For Christian Scientists, prayer treatment works

By Jennifer Reading

The proposed health care reform effort is supposed to ensure that more Americans get the medical coverage they need. But one group is still fighting for governmental recognition of their health care practices. Christian Scientists say they are not looking for anything unique. They just want the right to choose the best coverage for themselves.

"The church's position is that they deeply want individuals to be able to make their own choices and that should include whatever valid choices there are," said Dawn-Marie Cornett, a Christian Science practitioner, "We're just looking for the rights of the individual to choose the health care that's the safest, most expedient and most compassionate for themselves."

For Christian Scientists, that treatment is prayer. They believe that the healing power of prayer is an important cornerstone of their religion. It can be done by the individual or with the help of a practitioner, but it doesn't necessarily mean petitioning God for a healing intervention.

"Prayer is a funny word. I don't close up my text and beg God for a resolution," said Cornett, "and I will talk to my patients and give them something comforting to think about. I may give them something to read from the bible. All of these things in an effort to help them be receptive to the idea that they are fundamentally well."

Christian Science's approach to healing is very holistic. The entire individual is considered,not just the body's physical symptoms. Therefore the severity of the condition isn't as important as it is in traditional medical care.

"There's cancer and there's a head cold and the difference between them doesn't matter because the same prayer will heal both," said Carly Rose Jackson, a Christian Scientist.

Christian Scientists have said that many critics misunderstand their faith. Their Church does not shun those who decide to seek out traditional medicine over spiritual care.

"The idea that we are antagonistic to the medical field is just not true," said Cornett, "People choose to use the healing methods in Christian Science purely based on their experiences and the way they've seen it work in the past."

Boston is the international hub of Christian Science, which was founded in 1879. Throughout its history, church leaders have struggled to get official recognition of the paid practitioners who offer this spiritual care. The religion's founder, Mary Baker Eddy, suggested that these practitioners should charge on par with medical doctors. But practitioners are not sure how applicable that is today. Many practitioners will call local medical doctors, ask their rates for a general office visit and based their rates on that information.

"Every practitioner can charge their own rates. Christian Science practitioners tend to be on the extreme less expensive side," said Cornett.

But opponents to spiritual care coverage say that any federally subsidized provision in the proposed health care reform bill is a clear violation of the separation of church and state. The House agreed and stripped it from its version. The provision, however, is receiving some support in the Senate.