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Indiana's new abortion law runs afoul of Religious Freedom Restoration Act, lawsuit claims
Five Hoosier women and a religious abortion-rights group filed a new lawsuit in Marion County on Thursday challenging Indiana's near-total abortion ban on the grounds of religious freedom.
Hoosier Jews for Choice and the five women — who are residents of Marion, Monroe and Allen counties — claim that the ban violates the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act from 2015, also known as RFRA. The act, which was signed into effect by then-Gov. Mike Pence, prevents the government from impeding someone's religious exercise unless there's a strong argument in favor of the state's interest.
The defendants in the case include members of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana and prosecutors in five counties, including Marion County. IndyStar has reached out to the licensing board and the Indiana Attorney General's Office for comment.
The lawsuit states the belief that life begins at conception, which is widely shared by Christian anti-abortion advocates, "is not a theological opinion shared by all religions or all religious persons."
"For example, under Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a living person only at birth," the lawsuit states. "Jewish law recognizes that abortions may occur, and should occur as a religious matter, under circumstances not allowed by (the near-total abortion ban) or existing Indiana law." That would include when an abortion could prevent a "mother's mental anguish" from severe physical or mental health issues.
Hoosier Jews for Choice and the five women — who are residents of Marion, Monroe and Allen counties — claim that the ban violates the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act from 2015, also known as RFRA. The act, which was signed into effect by then-Gov. Mike Pence, prevents the government from impeding someone's religious exercise unless there's a strong argument in favor of the state's interest.
The defendants in the case include members of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana and prosecutors in five counties, including Marion County. IndyStar has reached out to the licensing board and the Indiana Attorney General's Office for comment.
The lawsuit states the belief that life begins at conception, which is widely shared by Christian anti-abortion advocates, "is not a theological opinion shared by all religions or all religious persons."
"For example, under Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a living person only at birth," the lawsuit states. "Jewish law recognizes that abortions may occur, and should occur as a religious matter, under circumstances not allowed by (the near-total abortion ban) or existing Indiana law." That would include when an abortion could prevent a "mother's mental anguish" from severe physical or mental health issues.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/indianas-abortion-law-runs-afoul-194549110.html
3 replies
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Then there was the story about the male lawmaker who heard of a young woman in his state, forced to carry a non-viable fetus to term, which may leave the woman sterile. The lawmaker's comment was something to the effect of "I had no idea such tragic situations could arise during pregnancy." And that, you ignorant, arrogant asshole, is why politicians shouldn't be making medical decisions for people. 
