Conscience Wars in the Americas
No. 5 (2020-08-01)Author(s)
-
Douglas NeJaimeYale Law School (United States)
-
Reva SiegelYale Law School (United States)
Abstract
Across the globe, public and private actors are now invoking conscience as a ground for objecting to laws or judicial decisions that confer on citizens reproductive and LGBT rights. Conscience claims in culture-war conflicts over reproduction and sexuality differ from paradigmatic religious accommodation claims, where an individual from a minority faith seeks to engage in ritual observance or religiously-motivated dress that runs afoul of generally applicable laws. Accommodation of culture-war conscience claims may inflict significant harms on other citizens and impose older, traditional views on citizens whose rights the law only recently has come to protect.
Our intervention is practical and critical. We offer guidance on accommodation, showing how government might promote pluralism by accommodating objectors while protecting citizens who may be affected. We suggest that when government accommodates conscience in a framework that does not preserve the other citizens’ rights, government may be employing accommodation to create a de facto public order favoring objectors’ beliefs.
References
“Alberto Duque v. Colombia”, ADF International, February 26, 2016, https://adfinternational.org/legal/alberto-duque-v-colombia/;
“Constitutional Challenge against Colombia’s Laws on Same-Sex Couple Adoption, ADF International, February 18, 2015, https://adfinternational.org/legal/constitutional-challenge-against-colombias-laws-on-same-sex-couple-adoption/
“Diputada Norma Edith Martínez Guzmán. PES. Iniciativa que adiciona el artículo 10-bis a la Ley General de Salud” Canal del Congreso. El Canal de la Unión, November 4, 2015, https://www.canaldelcongreso.gob.mx/vod/reproducir/0_pko3maov/Diputada_Norma_Edith_Martinez_Guzman._PES
“Hay mucho dinero y presión en Latinoamérica para imponer el aborto”, Portaluz.org, January 1, 2016, https://www.portaluz.org/articulo.asp?idarticulo=1533
“HHS Releases Final Title X Rule Detailing Family Planning Grant Program”, HHS.org, February 22, 2019, https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2019/02/22/hhs-releases-final-title-x-rule-detailing-family-planning-grant-program.html.
“Matrimonio gay: impulsan proyectos a favor de la objeción de conciencia en algunas provincias”, La Nación, August 3, 2010, https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/matrimonio-gay-impulsan-proyectos-a-favor-de-la-objecion-de-conciencia-en-algunas-provincias-nid1290869
“Mexico Supreme Court upholds pro-life amendments”, Alliance Defending Freedom. For faith. For Justice, May 3, 2013,, http://www.adflegal.org/detailspages/press-release-details/mexico-supreme-court-upholds-pro-life-amendments.
“Mission,” Americans United for Life, April 7, 2019, https://aul.org/about/
“Perfil del legislador: Martínez Guzmán, Norma Edith por la LXIII Legislatura”, Sistema de Información Legislativa, http://sil.gobernacion.gob.mx/Librerias/pp_PerfilLegislador.php?Referencia=9219776.
“Promueve PAN-DF objeción de conciencia entre médicos de Xoco”, El Universal, May 9, 2007, https://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/423910.html
“Reforman diputados Ley General de Salud, para Establecer la Objeción de Conciencia de Personal Médico y Enfermeras del Sistema Nacional de Salud, Nota n° 8015”, Cámara de Diputados H. Congreso de Unión, 2017), http://www5.diputados.gob.mx/index.php/esl/Comunicacion/Agencia-de-Noticias/2017/10-Octubre/10/8015-Reforman-diputados-Ley-General-de-Salud-para-establecer-la-objecion-de-conciencia-de-personal-medico-y-enfermeras-del-Sistema-Nacional-de-Salud
“The Americas”, ADF International, https://adfinternational.org/regions/the-americas/
138 S. Ct. 1719, 1732 (2018)
Abortloven 13 juni 1975 nr. 50, ch. II, § 20; ch. III, § 18;
F.A.L. s/ Medida Autosatisfactiva, Judicial Consideration N° 29 (March 13, 2012).
