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Full-Text Articles in Law

Saving Roe Is Not Enough: When Religion Controls Healthcare, Susan Berke Fogel, Lourdes A. Rivera Jan 2004

Saving Roe Is Not Enough: When Religion Controls Healthcare, Susan Berke Fogel, Lourdes A. Rivera

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article advocates for legislative action against the "religious exemptions" or "conscience clauses" used by religiously-affiliated healthcare facilities, particular in the context of refusing abortion, sterilization, and other reproductive health services. Among other recommendations, the authors call for religious exemptions on the individual rather than institutional level; that the religious exemption be disallowed in rural areas or situations where reasonable alternatives are unavailable; and a requirement that complete, medically accurate information be made available regardless of a religious exemption.


The Abortion Debate Thirty Years Later: From Choice To Coercion, Maureen Kramlich Jan 2004

The Abortion Debate Thirty Years Later: From Choice To Coercion, Maureen Kramlich

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article critiques the notion of abortion as a "positive liberty." The author argues that the court's holding in Roe v. Wade created a negative right to abortion, meaning that an individual seeking an abortion is merely protected from government interference. Over time, "pro-abortion" advocates have sought a positive right to access an abortion, including government funding. The author finds this position problematic and outside the scope of Roe, particularly as it erodes religious healthcare providers' right to refuse to perform the procedure.


Religious Values, Legal Ethics, And Poverty Law: A Response To Thomas Shaffer, Stephen Wizner Jan 2003

Religious Values, Legal Ethics, And Poverty Law: A Response To Thomas Shaffer, Stephen Wizner

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Stephen Wizner provides a response to Thomas Shaffer's article on his pursuit of social justice through using religious figures as role models. Wizner argues that Shaffer is clearly right in asserting that there is much in the prophetic literature, and, indeed, in the entire Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, that could serve as a moral impetus for social justice lawyering. One can find considerable support for Shaffer's religious thesis in the texts that he cites, and in the words of the prophets he looks to as role models. Nevertheless, Wizner presents a skeptical response to Professor Shaffer's thoughtful essay. …


"Forgive Me Victim For I Have Sinned": Why Repentance And The Criminal Justice System Do Not Mix - A Lesson From Jewish Law, Cheryl G. Bader Jan 2003

"Forgive Me Victim For I Have Sinned": Why Repentance And The Criminal Justice System Do Not Mix - A Lesson From Jewish Law, Cheryl G. Bader

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This essay will critique the Georgia Justice Project's encouragement of confessions in the context of the secular American justice system via comparison with the treatment of confessions under ancient Jewish law. Specifically, this essay posits that the absolute prohibition on the use of confessions in a legal system firmly rooted in religious values recognizes the danger inherent in combining the act of speaking of one's sins for religious penance with the use of such confessions in the criminal adjudication process. The Jewish legal system avoids these inherent dangers by completely devaluing the accused's confession. The GJP, in contrast, merges the …


The Biblical Prophets As Lawyers For The Poor, Thomas L. Shaffer Jan 2003

The Biblical Prophets As Lawyers For The Poor, Thomas L. Shaffer

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Lawyers practicing poverty law often lack mentors and role models. This author discusses how biblical figures, who served poor people, could be mentors and role models for lawyers practicing poverty law. Prophets, and particularly prophets-as-lawyers, redefine power relationships. Shaffer discusses his personal journey through out his career in using religious guidance to help him better understand his career. He also discuss his teachings to his law students of the value of learning from prophets in their legal careers.


The Role Of A Lawyer's Morals And Religion When Counseling Clients In Bioethics, Joseph Allegretti Jan 2002

The Role Of A Lawyer's Morals And Religion When Counseling Clients In Bioethics, Joseph Allegretti

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article examines how a lawyer may handle conflicts that arise when counseling clients on bioethics issues. Through an exploration of three standard client counseling models - authoritarian, client-centered and collaborative - the author presents suggestions on how to handle a conflict between the lawyer's own moral and religious values and the choices available to the client. The author suggests that lawyers are not barred from incorporating their own values as long as they communicate that decision to the client.


Toward Epistemic Justice: A Response To Professor Goldberg, Dominic J. Balestra Jan 2002

Toward Epistemic Justice: A Response To Professor Goldberg, Dominic J. Balestra

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article is a response to Steven Goldberg's article and lecture "Religious Contributions to the Bioethics Debate: Utilizing Legal Rights while Avoiding Scientific Temptations," 30 Fordham Urb. L.J., 35 (2002) (available at http://new.fordhamj.org/demonstration/dc/v30/13_30FordhamUrbLJ35(2002-2003).pdf). The author argues that the question is not the place of values in a world of fact, but the place of facts in a world of values.


