Troubling NYTimes article

A letter I wrote to the NY Times editor in response to this article. I would have liked to address other points as well, but couldn't fit it in the 150 word limit.


To The Editor:

I was profoundly troubled by Paul Vitello’s article of March 23, Christian Science Church Seeks Truce With Modern Medicine. It seemed to me the author brought to his subject an unmistakable and unfortunate bias.

At the heart of the article was the misunderstanding that Christian Science teaches that medical doctors are quacks and medicine is antagonistic to Christian Science. This is patently false.

The founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote, “In the ranks of the M.D.’s are noble men and women, and I love them;” and here and elsewhere she admonishes Christian Scientists to be “charitable and kind” to those holding differing opinions.

As a lifelong Christian Scientist, I can honestly assert that I have never once been “taught to avoid doctors at all cost.” I sincerely hope that in the future Mr. Vitello and the Times can move beyond personal bias and fairly report the news that is so vital to our expanding world.

Gratefully,

Ian McLeland