If you haven’t heard by now, John Travolta’s son died recently from what appear to be severe head injuries sustained as a result of some condition, perhaps seizures.

In the ensuing few days, serious questions have been raised as to whether John Travola’s Scientology-inspired beliefs about mental illness (i.e. that autism doesn’t exist and the complete refusal of all mental health medications) contributed to his son’s death.

Because the reporting at this point seems highly speculative, I’ll withhold full judgment until more facts are out.

However, here is a general construct that, if true, should make people truly outraged.

1. Fact: John Travolta is a member of the “Church” of Scientology, a trumped-up cult with loony beliefs on mental health and how life started on earth. Part of these beliefs requires parents to refuse medication for their children for mental illness (i.e. anti-seizure medication, anti-depressants, etc.).

2. Travolta’s son had some kind of mental illness that required the presence of a 24-hour nanny. Many have speculated that his son showed signs of severe autism along with a seizure disorder.

3. It has been reported that Travolta’s son’s symptoms could have been helped with certain medications, which Travolta’s beliefs would have required him to refuse.

4. As a result of not being properly medicated, Travolta’s son suffered from a serious attack that killed him.

If all this is true, Travolta (and other religious nuts like him who refuse lifesaving treatments on behalf of their minor children) should at least be prosecuted for child endangerment or criminally negligent homicide.

Update: For the sake of fairness, it was reported that the Travoltas had their son on an anti-seizure medication for some period of time.