Catholic Teaching And The Law Concerning The New Reproductive Technologies, Helen M. Alvare Jan 2002

Catholic Teaching And The Law Concerning The New Reproductive Technologies, Helen M. Alvare

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article sets forth the fundamental teachings from which the Roman Catholic Chruch derives its positions on New Reproductive Technologies (NRTs). It further demonstrates the application of these teachings to some of the specific medical techniques commonly used in the course of NRTs. The Church's legislative recommendations are then summarized.


The Islamic Viewpoint On New Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Hossam E. Fadel Jan 2002

The Islamic Viewpoint On New Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Hossam E. Fadel

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article gives a brief overview of Islamic views on assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Islamic law is applied to ARTs to determine what may be lawful and/or moral and what may be impermissible. The article examines artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy and cloning.


Protestant Perspectives On Informed Consent (Particularly In Research Involving Human Participants), James F. Childress Jan 2002

Protestant Perspectives On Informed Consent (Particularly In Research Involving Human Participants), James F. Childress

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article examines Protestant positions on informed consent/refusal regarding the use of human subjects in research. Primarily focusing on the work of Paul Ramsey, a Protestant scholar in science and ethics, the article describes the relationship between the God-man covenant and man-to-man covenants and the consequences thereof. Exploring the line between what Ramsey calls "charity" and "justice," the article finds differences between therapeutic and nontherapeutic research and who may participate with or without consent.


Informed Consent Without Autonomy, Daniel P. Sulmasy Jan 2002

Informed Consent Without Autonomy, Daniel P. Sulmasy

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay explains why and how the Roman Catholic basis for informed consent is different from the secular basis. It argues that the Catholic basis, which is rooted in "natural law," is the better model for society to adopt. The author explains that the secular view is rooted in the belief that patient autonomy must never be violated but the Catholic view is based on human dignity, which simply requires doctors to allow patients to exercise their free will within moral limits. This view allows doctors to override patients' decisions if those decisions are morally wrong or irrational.


The Physician's Conscience, Conscience Clauses, And Religious Belief: A Catholic Perspective, Edmund D. Pellegrino Jan 2002

The Physician's Conscience, Conscience Clauses, And Religious Belief: A Catholic Perspective, Edmund D. Pellegrino

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay explores how physicians may handle conflicts of conscience facing Roman Catholic health practitioners regarding "human life" issues, especially through conscience clauses. In five parts, the author examines "first, why conscientious objection is so important in our day; second, the moral grounding for freedom in the exercise of conscience; third, the components of the physician's conscience; fourth, specific conflicts of conscience for Catholic physicians and institutions; and fifth, competing models of conflict resolution."


Religious Teachings And Reflections On Advance Directive - Religious Values And Legal Dilemmas In Bioethics: An Islamic Perspective, Faroque A. Khan Jan 2002

Religious Teachings And Reflections On Advance Directive - Religious Values And Legal Dilemmas In Bioethics: An Islamic Perspective, Faroque A. Khan

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay analyses Islamic law and attempts to apply it to issues surrounding end-of-life care. The author concludes that Islam allows physicians to withdraw life-sustaining technologies if there is no hope for a cure, in the effort to prevent prolonged suffering.


Response To Avery Cardinal Dulles, John D. Feerick Jan 2002

Response To Avery Cardinal Dulles, John D. Feerick

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Dean Feerick responds to Avery Cardinal Dulles's essay and lecture "Catholic Social Teaching and American Legal Practice," 30 Fordham Urb. L.J., 277 (2002) (available at http://new.fordhamj.org/demonstration/dc/v30/27_30FordhamUrbLJ277(2002-2003).pdf). He expands upon the application of Catholic teachings to legal practice and highlights Fordham Law's implementation of those ideals.


Catholic Social Teaching And American Legal Practice: A Practical Response, Jennifer M. Mone Jan 2002

Catholic Social Teaching And American Legal Practice: A Practical Response, Jennifer M. Mone

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The author responds to Avery Cardinal Dulles's essay and lecture "Catholic Social Teaching and American Legal Practice," Fordham Urb. L.J., 277 (2002) (available at http://new.fordhamj.org/demonstration/dc/v30/27_30FordhamUrbLJ277(2002-2003).pdf). She provides a practical perspective on the applications of Catholic social teachings to the practice of law. She concludes that Catholic teachings and law intersect in two areas: in the lawyer's discretion and in the lawyer's professional interactions with others.


