Dobbs: What's Religion Got to Do with It?

CJJ members have been invited to this community event by the American Bar Association. This event is not hosted by CJJ.

In the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the majority opinion found that, in light of the state's interest in fetal life as "potential life," and the absence of a clear basis in the Constitution for a right to abortion, state regulation in this area is limited only by "rational basis" analysis. For fifty years, abortion has been a hot point issue for contending political views, but until now relatively little attention has been given to the religious freedom implications of government associating itself with a particular view as to when life begins. Remarkably, in a term in which religious freedom and religious liberty was a theme of several cases, neither the majority opinion nor the dissent in Dobbs touched on those implications. Does state regulation of abortion that adopts a position associated with a particular religious view of when life begins impact the religious freedom of religious communities that have a different viewpoint on the beginning of life, particularly religious minority communities? What are the operative principles of determining when regulation that correlates with religious practice or belief (as much regulation, such as prohibitions on murder or theft, does) crosses the line to become a violation of religious freedom? Join us as we discuss abortion from a religious freedom perspective.

Speakers:

- Ria Chakrabarty – Policy Director, Hindus for Human Rights

- Adèle Keim – Senior Counsel, Becket Law

- Rachel Laser – President and CEO, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

- Asifa Quraishi-Landes – Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School

- Rahmah A. Abdulaleem (Moderator) – Executive Director, KARAMAH; Vice Chair, Religious Freedom Committee, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Click here to register for this panel event.