The Satanic Temple lost its lawsuit against Indiana’s abortion ban on Wednesday when a federal judge threw out the suit.
In her decision, Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson pointed out that the Satanic Temple does not run any abortion clinics in Indiana and failed to disclose any specific Satanic Temple members who are being affected by the ban.
“In sum, the Satanic Temple’s allegations fail to prove it has suffered any injury in fact,” the judge wrote.
The Satanic Temple sued in September 2022, alleging the abortion ban violates their members’ religious rights and is unconstitutional. Indiana’s abortion ban prohibits abortion at any point of pregnancy except when the woman’s life or health is seriously at risk, in cases of rape or incest, or when there is a “lethal fetal abnormality.”
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita called the lawsuit “ridiculous” and said the win “sustains a pro-life law that is constitutionally and legally sound” in a statement Thursday.
“We Hoosiers continue to build a solid culture of life whether satanic cultists like it or not,” Rokita said.
Pro-life advocates quickly praised the decision as well.
“BIG win for LIFE! If your ‘religion’ involves killing babies, you should find another religion,” posted Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.
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The Satanic Temple’s attorney said he was disappointed in the decision. It is not clear whether the group will appeal.
“It takes a desperate and irresponsible judge to refuse to hear our case because of a baffling refusal to accept that any of our membership in Indiana may get pregnant in the future,” said Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple.
The Satanic Temple has about 11,300 members in Indiana. Despite its name, members of The Satanic Temple do not actually believe in Satan — rather it is an atheist group that seeks to subvert Christianity’s role in American life. The group believes that “one’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone,” which includes a belief in abortion.
The Satanic Temple does not run any abortion clinics in Indiana, but it did launch a telehealth clinic out of New Mexico last year called “Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic,” a reference to the conservative Supreme Court justice.
The telehealth abortion clinic says it provides abortion medication through the mail to Satanic Temple members in New Mexico.
Last year, The Satanic Temple sponsored “After School Satan” clubs, saying the clubs were a response to the Christian Good News Clubs at public schools across the country.