Moorish Science Defenses To Neglect Charges Rejected

In In re A.E. & D., 2013 Ill. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1873 (IL App., Aug. 26, 2013), an Illinois appeals court rejected several religion-based defenses raised by the mother of two children who was found unfit because of medical neglect and creating an environment injurious to her children's welfare.  The court rejected respondent's claim that it lacked jurisdiction. Respondent argued that her children are part of the trust corpus of the Moorish Science Temple of America and that MSTA should have been made a party to the case. The court also held that respondent's free exercise rights do not permit her to avoid seeking proper medical care for her children.