PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - C A J Coady TI - Religious meddling: a comment on Skene and Parker AID - 10.1136/jme.28.4.221 DP - 2002 Aug 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - 221--222 VI - 28 IP - 4 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/28/4/221.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/28/4/221.full SO - J Med Ethics2002 Aug 01; 28 AB - The question of churches resorting to the courts to influence public policy is one that concerns the appropriate role of the courts and the appropriate conduct of religious authorities. I agree with Skene and Parker that there is no principled legal reason to exclude such interventions out of hand; but my comments are principally addressed to the political and religious reasons for being rightly concerned about such activity. These advert both to the nature of the liberal democratic compromise and to the nature and scope of religious authority (at least within Christianity).