Some progressives are arguing for a religious right to abortion
The Supreme Court’s deference to faith-based objectors has buoyed their claims
The Book of Exodus contains a section about liability. It is a bit outdated, enumerating damages if someone’s bull gores another person’s slave. But one parable is relevant to abortion debates today, since it elucidates how Judaism understands the unborn. If a pregnant woman is hit and suffers a miscarriage, the perpetrator must pay a fine. If she dies, however, the penalty is death. The tale is said to differentiate between the value of a fetus and a person. Other Jewish texts also hold that life doesn’t begin at conception.
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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Religious abortions”
United States November 18th 2023
- America’s government isn’t shutting down just yet
- The Supreme Court’s code of conduct is a good first step
- Higher wages are spurring innovation in dinner
- Some progressives are arguing for a religious right to abortion
- Inside a month of America’s school shootings
- An FBI investigation raises questions about Eric Adams
- Why America struggles to make friends abroad
From the November 18th 2023 edition
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