Judge: Couple must surrender sick child for treatment
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - A Clackamas County judge took away a child from their parents following a petition from the Department of Human Services.
DHS petitioned the judge for custody in order to get the child medical treatment. The parents, Tim and Rebecca Wyland, are members of the Followers of Christ Church whose members believe in healing illnesses with prayer rather than medical treatment.
The Wylands declined to comment on the judge’s order.
But a Followers of Christ member said the Wylands have been given warnings to get their baby medical treatment.
The decision comes after another church member was sent to prison for letting his child die from a treatable medical condition.
Over the past 30 years, more than 20 children of church members have died of preventable or curable illnesses. Among the dead in the church’s cemetery is Tim Wyland’s first wife Monique. She died at the age of 38 from what former church members said was untreated breast cancer.
What kind of illness the child suffers from has not been released and the district attorney’s office declined to comment on the case or how the case came to the attention of child welfare workers.
Editor's note: KATU.com has received a clarification on the spelling of the couple's last name. Wylund has been changed to Wyland.
DHS petitioned the judge for custody in order to get the child medical treatment. The parents, Tim and Rebecca Wyland, are members of the Followers of Christ Church whose members believe in healing illnesses with prayer rather than medical treatment.
The Wylands declined to comment on the judge’s order.
But a Followers of Christ member said the Wylands have been given warnings to get their baby medical treatment.
The decision comes after another church member was sent to prison for letting his child die from a treatable medical condition.
Over the past 30 years, more than 20 children of church members have died of preventable or curable illnesses. Among the dead in the church’s cemetery is Tim Wyland’s first wife Monique. She died at the age of 38 from what former church members said was untreated breast cancer.
What kind of illness the child suffers from has not been released and the district attorney’s office declined to comment on the case or how the case came to the attention of child welfare workers.
Editor's note: KATU.com has received a clarification on the spelling of the couple's last name. Wylund has been changed to Wyland.