A group of religious leaders gathered in St. Louis Circuit Court on Thursday, Jan 19, to file a lawsuit against Missouri's abortion ban. They stated that such a ban violates the state's constitution's protection of the separation of church and state.
Suit vs. Missouri's Abortion Ban
Faith leaders across Missouri gathered for one goal- to reverse the state's abortion ban. STL Today reported that over a dozen religious leaders from St. Louis, Kansas, and Columbia moved against Missouri's Abortion Ban.
They argued that state legislators decided to ban abortion based on their personal religious beliefs. The religious leaders emphasized that state leaders violated the separation of church and state protected in Missouri's constitution.
The group represented several Protestant and Jewish denominations. They worked with two organizations in drafting the lawsuit. The organizations include the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and National Women's Law Center.
Some of these religious leaders are Rev. Cindy Bumb, Rev. Deon Johnson, Rev. Traci Blackmon, and Rev. Barbara Phifer. Their lawsuit lists several examples of religious doctrine mentioned in the effort to ban abortions in Missouri. First on the list is the beginning of the law.
The statement started with recognizing that the Almighty God is the author of life. It also stated that with such recognition, the General Assembly intends to defend the right to life of all humans, born and unborn.
Another doctrine the lawsuit cited is that the life of every human being starts at conception, identified as the fertilization of the ovum by a sperm.
Then, Rep. Nick Schroer, a Republican from St. Charles County, was the lead sponsor of the bill outlawing abortion. Currently, Schroer is a member of the Missouri Senate.
According to PBS News Hour, the lawsuit that religious leaders filed in St. Louis is the most recent of numerous to contest the constitutionality of restrictive abortion law passed by conservative states in the wake of the June Roe v. Wade ruling.
That historical verdict left abortion rights up to each state to decide.
A permanent mandate prohibiting the state from enforcing its abortion law is demanded in the Missouri lawsuit filed on behalf of 13 Christian and Jewish leaders, along with a declaration that certain elements of its law violate the Missouri Constitution.
Michelle Banker from the National Women's Law Center is the lead attorney in the case. She told PBS News Hour the lawsuit states that when one legislates their religious beliefs into law, they impose these beliefs on everyone else.
Thus, they force all to live by these narrow beliefs. According to Banker, this hurts people and denies them their fundamental human rights.
Missouri's Abortion Ban
According to Guttmacher Institute, the abortion ban took effect on Jun. 28, 2022. It is banned except when life is endangered, or the patient's health is severely compromised.
Missouri also prohibits abortion performed for race or sex selection. Furthermore, it is forbidden to be performed as a response to a genetic anomaly.
Another limitation of this abortion ban is that parental consent is required before an abortion may be carried out.
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