After she received her medication, the process took a different turn. Via Zoom, the pastor urged Mikayla to look in the mirror and reflect on his personal development, chanting, “My body is inviolable and I follow only my will.” After swallowing the first pill of the dual therapy, Mikayla took to the dogma of putting science first. The pastor advised that after the pregnancy tissue was finally expelled, Mikayla could chant: By my will it is done. “
Law, Rights, and Religious Affairs Director Elizabeth Reiner Pratt calls for abortion rights, given a recent Supreme Court ruling that “supports religious immunity even when there are genuinely serious problems with health or safety.” Legal experts said some religious freedom cases could succeed. Project at Columbia University. Experts say most abortion bans have exceptions for things like rape, so the argument for exceptions may be persuasive.
“These are supposed to be very strong and compelling lawsuits, but I also acknowledge that this is a very political issue,” Pratt said.
Josh Blackman, a professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, who has criticized the lawsuit, questioned the plaintiffs’ legal position, saying, “Many of these women know that one day I might get pregnant, and one day I’ll be pregnant.” I also have this problem and may have to have an abortion.”
He said that while some plaintiffs may be religiously honest “extenuating individual circumstances,” granting broad exemptions could undermine the greater purpose of the law.
Whatever the court decides, it could be groundbreaking.
“We are in a whole new situation,” Pratt said.
Adria Malcolm Contributed to a report from Albuquerque.
