Friday, March 23, 2012

Two more cases regarding religious freedom and whether it ought to be balanced against compelling societal interests

1 - This is in Canada so maybe it doesn't count, but regardless - A high school principal allowed Muslim students to pray in the lunch room before he realized that the students would apply rules mandating that the girls sit behind the boys, among other things. Should the freedom to worship according to the dictates of conscience take a back seat to a demand that we not allow discrimination according to gender?

2 - An orthodox rabbi has been jailed for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury against a fellow Jew. He says that his religious beliefs include (mesira) not informing on members of his own faith. Eugene Volock comments on the claim.