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In September 2021, Texas enacted the strictest abortion law in the United States. Shortly afterward, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, effectively allowing this measure to take effect. This law, known as Senate Bill 8 (SB-8), prohibits most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy—a timeframe during which many individuals are unaware they are pregnant. Notably, the law lacks exceptions for cases of incest and rape, and it only permits a limited exception for health concerns. Perhaps most alarming is the law’s provision that enables private citizens to sue anyone who aids a person in obtaining an abortion, with rewards starting at $10,000, plus legal costs. This legislation poses a severe threat to reproductive rights and highlights the growing influence of the Christian conservative movement.
In response to this extreme law, the Biden Administration, activists, and several corporations have taken action. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas. Companies like Uber and Lyft pledged to cover any legal fees incurred by drivers targeted under this law, while Bumble and Match have established funds to assist their Texas employees in accessing abortion care outside the state. Although these responses are commendable, they lack the urgency needed to combat such a draconian measure.
This is where The Satanic Temple (TST) steps in. Contrary to popular misconceptions about Satanism, TST does not worship Satan or believe in supernatural entities. Instead, its mission focuses on promoting empathy and benevolence, opposing injustice, and advocating for secularism and individual freedoms.
Following the implementation of SB-8, TST submitted a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opposing the law on religious freedom grounds, invoking the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Temple aims to secure access to abortion pills for its members within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, framing this as part of their Satanic Abortion Ritual—a stance akin to the RFRA provisions that allow Native Americans to use hallucinogenic substances during religious ceremonies.
Lucien Greaves, TST’s co-founder, articulated the Temple’s position, stating, “We do not believe that life begins at conception.” He emphasized that a non-viable fetus is merely tissue belonging to the pregnant individual and that the decision about whether to carry a pregnancy to term rests solely with that individual. This argument could resonate with Texas Governor Abbott, who cited religious beliefs when signing SB-8 into law.
This is not TST’s first foray into advocacy for religious freedoms. In 2018, the Temple installed a half-goat, half-man statue in response to a Ten Commandments monument placed at the Arkansas state Capitol, asserting that if one religion can display its symbols, then all should have that right.
Guided by seven tenets—such as empathy, justice, bodily autonomy, and a belief in science—TST champions a rational and progressive approach to ethical issues. While the outcome of their efforts in Texas remains uncertain, the Temple is poised to take further legal action if the FDA does not respond within 60 days.
As we navigate these unprecedented times, who would have predicted that the Satanic Temple would emerge as a defender of reproductive rights? If you’re interested in further exploring this topic, check out this related blog post.
Summary
The Satanic Temple is actively contesting Texas’s stringent abortion law SB-8, which prohibits most abortions and allows private citizens to sue those who assist in obtaining them. TST argues for the right to access abortion pills based on religious freedom principles, seeking to protect individual choice in reproductive health. Their advocacy highlights the intersection of religion and reproductive rights, challenging the status quo in a state where such rights are increasingly under threat.
Keyphrase: Satanic Temple abortion rights Texas
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