This is an old one but a goodie, and I believe it to be true - not the story itself, of course, but the lesson.
One day, there was a flood in a small town somewhere - doesn't really matter where. A man sat on the roof of his house as the water is grew higher around him and prayed to God for rescue. A boat appeared and offered to pick him up; he refused saying he was waiting on God. About half an hour later another boat appeared and he gave the same answer. As the waters kept rising, a helicopter flew in and offered to rescue him. He said no; "God Will save me."
Not long after, the man was swept away by the rising waters. When he made it to see the cavod of God, he asked, "Why did you not save me?"
God answered: "I sent two boats and a helicopter."
God works its best miracles through the hands of human beings. We are to be the instruments of its mercy.
Those people failed that little girl in every way they could fail her, and now they hide behind the shield of religion. They're doubly guilty, and I hope the sentences they receive reflect that fact.
Those atheists who are good people do God's work, whether they realize it or not. In some ways - in a lot of ways - their acts, for which they expect nothing in return, of are worth more on the scales of justice then are the acts borne of false piety carried out for fear of God's wrath as the overriding reason.