Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images In the culture war battles over abortion and transgender rights, religion and religious liberty claims are often identified exclusively with one side of these disputes — those who oppose abortion and transgender rights. This is no longer the case. Several weeks ago, 1,500 synagogues observed a Reproductive Rights or Justice Shabbat (Sabbath). Jews and members of other faiths have brought religious liberty suits against laws restricting abortion in several states. Religious liberty claims may also be brought against laws limiting the rights and treatment of transgender individuals as well. The lack of consensus within religious communities on abortion or transgender rights is not a legitimate basis for rejecting these claims. In Thomas v. Review Board , 450 U.S. 707 (1981), the Supreme Court clearly stated that “the guarantee of free exercise is not limited to beliefs which are shared by all of the members of a religious sect.” Further, as the Court in Thomas explained, it is not the function of judges to evaluate the theological logic or merits of religious beliefs. Indeed, to be protected against infringement, a religious belief need not be “acceptable, logical, consistent or comprehensible to others.” This analysis is generally […]
