Abortion is an issue of relgious rights

What happened to Americans' constitutional right to freedom of religion? The original 13 colonies were settled by persons fleeing religious persecution in Europe and seeking religious freedom here. That's why the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights is freedom of religion.

Gun owners cite their Second Amendment right to own a gun to justify their opposition to laws regulating guns. Why aren't pro-choice adherents citing their First Amendment right to freedom from religion - to choose?

The recent passage of anti-abortion laws in many Republican-controlled states reflects conservative Christians' and Catholics' religious beliefs and the control those beliefs have over legislation in those states. When Gov. Ivey of Alabama signed the law there, she said it reflected Alabamians' belief that "every life is precious ... and is a sacred gift from God."

While 60% of Americans believe abortions should be legal through the 1st trimester [the first 12 weeks], the 37% of Americans who think they should be illegal in all or most cases are imposing their religious belief on the vast majority, restricting the majority's right to act in accordance with their personal beliefs.

For the 76% of Democrats, 60% of Independents, 74% of those without any religious affiliation or belief, for the 51% of Catholics (and others) who don't agree with their denomination's espoused belief, for agnostics and atheists without religious beliefs, their individual right to freedom from religion is negated by these laws.

Our democracy is built on majority rule. In many states, the majority of Americans' right to believe in and/or act on their right to choose is now being denied in favor of a minority religiously based belief prohibiting it. To let this become the law of the land, or even of certain states, would be a major blow to our democracy.

J. Alberti

Aurora