Texas’ law banning most abortions after six weeks might be upended by maybe the most unexpected organization of all, people who worship Satan.
The Satanic Temple has created a “religious abortion ritual” that they say will get trampled on given the state laws enacted this past May that blocks abortions at six weeks after a baby’s heartbeat can be heard.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act does generally stop government involvement in an American’s religion and 21 states have created such laws, including Texas. One news worthy case was the Supreme Court case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. that found that the craft store was not bound to pay the insurance bill for contraceptive services as it directly conflicted with the group’s Christian beliefs that life starts at conception and to do this would break that belief.
The Satanic Temple has jumped to the defense of liberals in supporting abortion, slamming the new law through social media and saying that they will give the Satanic Abortion Ritual in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
TST stands ready to assist any member who shares our deeply-held religious convictions regarding the right to reproductive freedom. Accordingly, we encourage any member who resides in TX and wishes to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy(1/3)
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) September 3, 2021
to contact The Satanic Temple so we may help them fight this law directly. SB8 does not allow for lawsuits or enforcement of penalties against a woman seeking an abortion. (2/3)
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) September 3, 2021
Instead, SB8 is cynically designed to avoid judicial review of the law and creates enforcement mechanisms against TST and its lawyers who dare challenge the law. We will not be cowed into silence by an unjust law or a tyrannical state government. (3/3)
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) September 3, 2021
The non-theistic organization announced the ritual on Aug. 5, 2020, in a video message put onto their website that starts with a comment, “The Satanic Temple advances the just causes that advance the rights of our members.”
The group says it is “a ceremony founded on our deeply-held beliefs. This ritual might be done by our members as a way to protect self-worth, give confidence and spiritual comfort. The Satanic abortion ritual is guarded by laws. It exempts Satanists from having any medically unnecessary requirement, such as mandatory waiting times or undesired sonograms, that interferes with our ritual.”
Reactions to this announcement showed most Americans are angered by the news, and though pro-choice leftists love abortion, this is not the group they were wanting to spearhead the cause.
Not sure this is the endorsement us pro choicers are looking for.
— Jeff Leon (@jeffaleon) September 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/vikodlak/status/1434341735560220674?
Some responses were purely ironic.
God Bless Satan.
— apeirogonal apama (@digitaldeath) September 3, 2021
But even some Christians seem to support the satanic ritual, saying that it would help to have the Supreme Court protect separation of church and state with a decision about this case.
Honestly, as a Christian, I would like them to take their case all the way to the supreme court and make it official once and for all that separation of Christian church and state must be made irrefutable law.
— Jenna Fawn Brown ☮ (@JennaFawnBrown) September 5, 2021
Honestly, as a Christian, I would like them to take their case all the way to the supreme court and make it official once and for all that separation of Christian church and state must be made irrefutable law.
— Jenna Fawn Brown ☮ (@JennaFawnBrown) September 5, 2021
Author: Scott Dowdy
