Circumcision dispute heads to Oregon Supreme Court
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A dispute over whether the 12-year-old son of divorced parents should undergo circumcision he may not want will be decided by the Oregon Supreme Court.
James Boldt sought the procedure for his son after Boldt converted to Judaism.
But his ex-wife, Lia Boldt, claims her son is afraid to tell his father that he does not want it.
Lower courts have sided with the father, who is the custodial parent.
Boldt claims his son converted to Judaism understanding that he needed to be circumcised.
He also claims that custodial parent has a right to raise his son in his religion.
Lia Boldt persuaded a Jackson County judge in 2004 to initially block the procedure. The judge later sided with the father, but ordered him to wait until the appeals were done.
The Oregon Court of Appeals rejected Lia Boldt's request without an opinion, an indication her appeal was considered groundless.
Circumcising adults or teens remains relatively rare.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
James Boldt sought the procedure for his son after Boldt converted to Judaism.
But his ex-wife, Lia Boldt, claims her son is afraid to tell his father that he does not want it.
Lower courts have sided with the father, who is the custodial parent.
Boldt claims his son converted to Judaism understanding that he needed to be circumcised.
He also claims that custodial parent has a right to raise his son in his religion.
Lia Boldt persuaded a Jackson County judge in 2004 to initially block the procedure. The judge later sided with the father, but ordered him to wait until the appeals were done.
The Oregon Court of Appeals rejected Lia Boldt's request without an opinion, an indication her appeal was considered groundless.
Circumcising adults or teens remains relatively rare.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)