The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a jury award over injuries a 17-year-old girl suffered in an exorcism conducted by members of her old church, ruling that the case unconstitutionally entangled the court in religious matters.
Laura Schubert testified in 2002 that she was cut and bruised and later experienced hallucinations after the church members' actions in 1996, when she was 17. Schubert said she was pinned to the floor for hours and received carpet burns during the exorcism, the Austin American-Statesman reported. She also said the incident led her to mutilate herself and attempt suicide. She eventually sought psychiatric help.
But the church's attorneys had told jurors that her psychological problems were caused by traumatic events she witnessed with her missionary parents in Africa. The church contended she "freaked out" about following her father's life as a missionary and was acting out to gain attention.
Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, in a dissenting opinion, stated "The First Amendment guards religious liberty; it does not sanction intentional abuse in religion's name."
Laura Schubert testified in 2002 that she was cut and bruised and later experienced hallucinations after the church members' actions in 1996, when she was 17. Schubert said she was pinned to the floor for hours and received carpet burns during the exorcism, the Austin American-Statesman reported. She also said the incident led her to mutilate herself and attempt suicide. She eventually sought psychiatric help.
But the church's attorneys had told jurors that her psychological problems were caused by traumatic events she witnessed with her missionary parents in Africa. The church contended she "freaked out" about following her father's life as a missionary and was acting out to gain attention.
Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, in a dissenting opinion, stated "The First Amendment guards religious liberty; it does not sanction intentional abuse in religion's name."
topics:
Religion,
Supreme Court,
Texas,
Court,
Church,
First Amendment,
1st Amendment,
Exorcism
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- Future_America
- added this
- added June 28, 2008
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So wait, an exorcism was performed on her by her old church? Does that mean that she is no longer a member of that church after the exorcism, or does that mean she was not a member of the church during the exorcism?
Also, its nice to hear what the lawyer of the church thinks, but what about what the girls psychologist thinks? If she is willing to disclose doctor patient confidentiality in this matter would the shrink tell the same story as the church's lawyer, or would he say that the church and it's exorcism is responsible for her trauma?
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- Varex_Sythe
- 1 year ago
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