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Satanic Temple believes Hobby Lobby decision exempts believers from anti-abortion laws

The Temple believes its members should be exempt from reading pro-life material prior to getting an abortion.

By Evan Bleier
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NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- According to the Satanic Temple, the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision bolsters the rationale that its members should be exempt from state-mandated "informed consent laws" prior to having an abortion.

The laws, which are on the books in 35 states, force women to read pro-life material before undergoing an abortion. The materials contain information which the Temple regards as "scientifically unfounded" and "medically invalid."

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The Temple wants its members to base their health choices "on the best scientific understanding of the world" and says the consent laws violate its "religious" beliefs.

"While we feel we have a strong case for an exemption regardless of the Hobby Lobby ruling, the Supreme Court has decided that religious beliefs are so sacrosanct that they can even trump scientific fact," spokesperson Lucien Greaves said in a release. "This was made clear when they allowed Hobby Lobby to claim certain contraceptives were abortifacients, which in fact they are not."

Women are invited to download a letter explaining the stance that can be printed out and given to healthcare providers.

The group's website encourages all women, not just members, to utilize the letter. More women's health initiatives are reportedly coming from the group in the coming months.

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