Moral beliefs are at the core of our system. I don't see where it divisive at all in a harmful way. I'd much rather see the question debated on moral grounds, rather than see the debate itself rejected as morally based.
Fine, argue the debate on your concept of morality.
But to demand that laws be codified/enacted based on your religious convictions goes against our constitutional principles, imo.
I agree with you, I never suggested that, however the moral argument is a legitimate one, though not necessarily one I agree with.
-jackson-
Thanks.. -- Its rare to arrive at ~any~ point of agreement on this type of thread. Too bad it doesn't happen more often.
Anyone here care to comment on why we can't agree on at least the constitutional principles involved, as above?
Do you still insist that status as human being is a constitutionally defineable notion? Are you still insisting that human personhood is a constitutionally defineable notion?... I'm not arguing that the Constitution defines citizenship, and I've not been arguing along religious lines, so if you're going to try such bait and switch, don't bother pinging me to your posts along such lines.
You are mixing two concepts - citizenship and the fact of being human. The species of an individual or an organism is not a Constitutional matter.
You are also making a false dilemma by asserting that the status of the human embryo as having the right to life is a Judeo-Christian moral and that, as such, it "goes against our constitutional principles."
From the Supreme Court of New Jersey, "IN THE MATTER OF KAREN QUINLAN, AN ALLEGED INCOMPETENT"
http://academic.udayton.edu/LawrenceUlrich/quinlan.htm
""n1 The importance of the preservation of life is memorialized in various organic documents. The Declaration of Independence states as self-evident truths "that all men * * * are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This ideal is inherent in the Constitution of the United States. It is explicitly recognized in our Constitution of 1947 which provides for "certain natural and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life * * *." N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, par. 1. Our State government is established to protect such rights, N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, par. 2, and, acting through the Attorney General (N.J.S.A. 52:17A-4(h)), it enforces them.""