Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Tennessee

me and my girlfriend just had ababy i am amuslim and she is christin what riligin does the baby follows by the law?


Asked on 11/15/11, 9:16 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

The law says nothing about your child's religion. Any law that tried to do so would violate the First Amendment. You and your girlfriend will have to decide this on your own.

Read more
Answered on 11/15/11, 9:22 pm
John Mitchell Interaction Law

Mr. Hoffman and I may be in general agreement, but I would put it differently, as the law has plenty to say about your child's religion. The First Amendment essentially declares that your child is free to exercise any religion the child chooses, or none at all, free of government compulsion, suppression or favoritism. (The government "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.") As a non-legal matter, I don't think you or the mother can decide for the child what religion it will follow. You may decide which one you want to lead the child toward. There is nothing wrong with exposing the child to both faiths, thereby giving the child a stronger base of knowledge and experience from which to make its own independent choice at the appropriate time.

Read more
Answered on 11/15/11, 9:31 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Mr. Mitchell is right that neither parent can force any religion upon a child. But parents can decide which religion(s) the child should be brought up in. That is what my answer was about. The child is free to choose a different religion or to abandon religion altogether if she wants.

Read more
Answered on 11/16/11, 10:48 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Constitutional Law questions and answers in Tennessee