Missouri Abortion Ban Challenged in Court Over Alleged Religious Imposition

Lawsuit filed by faith leaders seeks to bar state from enforcing its abortion law, arguing it infringes on religious freedom and the health and lives of Missourians.

• A St. Louis judge is set to hear arguments in a lawsuit challenging Missouri's abortion ban, claiming lawmakers imposed their own religious beliefs on others.
• The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish, and Unitarian Universalist leaders who support abortion rights, seeking a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing its abortion law.
• The lawsuit is one of 38 filed in 23 states challenging restrictive abortion laws enacted after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, leaving abortion rights up to each state to decide.
• The Missouri law makes it a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison to perform or induce an abortion, with medical professionals also potentially losing their licenses.
• Similar lawsuits in Indiana and Kentucky argue that the states' abortion bans infringe on religious beliefs and violate religious rights under their respective state constitutions.

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