STEVE MAYES
The Oregonian Staff

The parents of an Oregon City boy who died during attempts to heal him with prayer pleaded not guilty Friday to criminally negligent homicide.

Jeffrey Dean Beagley, 50, and Marci Rae Beagley, 46, quietly entered their pleas in Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City. They made no statements and were released on bond.

A grand jury indictment accused them of "failing to provide adequate medical care to a child, in violation of the duty of a parent."

Several of the Beagleys' relatives attended the arraignment, including their daughter, Raylene Worthington and her husband, Carl, whose 15-month-old daughter died under similar circumstances in March. The Worthingtons are awaiting trial on charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment.

Family members declined comment as did Wayne Mackeson, who represents Jeffrey Beagley. Marci Beagley appeared without an attorney.

The Beagleys belong to the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, a nondenominational congregation that favors spiritual healing and prayer over medical treatment.

The Beagleys' 16-year-old son, Neil, died in June from complications of a urinary-tract blockage. An autopsy found that the boy became unable to urinate. His kidneys stopped extracting urea from his bloodstream and triggered heart failure.

The autopsy also showed that he had suffered repeated episodes of blockage and pain with no apparent medical intervention. A simple procedure such as catheterization -- inserting a tube into his bladder -- could have saved his life, according to a deputy state medical examiner.

At the time of Neil Beagley's death, the boy was surrounded by dozens of church and family members who were praying for his recovery. Some of those present told police that the teenager chose faith healing over medical care.

If convicted, the Beagleys face a maximum of 10 years in prison. State sentencing guidelines, however, are likely to result in a sentence of 18 months or less in prison or probation.

Nutballs that don't know the Bible and what it says. Luke was a Doctor in the Bible...God invented medicine...through us humans He gave the ideas to.
You don't have church growth by killing off your children...DAH.

Darwinism at it's finest.

Yeah, but it's not impacting the ones that have the problem! They are still alive and can still do damage.

This isn't a case of not knowing what the bible says. This is about core human rights! As adults, they are completely free to handle their health care any way they want to. They are of age and can make their choices and live with the consequenses.

The kid though isn't in that situation. Kids have a trust relationship with the parents that we cannot abuse, or we are violating them as people.

This is what the problem is. People making very significant choices for kids when they have no right to do so.

IMHO, this behavior should be a LOT more criminal than it currently is.

If their faith is defensible, then the kids can choose to follow it as adults.

Some may say this is blasphemous, however I don't think that anyone that's a minor is capable of consciously accepting or rejecting religion. A parent can tell the kid 'get in the car, you're going to church, and that's final,' and that's it.
If you believe in religion you can do anything and everything you can to try to get the younger crowd to accept it, but once they become an adult they are no longer required to have their parents filter every word of thought and opinion that their child receives.

I know I've said that I don't like to talk about religion here (or for that matter anywhere online), however in my opinion I generally think that God gave us the ability to invent medical technology so that we could live better lives. Enough on that. Agree or disagree, the best place to discuss this is Sunday morning, or whenever your faith meets for its' weekly gathering.

Was talking with a parent of one of my son's friends not long ago about having our two boys attend a Sunday night youth group that does loads of community service. The mother said that she doesn't believe children should be introduced to religion until they are old enough to understand many aspects of religious life.

I hadn't heard that philosophy before and in many ways it did make some sense to me. Both my kids at this time don't care much for God or church. Neither attend a church a this time.

I'm not bothered by it and nor am I pushing them to attend. We do get plenty of dialogue at home about faith, belief and how that is lived out.

My wife and I know our kids really well and we know this is part of growing up. They are grounded in who they are as people and we support them in their decisions about faith. They know I read my bible everyday and sometimes I share what I have read to get their comments. I think they enjoy that.

It's a careful line to walk. If my kids were behavioral problems I might think differently.

Newflyer you're not the only one who is uncomfortable chatting about religion.

KSKD....Spot on with your comments.

We shouldn't be uncomfortabale about our thoughts on religion.

The only reason we are is that just a few too many of us have control and character issues. Sucks.

Was having a few beers with a client. We wanted to laugh at Palin after a long day. She didn't deliver, so the conversation wandered. Found out I was with a Hindu, whose kids are leaning Christian, a Christian, and me the dreaded unbeliever!

We have a lot of common ground, common ideas, common needs. When we found this out, we then felt ok about politics and religion. Both of my friends at the table are becoming American citizens because they can be who they are here. It's that simple for them and we take it for granted!

The Hindu guy said something I think is profound and true. (Which I would be capable of proving it as an absolute truth)

He said a persons religion does not matter. The person does. We all choose our faith and our path in life, but that choice does not define us, unless we let it.

No matter what, we can choose to do good things and if we do, the world is better for it always.

Lack of education corrupts this and that's a big part of why so many things in the world are bad. When people are not educated, they cannot understand other people and with that goes the ability to stand in their shoes and consider what is actually good as opposed to that which might seem good, but really just be self-serving.

Frankly, I don't think I can disagree with that and it resonates with me pretty huge!

Chris, your kids will do fine! And once again, I see in you the very best of religion. You are an absolutely fine father for having the strength to let them form and be who they are.

I can't help but wonder if we might all be better off, having to experience places and cultures where we just can't be who we are, where we can't take it for granted.

Maybe then, we wouldn't see parents pulling stuff like this with their kids.

Newflyer you're not the only one who is uncomfortable chatting about religion.
I'm not uncomfortable talking about it, I just think online forums are the wrong venue.

He said a persons religion does not matter. The person does.
Agreed.

Seriously, I'm not saying to anyone "don't take your kids to church." I'm only saying that when kids reach adult age they have the right to think for themselves, and believe whatever it is they want to believe. And along with the same freedom of religion the Constitution provides comes the responsibility to let all peaceful people of all religions celebrate whatever they choose to celebrate.

I do not believe that denying medical care to someone who is sick and claiming said sick person did not want said care constitutes being peaceful. However if I am wrong I'm sure God will let me know, as I pray for the truth on these things.

Newflyer-I think on line is one of the best places to chat about religion. However it depends on how it's being bantered around.

What eventually happens and its certainly the digression of any topic on this board, we get into this "you need to.." mentality. All you need to do is...

That's my biggest issue with the Herb's and Broadway's of the world.

And when that kind of mentality fosters itself to the place like the two parents in question with the death of their own child that was preventable, that is simply wrong and detestable.