BERNVILLE, Pa. – The pastor of a Christian fundamentalist church that shuns modern medicine has been charged with a felony in his toddler granddaughter's death from pneumonia.
The Rev. Rowland Foster is a pastor in the Faith Tabernacle Congregation sect in eastern Pennsylvania. He was charged Thursday with failing to report a suspected case of child abuse.
As a pastor, Foster is legally required to report those cases.
Foster's 2-year-old granddaughter, Ella, died in November after her parents failed to seek medical treatment. Authorities say Foster anointed Ella with oil in a failed attempt to heal her.
He didn't immediately return a message seeking comment on the charge.
The parents, Jonathan and Grace Foster, were charged last month with involuntary manslaughter. Police have said Jonathan Foster attributed Ella's death to "God's will."