Thursday, March 18, 2010
Massachusetts Lawmakers Reject Circumcision Ban
A bill calling for prison time and fines for those who perform circumcision on any male under the age of 18 was rejected by the Judiciary Committee of the Massachusetts state legislature.
The text of the proposed measure specifically mandated that no exception be given, even though the law would obstruct religious observance of the commandment of circumcision.
The measure also called upon the Department of Public Health to implement an educational program to discourage religious groups from carrying out the commandment of circumcision.
A goal of the legislation, according to an advocate group's website, included enforcement by local police.
In a letter to the Committee following their vote, the Community Guardians Group (CGG) wrote that the people of Massachusetts "are inheritors of a rich heritage of courageous thinkers and leaders who have sought to advance the causes of righteousness and justice for all people... But there are also matters which lie outside the power entrusted to government." The CGG mentioned that included among the things not to be restricted by government, is the commandment of circumcision, given by G-d Almighty.
The CGG offered thanks to G-d Almighty that this attack on their religion was halted, and commended the members of the Judiciary Committee for definitively rejecting this hateful plan.
The Community Guardians Group, under the leadership and in cooperation with some of the most respected Torah leaders, is an association of Orthodox Jews united in opposition to any law seeking to limit their ability to faithfully serve G-d Almighty.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massachusetts-lawmakers-reject-circumcision-ban-88435777.html
The text of the proposed measure specifically mandated that no exception be given, even though the law would obstruct religious observance of the commandment of circumcision.
The measure also called upon the Department of Public Health to implement an educational program to discourage religious groups from carrying out the commandment of circumcision.
A goal of the legislation, according to an advocate group's website, included enforcement by local police.
In a letter to the Committee following their vote, the Community Guardians Group (CGG) wrote that the people of Massachusetts "are inheritors of a rich heritage of courageous thinkers and leaders who have sought to advance the causes of righteousness and justice for all people... But there are also matters which lie outside the power entrusted to government." The CGG mentioned that included among the things not to be restricted by government, is the commandment of circumcision, given by G-d Almighty.
The CGG offered thanks to G-d Almighty that this attack on their religion was halted, and commended the members of the Judiciary Committee for definitively rejecting this hateful plan.
The Community Guardians Group, under the leadership and in cooperation with some of the most respected Torah leaders, is an association of Orthodox Jews united in opposition to any law seeking to limit their ability to faithfully serve G-d Almighty.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massachusetts-lawmakers-reject-circumcision-ban-88435777.html
Comments:
You make it sound as though this Bill was specifically aimed at religious cirumcision. Not so. 97% of circumcision in the US is gentile. The line about "no exception for religion or culture" - in fact most of the Bill - was cut and pasted from existing law outlawing female genital cutting. This Bill merely removes the word "female" and adds the names of the male parts. And the line about educational outreach does not actually mention religion.
Here is the text of the Bill.
Here are contact details for Celebrants of Brit Shalom (Brit B'li Milah).
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Here is the text of the Bill.
Here are contact details for Celebrants of Brit Shalom (Brit B'li Milah).
