Letters: When sacred oxen are gored
Re “Vaccinations, not scare tactics,” Editorial, Feb. 27
As The Times says, religious beliefs should not legitimize acts contrary to the compelling societal interest of improving public health with vaccines.
Religion-rooted controversies lately have arisen largely due to the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. This law was prompted by legitimate concern over federal infringement on Native American religious practices. However, opportunistic members of Congress decided to go further.
Thus, the law’s enactment inspired 18 states to adopt similar statutes. In so doing, they stacked the legal deck to favor religious majorities in litigation between parties whose beliefs clash.
The federal law and state statutes should be repealed or invalidated. Trying to legislate deference to religion is pure folly. The same goes for enabling endless courtroom battles over whose sacred ox should be gored.
Edward Alston
Santa Maria
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