A controversy has erupted after it emerged that the Satanic Temple is opening its own centre to perform “ritualistic” abortions. According to reports, the abortion facility will be named “ The Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic” after pro-life Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito’s mother, which has only served to compound the controversy over the move.
Conservative Justice Alito has long been the target of venom and anger from abortion activists after he authored the leaked draft and final version of the court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade last year.
On Wednesday, the Satanic Temple announced it was launching a new “religious medical services arm”, TST Health, to start performing abortions. The Satanic Temple believes that abortions are a religious “ritual” – and often likens the abortion procedure to communion or baptism for Christians. It says that “bodily autonomy has been a central pillar of The Satanic Temple’s mission since its founding” and has voiced “religious opposition” to restrictions on abortion.
“In our commitment to protecting bodily autonomy and assuring abortion access, we proudly introduce TST Health and our 1st Religious Telehealth Abortion Clinic, providing medical abortion medication via mail for use in the Religious Abortion Ritual!” it said in a statement.
In our commitment to protecting bodily autonomy and assuring abortion access, we proudly introduce TST Health and our 1st Religious Telehealth Abortion Clinic, providing medical abortion medication via mail for use in the Religious Abortion Ritual! Visit https://t.co/a4U0wodhyB pic.twitter.com/Ls8reKZVo1
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) February 1, 2023
The “telehealth” abortion ‘clinic’ will offer abortion drugs to women ages 17 and over who are up to 11 weeks pregnant, Fox News reported. The FDA does not recommend abortion pills past 10 weeks.
In a statement, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, Malcolm Jarry, explained the bizarre choice of name.
“In 1950, Samuel Alito’s mother did not have options, and look what happened,” he said, in what was perceived as a covert death wish to the Supreme Court Justice.
“Prior to 1973,” he continued, “doctors who performed abortions could lose their licences and go to jail. The clinic’s name serves to remind people just how important it is to have the right to control one’s body and the potential ramifications of losing that right”.
The group says that “anyone in New Mexico seeking to perform The Satanic Temple’s abortion ritual will be able to receive free online medical services”.
It is reported that licensed medical workers working with The Satanic Temple will screen those seeking an abortion during a virtual appointment, and then prescribe abortion pills through pharmacies which will post them out in a “discreet package”. Women will be charged a pharmacy fee of $90, the group said, adding that it has set up a 24-hour abortion hotline.
The development was met with contention and shock. The White Rose Resistance, a pro-life organisation, shared the update, saying it was clear proof “this is a spiritual war”.
“Not only are babies now being aborted in the hands of satanists…the clinic is literally named “The Samuel Alito Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic”. Are you kidding?” it said.
Hitting back at the move, social media users urged America to “wake up” while many, including pro-life author and activist Lila Rose of Live Action, said the news was simply proof that abortion is a “Satanic ritual”.
Abortion is a satanic ritual. pic.twitter.com/NxRFWcUS7a
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) November 30, 2021
Journalist Lara Logan was among those taken aback by the development, tweeting: “Really? And we’re the crazy ones for talking about this? Questioning it? What have we become? God help us all.”
Really? And we’re the crazy ones for talking about this? Questioning it? What have we become? God help us all.
Satanic Temple Opens New Abortion Clinic to Kill Babies in Ritualistic Abortions – https://t.co/pkxYVUF8Of https://t.co/WrqsBRlWTG
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) February 1, 2023
“If you read this headline and thought it was an article from The Babylon Bee, you thought wrong — though your confusion would be understandable,” Daily Wire writer Tim Meads wrote.
However, the Twitter post from The Satanic Temple was met with praise from abortion advocates, who expressed support.
“I’m so proud right now. Hail to everyone working on this!” one person said, while another added: “Yet another reason why I’m so damn proud to be a TST member.”
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