Acción Católica Mexicana. “Circular: 2011-9 Asunto: Mexicanos por la vida de todos”, Accion Catolica Queretaro, May 17, 2011, https://accioncatolicaqueretaro.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/circular-2011-9-asunto-mexicanos-por-la-vida-de-todos/.
ADF International, Universal Periodic Review - Third Cycle, Submission to the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group, January 2019, Geneva, Switzerland (Dominican Republic).
ADF International, Universal Periodic Review – Third Cycle, Submission to the 30th session of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group May 2018, Geneva, Switzerland (Mexico)
Alegre, Marcelo. “Conscious Oppression: Conscientious Objection in the Sphere of Sexual and Reproductive Health”, in Controversies in Latin American Bioethics, edited by EduardoRivera-López & MartinHevia. (Cham: Springer, 2019).
Americans United for Life Healthcare Freedom of Conscience Act: Model Legislation and Policy Guide for the 2014 Legislative Year, (Americans United for Life, 2013).
Americans United for Life, Mississippi 2014 Report Card (Americans United for Life, w.d
Anderson, Ryan T. “Marriage: Where Do We Go From Here?,” National Review, May 22, 2014, www.nationalreview.com/article/378538/marriage-where-do-we-go-here-ryan-t-anderson;
Appellant Kim Davis’s Emergency Motion for Immediate Consideration and Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal at 7–8, Miller v. Davis, No. 15–5961 (6th Cir. Sept. 7, 2015).
Associated Press. “Mississippi’s New ‘Heartbeat’ Law Bans Most Abortions at 6 Weeks”, NBC News, March 21, 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mississippi-s-new-heartbeat-law-bans-most-abortions-6-weeks-n986021
Bull v. Hall, [2013] UKSC 73, [34].
Camhaji, Elías. “El Congreso allana el terreno para la objeción de conciencia en México”, El País, March 23, 2018, https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/03/23/mexico/1521833903_084196.html
Catholic Health Care in the United States, Cath. Health Ass’n U.S. (Jan. 2014).
Christian Medical & Dental Soc of Canada v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario [2019], 2019 ONCA 393, ¶ 2, ¶ 116 (Can. Ont. C.A.).
Ciobanu, Claudia “How the ‘Natural Family’ Movement Brought Its War of Values to the Balkins”, The Nation, November 21, 2018, https://www.thenation.com/article/gender-ideology-right-wing-balkans/
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation 24, para 11, Women and Health (Twentieth session, 1999), U.N. Doc. A/54/38 at 5 (1999), reprinted in Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations Adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies, U.N. Doc. HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6 at 271 (2003).
Congreso de la Nación Argentina. Ley 26,618 (2010).
Congreso Nacional de Chile. Ley No. 21.030 (August 2017).
Constitutional Tribunal, Decision no. 3729 (3751)–17–CPT, Aug 28, 2017, Paragraph 135,
Corte Constitucional. Sentencia T-388 del 2009.
Corte Constitucional. Sentencia T-627 del 2012.
Corte Constitutional, Sentencia C-355 del 2006.
Director del Servicio de Salud Metropolitano Sur c/ Mirla Isasmendi Cartagena-Javier Fuentealba Reinoso, Court of Appeals of San Miguel, May 22, 2004, case no. 123-2004
Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990).
Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Fifth Edition, U.S. Conf. Cath. Bishops (Nov. 17, 2009).
European Parliamentary Association, “Women’s Access to Lawful Medical Care: The Problem of Unregulated Use of Conscientious Objection,” Doc. No. 12347 (July 20, 2010): 11
Eweida and Others v. United Kingdom, Nos. 48420/10, 59842/10, 51671/10, 46516/10, (Eur. Ct. H. R. 2013);
EWTN espanol. “Cara A Cara: “Derechos” gay y Libertad Religiosa - Lic. Sofia Martinez Agraz”, YouTube, November 22, 2017, [min. 6], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khQZaGjzIy8
Fisher, AnthonyCatholic Bioethics for a New Millennium (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011)
Gire. “Objeción de conciencia, no para todo”, Animal Político (blog), March 26, 2018, https://www.animalpolitico.com/blogueros-punto-gire/2018/03/26/objecion-de-conciencia-no-para-todo/.
