UPDATE::Court rejects religious freedom defense for ‘spare rod, spoil child’ Biblical parenting

An update of sorts to this story. Phillip Caminiti is the pastor of the church, and father of Matthew (from the initial story) involved in the multi-person, child abuse case out of Wisconsin. The elder Caminiti appealed his conviction on the grounds of religious freedom violations.

Caminiti appealed his conviction, claiming that the Bible gives specific instruction on what tools to use to punish children, and that he demonstrated to his congregation the correct degree of force appropriate for Biblical discipline.

However, the Wisconsin state court of appeals rejected Caminiti’s claim that prosecutors violated his free speech right to advocate for the use of force and his right to religious freedom, and upheld his conviction on eight counts of conspiracy to commit child abuse, noting that the state has a compelling interest in preventing child abuse.

Court rejects religious freedom defense for ‘spare rod, spoil child’ Biblical parenting