Seventh-day Adventist Deborah Moorhead, 34, and her husband, Roby Jan, 45, were sentenced June 13 to five years in jail for the manslaughter of their six-month-old son, Caleb, for failing to provide the basic necessities of life. Caleb died of complications from a vitamin B12 deficiency. (See ANN story June 11.)

In a press release to the media, the church in North New Zealand recognized Deborah Moorhead as a member of the Dargaville Church, but noted that “the Moorheads’ dietary practices and attitudes to modern medicine are not the teachings of the corporate Seventh-day Adventist Church, but choices of the couple. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is praying for the Moorheads.”

The Moorheads were regular attenders at the Dargaville Church, reports the church minister, Pastor Victor Acuna. They were active in the church and known for their passion in the area of health. Acuna has been the pastor at Dargaville since February last year.

What was not known were the extremes the couple had taken, until the information began to appear on national television, radio, and in newspapers all over New Zealand during the recent court case.

Dargaville Church still cares, and will continue to care for the Moorheads, says Acuna. He adds that church members are in contact and have been able to visit the Moorheads in prison. “What you have to realize is that the Dargaville Church is a loving church,” he says. “The church members are praying for this couple. Two individuals have been convicted and sentenced for doing something that the church, also, does not condone. But that doesn’t and shouldn’t stop the caring.”

Currently it is not known where the Moorheads will serve their sentence. Deborah Moorhead is expecting another child and will give birth in about three months. She has been told she will not be able to keep the baby in prison.