Religious Contributions To The Bioethics Debate: Utilizing Legal Rights While Avoiding Scientific Temptations, Steven Goldberg Jan 2002

Religious Contributions To The Bioethics Debate: Utilizing Legal Rights While Avoiding Scientific Temptations, Steven Goldberg

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article explores the authors views on the place of religious debate concerning scientific issues. It outlines the author's concerns with religion becoming overshadowed by science, even within relgious communities, and his ideas on how religion may be brought to the forefront.


Protestant Perspectives On The Uses Of The New Reproductive Technologies, Cynthia B. Cohen Jan 2002

Protestant Perspectives On The Uses Of The New Reproductive Technologies, Cynthia B. Cohen

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article explores the emerging positions that Protestants may have on new reproductive technologies (NRTs). Although there is no central teaching, there are main points of agreement among Protestants and other Christians regarding the morality of using reproductive technology. The author examines Protestant teachings on the meaning of procreation, the good of the resulting children and the integrity of family bonds to show that these technologies are generally morally acceptable, but with certain limitations.


Dialogue On The Practice Of Law And Spiritual Values, James F. Henry, Joseph Allegretti, Robert A. Baruch Bush, Dr. Sarah Cobb Jan 2001

Dialogue On The Practice Of Law And Spiritual Values, James F. Henry, Joseph Allegretti, Robert A. Baruch Bush, Dr. Sarah Cobb

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This dialogue focuses on the relationship between religious/moral values and the various methods employed to resolve legal conflicts, with a primary focus on alternative dispute resolution techniques. General topics touched on include the intangible benefits of ADR (such as better relationships, transformative potential, and the effectiveness of apology) and new moral/ethical problems involved with practicing ADR. Joseph Allegretti explores two questions: (1) why Christianity provides a theoretical justification for ADR, and (2) what a Christian approach to ADR might look like. In an essay exploring the Jewish perspective on ADR, Robert Baruch Bush analyzes the Talmud's explicit preference for judges …


Teaching Jewish Law In American Law Schools: An Emerging Development In Law And Religion, Samuel J. Levine Jan 1999

Teaching Jewish Law In American Law Schools: An Emerging Development In Law And Religion, Samuel J. Levine

Fordham Urban Law Journal

There has been a "religious lawyering movement," where religion has gained increased prominence in the legal profession and academia. This essay discusses one aspect of the movement, Jewish law in the American law school curriculum. The author describes four models for courses teaching Jewish law in American law schools, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. The first model teaches Jewish law in comparative law. The course would compare and contrast the substantive areas of law in both Jewish and American law. The second model teaches Jewish law in international law. By focusing on the impact of Jewish law on Israel's legal …


Religion And The Public Defender, Sadiq Reza Jan 1999

Religion And The Public Defender, Sadiq Reza

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This essay argues that the public defender should not undertake, or fail to undertake, any action to the legal detriment of a client on the basis of a conflict the attorney perceives between religious and professional responsibility, except for imminent death or serious bodily harm to another. Having accepted the responsibility of representing indigent criminal defendants, the public defender is duty-bound to not compromise that responsibility for competing religious obligations. This argument rests on four premises: (1) the public defender occupies a unique position in our legal system, and options available to private interest lawyers or other clients should not …


The Spirit And The Law , Thomas W. Porter, Jr. Jan 1999

The Spirit And The Law , Thomas W. Porter, Jr.

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay asserts that the practice of law is experiencing a spiritual crisis at both the personal and professional level. The Essay seeks to determine the role that the crisis in our paradigms has played in the crisis our personal and institutional lives. Although the crisis in our paradigms are not necessarily responsible for all our problems, our institutions and systems can cause us to be estranged from ourselves and that is what is happening today in the practice of law. We, as a profession, are beginning to see the limitations of our old paradigm, with retributive justice as its …


Can A Religious Person Be A Big Firm Litigator? , Amelia J. Uelmen Jan 1999

Can A Religious Person Be A Big Firm Litigator? , Amelia J. Uelmen

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay takes on the challenge of describing some of the ways in which values often defined as "personal" or "religious" can be integrated into the practice of law at a large firm. Part I describes some of the aspects of big firm practice that make it particularly difficult to integrate religious and personal values which may give meaning to one's work. Part II suggests that such meaning can be found through a religious vision of what it means to be a person, which includes a sense of obligation to serve the common good. Part III explores how this concept …


Vocation As Curse, F. Giba-Matthews, Ofm Jan 1999

Vocation As Curse, F. Giba-Matthews, Ofm

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay argues that while legal work as a vocation may have positive effects for society as a whole, as well as overall benefits for the legal profession, vocation could very well hurt the lawyer "called" to take up such a vocation. A vocation is not simply the application of one's religious belieft to the practice of law; rather, it is a "burning fire" in a lawyer's soul which the lawyer "cannot contain." Thus, a lawyer's vocation becomes an overwhelming priority. Part I of this Essay provides an explanation of the biblical underpinnings of vocation through a discussion of the …


Honoring The Spirit In The Law: A Lawyer's Confession Of Faith, Melissa M. Weldon Jan 1999

Honoring The Spirit In The Law: A Lawyer's Confession Of Faith, Melissa M. Weldon

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay is a lawyer's public proclamation of her beliefs, using the words of her faith. She explains how her faith permeates through her daily life, and is even relevant to her profession as a lawyer.


