as contained as possible CDC would agree.

tinypossum

on Feb 14, 2012 at 7:41 AM

What's anti-religious about quarantine? Didn't they talk about leper colonies in the Bible? These people are morons and their children need to be protected from their idiocy.

RhondaVeggie

on Feb 14, 2012 at 7:46 AM

I think it's horribly sad when a school needs to take care of a child like that because their own parents don't care enough to take care of them. If you refuse to take reasonable steps to protect a child then you have no business putting that child in danger. That includes exposing unvaccinated kids to disease, allowing kids to bike without a helmet, or allowing them to participate in dangerous sports without training and appropriate equipment.

MomIWant

on Feb 14, 2012 at 8:43 AM

First, I vaccinated my children - I BELIEVED that was best for them. Second, this is ABSOLUTELY about their rights - the FREEDOM OF RELIGION - their FREEDOM TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY CHOOSE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE!!!!!!!!! I am so tired of the attack on beliefs that are not the "norm" and of the stomping on the Constitution. Why do you believe that you are smarter than the parents and you are right and they are wrong? Or that our Government is smarter than the parents and should force them to behave like you would like? This "we know best" attitude is a very slippery slope which is becoming an avalanche on top of the Constitution!!!!!!!!

on Feb 14, 2012 at 8:52 AM

Momiwant, did you read the article? its not about vaccinating your kids. Its about the school keeping unvaccinated children quarantined when there is an outbreak.

no one is making this mother vaccinate.

orangetree

on Feb 14, 2012 at 8:54 AM

Amen MomIWant!

kjbugsmom1517

on Feb 14, 2012 at 8:57 AM

This is absolutely rediculous! Sueing the school for your own stupidity. Sueing the school for caring that ur unvaccinated child be out of school due to an illness that is prevented with vaccines. Hello? That's just common sense. If ur not gonna vaccinate u need to be prepared for the possibility that the illness will pop up and infect your child. You need to take the precautions such as removing them from school to keep them from getting the illness.

SierraLynn

on Feb 14, 2012 at 9:37 AM

I vax my kids. I don't care if this woman wants to it not. Not my business. But I think it has gone to far for them to sue the school for taking the child out to PROTECT them because of an outbreak that the child is NOT protected against. the school is in the right, no one is trying to force these lateness to vax their kids. Sounds like school would rather a student not get sick or possibly worse.
But just a odd question. If they don't beleive in anythinf in their bodies like this, if said child did contract something of any magnitude, would they allow medical treatment because its not part of their natural immune system? Something to think about.