‘Religious’ Abortion Services?
The Satanic Temple has started an online fundraising effort for its online “telehealth clinic” to provide free “religious” abortion services through the mail to its members in New Mexico.
The group’s health division, known as TST Health, will also provide free resources, when available, to others outside of New Mexico. Travel assistance will also be supplied when possible, according to the group’s website.
“Patients pay a pharmacy for the medication, but medical and religious services are free,” the website states.
Abortion is legal in the state of New Mexico at all stages of pregnancy, except in the city of Hobbs, where a local ordinance was passed in November 2022 to prevent abortion clinics from operating. The number of abortion clinics in New Mexico has declined over the years.
Statewide, just three of New Mexico’s 33 counties have clinics that provide abortions: Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Doña Ana counties, according to the “Las Cruces Sun-News.”
The TST explains its new telehealth clinic will provide the abortion drugs “through the mail for members and for those who wish to perform TST’s Abortion Ritual.”
“The Satanic Temple, on behalf of its members, objects to government interference with abortion access and contests that laws that impede our faith in bodily autonomy and our ability to perform our Religious Abortion Ritual violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” the TST said in a statement on its website.
TST: Abortion a ‘Spiritual Experience’
Headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts, TST describes its Satanic abortion ritual as a “spiritual experience designed to instill confidence and self-worth in accordance to TST’s religious beliefs.”
The organization contends those who practice the Satanic abortion ritual are exempt from being subjected to waiting periods, mandatory counseling, forced viewing of sonograms and reading materials as required in many states.
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