The Temple of Satan has sued the authorities of the state of Indiana in connection with the almost complete ban on abortion, claiming that such a development goes against the religious rights of its followers and violates the American Constitution, The Hill reports.
Republican Governor Eric Holcomb and state Attorney General Todd Rokita are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The Church, which is headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts, has, according to management, 1.5 million members worldwide, including 11,300 members in Indiana.
The New York Post urges not to confuse this organization with the Church of Satan or Satan Worshippers. The members of the “Temple of Satan” do not believe in the biblical Satan and do not worship him. On the contrary, they revere “the allegorical Satan described in [John Milton’s] epic poem Paradise Lost, the defender of personal sovereignty from the dictates of religious authority.”
In the Temple of Satan, their mission is to encourage benevolence and compassion, renounce tyrannical power, protect practical common sense, counteract injustice and perform noble tasks. The organization is known for fighting for equal access to religious rights and challenging institutions that establish laws or customs that adhere to only one religious faith, primarily Christianity.