A member of The Satanic Temple are taking their case up against the Missouri Supreme Court after a member they’ll only refer to as “Mary Doe” claims that the states stance on abortion, part of which requires a 72-hour waiting period, violates hers and their religious freedom.
“Mary Doe” claims that in May 2015 before her abortion that she was “forced” to see an ultrasound of her baby and even required to read a booklet called “begins at conception.”
This was “forced upon her” despite the fact that she “adheres to principles of the Satanic temple and has sincerely held religious beliefs different from the information in the informed consent booklet,” according to her case summary.
“Specifically, her letter advised she has deeply held religious beliefs that a nonviable fetus is not a separate human being but is part of her body and that abortion of a nonviable fetus does not terminate the life of a separate, unique, living human being,” the case summary stated according to NBC News.
Jex Blackmore (yeah I’m sure that’s his real name…), a spokesperson for the “church” says that Mary Doe’s religious freedoms are being trampled on.
“The State has essentially established a religious indoctrination program intended to push a single ideological viewpoint,” Blackmore said in a statement. “The law is intended to punish women who disagree with this opinion.”
“Missouri’s state-mandated informed consent booklets explicitly say that life begins at conception, which is a nonmedical religious viewpoint that many people disagree with,” his statement continued. “Forcing women to read this information and then wait 72-hours to consider the State’s opinion is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause.”
While the state disagreed with the “church” and their assessment, an appeals court in Missouri found merit in their argument. They’ve agree to let the case go to the Missouri Supreme Court and even say it’s an urgent case of constitutional implications.
“Neither the Missouri Supreme Court nor the U.S. Supreme Court has considered whether a Booklet of this nature, an Ultrasound, an Audible Heartbeat Offer, and a seventy-two-hour Waiting Period violate the Religion Clause rights of pregnant women,” Missouri Supreme Court Judge Thomas Newton wrote. “Because we believe that this case raises real and substantial constitutional claims, it is within the Missouri Supreme Court’s exclusive jurisdiction.”
I’m all for religious freedom but THIS?! COME ON!
