Last October, the Committee on Publication of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was an exhibitor at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Boston. Committee workers engaged with AAP members on a subject that both pediatricians and Christian Scientists really care about—finding solutions to the problem of child abuse. The Christian Science Publishing Society's then focus on "Safeguarding the Children" tied in well with the project. The Committee felt it was important to be at the conference with the message that Christian Scientists are concerned for the welfare of all children.
During a reception for exhibitors and delegates, Dr. M. Edward Keenan, AAP host and president for 1996, told several Christian Scientists that he had lost count of how many people he had encouraged to visit the Church Center across the street. He thanked the workers for being there and said the Academy was glad to know more about Christian Science. "While we can't agree on everything," he said, "we can find many things about which we do agree. After all, we're both advocates for children. We should be able to work together despite our differences." Then he added, "We do care about spirituality." Church workers assured Dr. Keenan that Christian Scientists appreciate what pediatricians are doing and support them. He replied, "We know you do."
As people approached the Church's booth, most of them glanced at two things—the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and a theme banner that said, "Hundreds of thousands of children are abused every year in the United States. Is it time to consider spiritual solutions?" Science and Health was not specially promoted, yet sixty-one copies were taken by people who really wanted it.
