The Struhs parents, who followed a religious sect known as The Saints, were convicted last month, alongside 14 other sect members, for their role in the girl's preventable death. Elizabeth was diagnosed with diabetes in 2019 and had been advised to receive daily insulin, yet her parents believed that divine intervention would heal her. Unfortunately, this faith did not save her, as she ultimately died from diabetic ketoacidosis in January 2022 at their home in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The court heard chilling testimony from prosecutors, outlining the suffering Elizabeth endured in her final days, including vomiting, lethargy, and loss of consciousness. The congregation's misguided beliefs kept them from seeking medical help and resulted in a significant delay in notifying authorities about her passing. Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth's sister, testified against their parents and revealed her own estrangement from the sect following her coming out at age 16.
Justice Martin Burns emphasized the tragedy of Elizabeth's situation, citing the group's strict adherence to their beliefs as a factor in her death. Brendan Stevens, the sect's leader, received a 13-year sentence and defended the group's actions as expressions of faith. With only about two dozen members, The Saints remain a controversial and isolated community in Australia, rejecting mainstream medical practices in favor of their beliefs.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extreme religious ideologies that place faith above life-saving medical interventions. The Struhs family's tragic story raises critical questions about the balance between religious beliefs and child protection, and the importance of ensuring all children receive necessary healthcare.
The court heard chilling testimony from prosecutors, outlining the suffering Elizabeth endured in her final days, including vomiting, lethargy, and loss of consciousness. The congregation's misguided beliefs kept them from seeking medical help and resulted in a significant delay in notifying authorities about her passing. Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth's sister, testified against their parents and revealed her own estrangement from the sect following her coming out at age 16.
Justice Martin Burns emphasized the tragedy of Elizabeth's situation, citing the group's strict adherence to their beliefs as a factor in her death. Brendan Stevens, the sect's leader, received a 13-year sentence and defended the group's actions as expressions of faith. With only about two dozen members, The Saints remain a controversial and isolated community in Australia, rejecting mainstream medical practices in favor of their beliefs.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extreme religious ideologies that place faith above life-saving medical interventions. The Struhs family's tragic story raises critical questions about the balance between religious beliefs and child protection, and the importance of ensuring all children receive necessary healthcare.
