Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

I wrote today about how the court ruling banning circumcision in Germany violates freedom of religion. I also predicted earlier that the ruling would not stand. My predictions are usually right. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the ruling reversed by the German Parliament. From the Guardian story:

Angela Merkel’s spokesman has promised Germany’s Jewish and Muslim communities they will be free to carry out circumcision on young boys, despite a court ban that has raised concerns about religious freedom. The government said it would find a way around a ban imposed by a court in Cologne in June as a matter of urgency. “For everyone in the government it is absolutely clear that we want to have Jewish and Muslim religious life in Germany,” said Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert. “Circumcision carried out in a responsible manner must be possible in this country without punishment.”

Exactly so. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right.


Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles