Unbelievable

[HopeydaFish]

This is unbelievable:

Babies given herpes in circumcision ritual

To make matters worse, even after this story broke, Mayor Bloomberg refused to entertain the idea of outlawing the ritual circumcision practice in question (where the Mohel sucks the blood with his MOUTH from the baby's penis), because he didn't want to be seen to be interfering with religious practices.

[Shajen]

At what point do you go "Man, these old customs sure are dumb" and move on to you know, 1960?

[lucas9000]

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At what point do you go "Man, these old customs sure are dumb" and move on to you know, 1960?

[/ QUOTE ]

um, freedom of religion?

[InchoateHand]

Yo, like whatevah!

[Shajen]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
At what point do you go "Man, these old customs sure are dumb" and move on to you know, 1960?

[/ QUOTE ]

um, freedom of religion?

[/ QUOTE ]

I know what it is. I just don't understand it. I don't care what religion I am, I wouldn't let anyone suck the circumsized blood off my son's penis.

I just couldn't do that. But, to each their own, I guess. Tragic that these kids died though. Inexcusable.

[HopeydaFish]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
At what point do you go "Man, these old customs sure are dumb" and move on to you know, 1960?

[/ QUOTE ]

um, freedom of religion?

[/ QUOTE ]

Freedom of religion is not absolute. Christopher Hitches pointed this out in an article on Slate.com today:

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Where to start with this? I could wish that Bloomberg were always so careful about keeping out of other peoples' business: He has made it legally impossible to have a cigarette and a cocktail at the same time, anywhere in the city. But I'll trade him his stupid prohibitionist ban if he states clearly that it is the government's business to protect children from religious fanatics. Female genital mutilation, for example, is quite rightly banned under federal law, and no religious exemption is, or ever should be, permitted. The Mormons were obliged to give up polygamy and forcible marriage before they, or the state of Utah, could be part of the United States. A Christian Scientist who denies urgent medical treatment to his or her children may well be hauled up for reckless endangerment, as may those whose churches teach redemption through violent corporal punishment. The First Amendment does indeed forbid any infringement of religious freedom, but it is not, as was once said, part of a suicide pact, let alone a child-abuse one.

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Basically, you can perform whatever strange (to non-believers) religious rituals you want, as long as you aren't endangering the health of others while doing so. Sucking on a baby's penis wound would seem like risky behaviour to me -- and this is borne out in the fact that 3 babies contracted herpes from a Mohel as a result, and one of the babies subsequently died.

[spamuell]

this is borne out in the fact that 3 babies contracted herpes from a Mohel as a result, and one of the babies subsequently died

The article says that there's no proof that any of these three babies contracted herpies through Rabbi Fischer, it says, "Rabbi Fischer said through Mr. Kurzmann that the twin who died and the Staten Island boy both had herpes-like rashes before they were circumcised."

Of course it would be in his interest to say this. But, it should certainly be proven that herpes can be generated even with the precautions that mohelim take before performing circumcision before it's prohibited. And even then, surely it would make more sense to legislate that mohelim need to have regular tests to ensure that they are not carrying herpes or other diseases, rather than outlawing metzizah b'peh altogether?

[InchoateHand]

babah-zitzer!

[djj6835]

[ QUOTE ]
um, freedom of religion?


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I don't care about freedom of religion if you are putting someone's life at risk. Some things are just more important than others and protecting freedom of religion is not more important than protecting a childs life.

I can't go out a kill someone and then argue that human sacrifice is part of my religion. I realize this is an exaggeration but you get the idea.

[Dave G.]

Religion sucks. Sucking a babies dick sucks even more. Giving that baby herpes and killing it is inexcusable.

I don't care if people want to practice their stupid disgusting religious bullshit, but spreading disease and killing babies is not kewl. It's time for these morons to wise up and join the rest of us in the 21st century.