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A satanic temple is suing Indiana and Idaho over their laws regulating abortion, arguing that banning abortion goes against their religious values.
The Salem Satanic Temple in Massachusetts filed its lawsuit against Idaho last Friday, Sept. 30, after a week of denouncing Indiana. In the past it has also introduced similar legal actions against Texas’ anti-abortion legislation.
The religious organization, distinct from the Church of Satan, argued that each state’s ban violates the rights of people who took contraceptives and still became pregnant, denying the right of an “involuntarily pregnant woman” to participate in the “Satanic Abortion Ritual,” according to an Axios report.
Their argument is that laws limiting abortion violate the 13th Amendment, discriminate against women who use contraceptive treatment, and contravene religious freedom protections established by the states themselves.
They also refer to the female body as a woman’s “property” that the state is “taking” without fair compensation, and argue that some women receive thousands of dollars for renting their wombs.
A satanic temple against the Supreme Court
A spokesman for Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said the lawsuit’s arguments are “weak” given that the Constitution does not determine abortion as a right, something the Supreme Court upheld in striking down Roe v. Wade.
“This new lawsuit merely offers weaker arguments for the same discredited right,” Rokita told the Indianapolis Star.
For his part, attorney James Mac Naughton, who represents the satanic temple, sent a message to the Supreme Court about the effects of the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
“[They] have woken a sleeping giant among women politically and have stirred up a hornets’ nest of legal issues. (Supreme Court Justice Neil) Gorsuch, you want a national debate on abortion? Congratulations, you have one.”
Tomás Lugo, journalist and writer. Born in Venezuela and graduated in Social Communication. Has written for international media outlets. Currently living in Colombia // Tomás Lugo, periodista y articulista. Nacido en Venezuela y graduado en Comunicación Social. Ha escrito para medios internacionales. Actualmente reside en Colombia.