Girgis, Sherif. “Nervous Victors, Illiberal Measures: A Response to Douglas NeJaime and Reva Siegel”, Yale Law Journal Forum, nº 125, (2016), 399, 407 http://www.yalelawjournal.org/forum/nervous-victors-illiberal-measures
Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board v. Doogan, [2014] UKSC 68.
Grisez, Germain. The Way of the Lord Jesus, Vol. 3, “Difficult Moral Questions” (St. Paul’s/Alba House 1997): 871–97.
Häring, Bernard. The Law of Christ: Moral Theology for Priests and Laity, Vol. 2, “Special Moral Theology” (Cork: Mercier Press, 1963)
Health Code, article 119 ter, paragraph three (Chile).
Health Programs Extension Act of 1973, Pub. L. No. 93-45, § 401(b)-(c), 87 Stat. 91, 95; Minn. Stat. Ann. § 145.414 (1974); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4731.91 (1974).
Holt v. Hobbs, 135 S. Ct. 853, 856–57 (2015).
Kacsmaryk, Matthew. “The Inequality Act: Weaponizing Same-Sex Marriage,” Public Discourse, September 4, 2015, www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/09/15612/.
Kaveny, Cathleen. Law’s Virtues: Fostering Autonomy and Solidarity in American Society (Georgetwon University Press, 2012)
Lee v. McArthur & Others, [2016] NICA 39.
Legge 22 maggio 1974, n. 194, G.U. May 22, 1975, n.140 (It.);
Ley General de Salud, Article 10 Bis.
Miss. H.B. No. 1523 (2016) (“The Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act”).
Miss. H.B. No. 1523, § 2 (2016)
Multani v. Comm’n Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Sup. Ct. Canada [2006] 1 S.C.R. 256
NeJaime, Douglas & Reva B.Siegel. “Religious Accommodation, and Its Limits, in a Pluralist Society”, in Religious Freedom, LGBT Rights, and the Prospects for Common Ground, edited by William N.EskridgeJr. & Robin fretwellWilson (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018), 69.
NeJaime, Douglas & RevaSiegel, “What Masterpiece Cakeshop is Really About”, Take Care (blog), December 6, 2017), https://takecareblog.com/blog/what-masterpiece-cakeshop-is-really-about.
NeJaime, Douglas & RevaSiegel. “Religious Exemptions and Antidiscrimination Law in Masterpiece Cakeshop”, Yale Law Journal Forum, n° 128, (2018), 201, https://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/NeJaimeSiegel_t7ffwsct.pdf
NeJaime, Douglas and Reva B.Siegel, “Conscience Wars: Conscience Claims in Religion and Politics,” Yale Law Journal, nº 124(7), (2015): 2582, https://www.yalelawjournal.org/feature/complicity-based-conscience-claims
Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S.Ct. 2584 (2015).
Ortiz Millán, Gustavo “Aborto y Objeción de Conciencia”, in Bioética laica. Vida, Muerte, Género, Reproducción y Familia, edited by PaulineCapdevielle & Maríade Jesús Medina Arellano. (México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas, 2018).)
Ortiz-Millán, Gustavo. “Abortion and conscientious objection: rethinking conflicting rights in the Mexican context”, Global Bioethics, n° 29(1), (2017), 2. Doi: 10.1080/11287462.2017.1411224
“Otra Del Ministro Varela: Mineduc Contrata Como Jefe Jurídico A Fundador De ONG Anti LGTB”, El Mostrador, April 30, 2018, https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2018/04/30/otra-del-ministro-varela-mineduc-contrata-como-jefe-juridico-a-fundador-de-ong-anti-lgtb/
Palacios González, César “Un concienzudo regalo para los conservadores”, Animal Político (blog), March 29, 2018, https://www.animalpolitico.com/blogueros-blog-invitado/2018/03/29/un-concienzudo-regalo-para-los-conservadores/
PamelaGutiérrez, “Invitaciones A Un AUC Homosexual Enfrentan A Imprenta Y Al Sernac”, El Mercurio, April 21, 2017, page C8.
