Satanic Temple mocks ‘laughable’ attempt to kill religious freedom suit aimed at MO abortion laws
Top Missouri officials are asking that a lawsuit brought by the Satanic Temple challenging the state’s mandated 72-hour waiting period for an abortion be thrown out — but the Satanists say that’s proof they have a strong case.
The motion to dismiss was filed Tuesday by Gov. Jay Nixon and state Attorney General Chris Koster, claiming the suit doesn’t show sufficient proof the plaintiffs were harmed, the Kansas City Star reports. They also claim they are legally protected from being named in such suits because they are elected officials.The lawsuit is on behalf of a Satanic Temple member and Missouri resident using the pseudonym “Mary.”
It states that Mary, who is pregnant, went in May to Planned Parenthood with the intention of getting an abortion. She was told she had to wait 72 hours, at which point she presented a waiver from the Satanic Temple saying the waiting period violated her religious beliefs. She was still denied, prompting the lawsuit, according to Patheos.
“While the State’s Motion to Dismiss may well just be a standard opening maneuver, the laughable nature of their argument can’t help but signify a certain degree of desperation,” said Lucien Greaves, Satanic Temple co-founder, in an email to the Raw Story. “I’m pleased to see that our case is strong enough that this Motion to Dismiss was the best Missouri could do. I think this bodes very well for our prospects of a momentous victory in defense of reproductive rights.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/satanic-temple-mocks-laughable-attempt-to-kill-religious-freedom-suit-aimed-at-missouri-abortion-laws/