Three weeks ago, the Satanic Temple of Texas filed suit to defend its religious right to engage in child sacrifice as a spiritual ritual. Here’s the scoop.
It is legal to get an abortion in Texas. But the procedure is banned after 20 weeks unless a life-threatening medical condition is involved or the fetus has a severe abnormality. If a person is eligible, the state requires them to get a sonogram and receive paperwork about medical risks, adoption alternatives and developmental stages of the fetus.
The state then requires a woman to wait 24 hours after receiving the sonogram and paperwork before she can go through with the abortion. The day-long wait is not required if for those who live 100 miles or more away from the nearest abortion provider.
But the temple's members consider abortion a ritualistic process, according to co-founder and spokesperson Lucien Greaves (Dallas Observer). The ritual is meant to take the shame and guilt away from the person receiving the procedure, affirming their choice. The state regulations disrupt this ritual, Greaves said.
“We have a distinct kind of procedure for this, and in no part of this do we include getting sonograms or any other medically unnecessary acts as are required in Texas,” Greaves said. “Therefore, the imposition of those things, we feel, is a violation of our religious liberty.”
The ritual goes like this: Before the abortion takes place, surgically or medically, a member of The Satanic Temple will look at her reflection, be reminded of her personhood and responsibility to herself, take deep breaths, focus on her intent and make herself comfortable. When ready, she will say the third and fifth tenet of the temple aloud. The third reads:
“One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone. ” The fifth reads: “Beliefs should conform to one's best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one's beliefs.”
If receiving a surgical abortion, the individual would complete these steps before receiving anesthetics or sedation. Afterward, she would return to her reflection and cite her personal affirmation: “By my body, my blood. By my will, it is done.”
So, there you have it. Abortion as a religious ritual. A puerile focus on one’s own body at the expense of everyone else’s. Denying the science of biology, genetics, DNA, and even sonograms, under the banner of science. Killing your own child while chanting “by my body, my blood, by my will, it is done.” Infanticide as merely another religious viewpoint. All of these positions as well as the third and fifth tenets of The Satanic Temple. Sounds stunningly similar to a political platform, doesn’t it?
Somebody once said, “If you find yourself litigating against biblical principles, you’re probably doing something wrong.” I’ll add, “If you find yourself aligning with Satanists, you might be wrong too.”
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“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).