there is mixed evidence on circumcision.  Some suggesting it helps prevent cervical cancer in female partners; some that lowers the spread of STDs. The research is mixed and politicized (like lots of research) but there is evidence it has medical value.



*************************************************
Paul Finkelman, Ph.D.
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

518-445-3386 (p)
518-445-3363 (f)

paul.finkelman@alba...<mailto:paul.finkelman@alba...>
www.paulfinkelman.com<http://www.paulfinkelman.com>
*************************************************

________________________________
From: religionlaw-bounces@list... [religionlaw-bounces@list...] on behalf of Vance R. Koven [vrkoven@gmai...]
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 12:37 PM
To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
Subject: Re: German circumcision decision

Isn't there still a substantial body of medical opinion--perhaps not as prevalent as in decades past--that recommends circumcision as a preventive health measure? If the issue is the lack of consent from the subject of the operation, this certainly affects more than just religious observance, and more than just this particular operation. And if the decision hinges specifically on the fact that the motivation (if that can ever be clear) is primarily religious, that certainly smacks of religio-cultural insensitivity, to put it mildly.

Vance

On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 12:21 PM, Paul Finkelman <paul.finkelman@yaho...<mailto:paul.finkelman@yaho...>> wrote:
Are they also banning parents from piercing the ears of children? In many cultures it is common to see infant girls with pierced ears.   Does the ban extend to pierced ears before age 18?  And then there is body piercing before age 18.  Is that being banned?  Has the Court banned tattoos for people under 18?

And has this ban spread to Muslim male children, who are circumcised at age 7, 10 or slightly later depending on the sect.

The fact is, given Germany's history of how it has dealt with Jews, is is not illegitimate to wonder what the Court is thinking.   Germany has one of the fastest growing Jewish populations in the world -- mostly through immigration.  This decision, if enforced all over the country, would slow down or stop that population growth.  One might at least ponder why this case has come to the Germany court, and not one involving piercing, tattoos, or Muslim circumcision.

----
Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

518-445-3386<tel:518-445-3386> (p)
518-445-3363<tel:518-445-3363> (f)


paul.finkelman@alba...<mailto:paul.finkelman@alba...>


www.paulfinkelman.com<http://www.paulfinkelman.com>
________________________________
From: "Volokh, Eugene" <VOLOKH@law....<mailto:VOLOKH@law....>>

To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics <religionlaw@list...<mailto:religionlaw@list...>>
Sent: Sunday, July 1, 2012 11:56 AM
Subject: RE: German circumcision decision

                Any chance we could have some helpful analysis of the decision, rather than one-liners?  The question of the degree to which parents should be able to permanently alter their children’s bodies – for religious reasons or otherwise – is not, it seems to me, one that has a completely obvious answer one way or the other.  There may indeed be one correct answer that can be demonstrated, but such demonstration requires argument rather than assertion.

                Eugene

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--
Vance R. Koven
Boston, MA USA
vrkoven@worl...<mailto:vrkoven@worl...>