Should the government have the right to step in when there is probable cause to believe a parent is beating, raping, or neglecting their child? I think that they should, and to me this is neglect. I am a Libertarian, and believe in minimal government, but I am not an Anarchist. This is not a "moral" issue. This is a life and death issue. If a little boy stepped on a nail and got gangrene and the parent refused medical attention, I would feel the same way. If they wanted him to take pills because he was hyper at school I would not. If he had a car wreck and messed up his face and the parents decided against reconstructive surgery, I would not. However, in a life or death situation I think that the government has the right to step in. I'd much rather my tax dollar go to this than welfare.
For those of you comparing this to thermostats, cars, and cloths...well that is pretty simple. The government (State) is stepping in to represent the rights of the minor who is unable to make decisions for himself. As far as I know thermostats, cars, and clothes do not have rights. I'm sure a four year old girl being raped by her daddy doen't want her daddy to go away, and would not press charges. Therefore the State represents her and her rights. In this case the State feels that the parent is infriging on the boys right of life, liberty, and persuit of happiness and I agree with the State.
Yes we are (more or less) free to make what decisions we see fit. Parents have and should have a broad range of freedom to determine the best way to raise their child. They should be able to decide what school, what friends, what religion, how to discipline, etc... However, there are decisions that a parent does not have the right to make...Beat or rape their child, send them out overnight in snow with no clothes on, force them to starve, etc...