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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Bias, or perhaps I should say, a predisposition, to adopt a certain philosophical approach to legal issues may be shaped by private values that we trust and hold dear. In light of the Supreme Court decision supporting the Hobby Lobby owners refusal to provide forms of birth control they claim to be at odds with their religious beliefs, I wondered if the court was persuaded not by legal arguments but by their own religious affiliations. Were any of the five male justices associated with religious groups that uphold the doctrine of patriarchy, i.e., do they attend churches that deny women ministerial or priesthood roles. Guess what? Justice Roberts, Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, and Justice Alito are Roman Catholic. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> In contrast, when the decision concerning Roe v Wade was announced in 1973 eight of the nine male justices were members of main stream Protestant churches. There may or may not be a direct correlation between religion affiliation and legal opinions, but it is my firm belief that unearned gender privilege nurtured in the cradle, and deferred to in the church certainly creates an atmosphere that celebrates and bestows unique privilege for male members. And, what could possibly more be patriarchal than controlling women’s reproductive choices?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rose Huskey<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>