A Plumber's Guide To Lawyering, Stephen P. Wink Jan 1999

A Plumber's Guide To Lawyering, Stephen P. Wink

Fordham Urban Law Journal

We accept as the natural way that some must lose if others are to win; that some must go hungry, while others eat fully. But, Jesus taught that there is a third way that can arrest the cycle of violence and domination. A way that strikes a chord at the core of beings so that we may fully hear and see the other person we are dealing with. This is what is sometimes called nonviolent resistance. It springs from a conversation with another -- beyond just talking -- but a dialogue of being with another on a one to one …


The Profession Of Religion And Law, Ted Dotts Jan 1999

The Profession Of Religion And Law, Ted Dotts

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This essay provides definitions for the terms "religion," "law" and "profession." The professional bears the power to bid forth -- to announce, command, tell, declare and make aware. Religion is the power to relate. Law is the power to regulate. The author concludes that religion and law are givens of human living. The question is not whether to have one or the other. The question is how we live with these realities.


A Lawyer's Mischellany: Scriptural Resources For Christian Lawyers, Joseph Allegretti Jan 1999

A Lawyer's Mischellany: Scriptural Resources For Christian Lawyers, Joseph Allegretti

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay provides resources for spiritual sustenance and to help bridge the gap between what one does as a lawyer and one professes as a Christian. The author provides a dozen passages from Scripture --some from the Hebrew Scriptures, some from the New Testament -- that the author found relevant to the life and work of Christian lawyers. After each quotation, the author includes a few comments to spark further reflection.


To Engage In Civil Practice As A Lawyer, James L. Nolan Jan 1999

To Engage In Civil Practice As A Lawyer, James L. Nolan

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Society can realize the justice it craves through virtuous lawyers doing their jobs well. In this context of the crucially important role lawyers play in society, the claimed spiritual crisis of the lawyer's professional bearings takes on greater concern. This Essay explores some of the dimensions of a spiritual crisis which lawyers now face and suggests how one might more effectively bridge the gap ebtween religious faith and legal practice to better serve clients and society.


Rethinking The Supreme Court's Hands-Off Approach To Questions Of Religious Practice And Belief, Samuel J. Levine Jan 1997

Rethinking The Supreme Court's Hands-Off Approach To Questions Of Religious Practice And Belief, Samuel J. Levine

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Part I of this Article discusses Supreme Court cases prior to 1981, in which the Court first expressed its hands-off approach to deciding questions of religious practice and belief. This Part suggests that in these decisions, as a result of a proper concern for religious autonomy, the Court already began the process of expanding the principle of judicial non-interference, at the cost of sacrificing effective adjudication of important constitutional issues. Part II of this Article critiques the Court's approach in Free Exercise Clause cases, identifying different problems that have arisen as a result of the Court's approach. This Part argues …


Placement Of Children In Religiously Affiliated Foster Care Held Not Violative Of Establishment Clause Where State Acts In Loco Parentis To Meet Free Excercise Rights Of Children. Wilder V. Sugarman, 385 F. Supp. 1013 (S.D.N.Y. 1974) (Per Curiam)., Richard F. Nacchio Jan 1975

Placement Of Children In Religiously Affiliated Foster Care Held Not Violative Of Establishment Clause Where State Acts In Loco Parentis To Meet Free Excercise Rights Of Children. Wilder V. Sugarman, 385 F. Supp. 1013 (S.D.N.Y. 1974) (Per Curiam)., Richard F. Nacchio

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The New York State Constitution provides for the assignment of foster children to "an institution or agency governed by persons, or in the custody of a person, of the same religious persuasion as the child." It likewise empowers the state to reimburse foster care institutions for the expense of caring for the children. Plaintiffs, six children for whom guardians were appointed, sought a declaratory judgment that provisions of the New York State Constitution and statutes implementing these constitutional provisions violate the first, eighth, and fourteenth amendments of the United States Constitution. Defendants were public agencies and officials responsible for the …