Texas’ recent bill banning most abortions after six weeks may be upended by perhaps the most unexpected group of all, religious zealots who embrace the name Satan.
The Satanic Temple has established a “religious abortion ritual” that they claim will be trampled on given the Texas law enacted in May that bans abortions at six weeks once a baby’s heartbeat can be detected.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 does generally prohibit government involvement in the exercise of a person’s religion and 21 states have enacted such laws in their respective states including Texas. One notable case argued under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. that held that the crafter’s paradise was not bound to foot the bill for insurance coverage for contraceptive services as it was in conflict with the organization’s sincerely held Christian beliefs that life begins at conception and to do so would be a violation thereof.
The Satanic Temple has leapt to their congregant’s defense in supporting abortion, denouncing the new law on social media and explaining that they will continue to provide the Satanic Abortion Ritual within 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 group announced the ritual on August 5, 2020, in a video released to their website that begins with a statement, “The Satanic Temple advances many just causes that advance the rights of our members.”
The group describes it as “a ceremony rooted in our deeply-held beliefs. This ritual may be performed by our members as a way to fortify self-worth, instill confidence and provide spiritual comfort. The performance of the Satanic abortion ritual is protected by religious liberty laws. It exempts Satanists from fulfilling any medically unnecessary and unscientific requirement, such as mandatory waiting periods or unwanted sonograms, that interferes with the practice of our ritual.”
Reactions to the announcement showed most people raised an eyebrow at the announcement, and though pro-choice leftists are in favor of abortion, this might not be the group they were hoping would spearhead the cause.
Not sure this is the endorsement us pro choicers are looking for.
— Jeff Leon (@jeffaleon) September 4, 2021
The @ChurchofSatan considers #abortion a satanic ritual and therefore deserves religious protection. It’s nice to see someone on the left for once admitting that abortion is satanic.
— Thanos (@vikodlak) September 5, 2021
Some reactions were purely ironic.
God Bless Satan.
— apeirogonal apama (@digitaldeath) September 3, 2021
But even some Christians appeared to be in support of their satanic ritual, arguing that it would be a benefit to have the Supreme Court firm up the separation of church and state with a ruling in 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
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