While it would be a mistake to ascribe the tragedy to religion rather than mental illness, it's interesting that authorities are applying special scrutiny to the intersection of mental illness and religious fervor: in combination, these things can indeed be a red flag.
According to the Daily Telegraph, when social workers initially met with David Lovemore for assessment in 2009, "when he was asked what he would do if Faith or her sister got into difficulty he said he would pray first. He never said yes or no to calling a doctor." Additionally, Julia's aunt told authorities that her niece's "religious fervor" had distanced her from her family, whom she denounced as "heathens." In combination, these things cannot be dismissed as "the practice of religious beliefs" - at least not where children's welfare is concerned.
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