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Exemptions from legal requirements, especially religious exemptions, have been a major topic of political debate in recent years. For example, bakers in various states have sought the right to refuse to make wedding cakes for gay and lesbian couples, despite the Supreme Court's validation of same-sex marriage. Many parents are granted exemptions from vaccinating their children, despite public health laws requiring otherwise. Various religious organizations as well as some corporations have sought an exemption from the requirement to provide contraceptive coverage in employee healthcare plans, as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Religious exemptions have a long history in the United States, but they remain controversial. Exemptions release some people from following laws that everyone else must follow, raising questions of fairness, and exemptions often privilege religious belief, raising concerns about equal treatment. At the same time there are good reasons to support exemptions, such as respect for the right of religious freedom and preventing religious organizations from becoming too closely intertwined with government.The essays in this volume represent valuable contributions to the complex debate about exemptions from legal requirements. In particular, they contribute to the moral dimensions of religious exemptions. These essays go beyond legal analysis about which exemptions are constitutionally appropriate, and ask instead when religious exemptions are morally required or morally prohibited.
This volume investigates the moral legitimacy and ethical boundaries of granting religious exemptions from generally applicable legal requirements. The authors, Michael Weber and Kevin Vallier, curate a collection of essays that shift the focus from constitutional jurisprudence to normative ethics. By examining specific cases such as vaccine mandates, contraceptive coverage, and service refusals, the text evaluates when religious exemptions are morally obligatory versus when they are prohibited by broader societal interests.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of political philosophy frequently cite this collection as a balanced resource for navigating the intersection of moral theory and public policy. Experts highlight the text for its ability to move beyond standard legal analysis to address the underlying ethical tensions inherent in pluralistic societies.
Page Count:
324
Publication Date:
2018-01-12
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190666188
ISBN-13:
9780190666187
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