Satanists’ challenge to Hobby Lobby ruling may face legal hurdles
Kimberly Winston
(RNS) A group of Satanists is challenging the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision by providing a letter women can give to doctors to avoid being handed state-mandated “informed consent” literature before seeking an abortion.
But constitutional lawyers say the effort may be a toothless challenge with little or no legal footing.
Even so, that doesn’t deter the Satanic Temple, a New York-based organization that claims 10,000 members. The group does not believe in a literal devil but sees Satan as a a symbol of philosophical rebellion against supernatural beliefs. It takes issue with state-mandated “informed consent” literature given to women seeking to terminate a pregnancy.
“We are saying we do not believe the state-mandated information is integral to making our decisions about health care, and we find it coercive and we will likewise seek an exemption,” said Jex Blackmore, a spokeswoman for the Satanic Temple and head of its Detroit chapter, the first outside New York.
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/07/31/satanists-challenge-hobby-lobby-ruling-may-face-legal-hurdles/