Panicola, Michael R. & Ronald P.Hamel, “Conscience, Cooperation, and Full Disclosure: Can Catholic Health Care Providers Disclose “Prohibited Options” to Patients Following Genetic Testing?”, Health Progress, n° 87(1)(2006), 52-59.
“Pareja Homosexual Se Querelló Contra Imprenta Por Negarse A Hacer Invitaciones Para Su Unión Civil”, Cooperativa, September 25, 2015, https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/sociedad/minorias-sexuales/pareja-homosexual-se-querello-contra-imprenta-por-negarse-a-hacer/2015-09-25/151405.html
Provost, Claire & MaryFitzgerald, “Revealed: Trump-Linked US Christian ‘Fundamentalists’ Pour Millions of ‘Dar Money’ into Europe, Boosting the Far Right”, Open Democracy, March 27, 2019, https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/revealed-trump-linked-us-christian-fundamentalists-pour-millions-of-dark-money-into-europe-boosting-the-far-right/2.
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 884 F.3d 560 (6th Cir. 2018), cert. granted, 203 L.Ed.2d 754 (U.S. 2019)
Resolution N° 843 (Santa Fe 2010) (Argentina); Resolution N° 933 (Mendoza 2011) (Argentina); Health Code, article 119 ter, paragraph one (Chile).
Ruibal, Alba. “Movement and Counter-Movement: A History of Abortion Law Reform and the Backlash in Colombia 2006-2014,” Reproductive Health Matters, n° 22(44), (2014): 42-51, at 45–6., https://doi.org/10.1016/s0968-8080(14)44803-1
Sentencia Tribunal Constitucional (S.T.C.), July 7, 2015 (S.T.C., No. 52) (Spain).
Siegel, Reva & DouglasNeJaime. “Conscience and the Culture Wars,” American Prospect, n° 26(2) (2015): 70-73, http://prospect.org/article/conscience-and-culture wars
Siegel, Reva & DouglasNeJaime. “Conscience Wars in Transnational Perspective: Religious Liberty, Third-Party Harm, and Pluralism”, in The Conscience Wars: Rethinking the Balance between Religion, Identity, and Equality, edited by SusanaMancini & MichelRosenfeld (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018).
Siegel, Reva B. “‘The Rule of Love’: Wife Beating as Prerogative and Privacy,” Yale Law Journal, nº 105 (1996): 2117-2207, at 2119
Siegel, Reva B. & Neil S.Siegel, “Compelling Interests and Contraception”, Connecticut Law Review, n° 47(4), (2015), 1025, 1028.
Siegel, Reva. “Why Equal Protection No Longer Protects: The Evolving Forms of Status-Enforcing State Action,” Stanford Law Review, n° 49 (1997): 1111-48, at 1113.
Sundhedsloven, LBK nr. 546 af 25/6/2005 [Danish Health Act, Law No. 546 of June 25, 2005].
Vaggione, Juan Marco. “Sexuality, Religion and Politics in Latin America”, in Sexuality and Politics: Regional Dialogues from the Global South, Vol. 1, edited by SoniaCorrêa, Rafaelde la Dehesa & RichardParker. (Brazil: Sexuality Policy Watch), 136, 145-46.
Vaggione, Juan Marco. “The Politics of Camouflage: Conscientious Objection as a Strategy of the Catholic Church, States of Devotion”, Hemispheric Institute, April 26, 2014, https://hemisphericinstitute.org/en/emisferica-13-1-states-of-devotion/13-1-dossier/the-politics-of-camouflage-conscientious-objection-as-a-strategy-of-the-catholic-church.html
Zubik v. Burwell, 136 S.Ct. 1557 (2016).
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Douglas NeJaime, Reva Siegel

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.