Satanic Temple Protests Fetal Burial Law Enforcement In Texas, Plans To Sue The State

The state of Texas recently enforced the Fetal Burial Law, which will come to effect on Dec. 19, 2016. The law clearly states that the tissue remains of all abortions carried out in hospitals and clinics need to undergo "interment." The fetal remains must be buried or cremated, and if not done so, it will lead to penalization.

Arkansas, Indiana and Georgia have already enforced this law in the past. This prohibited the disposal of fetal remains in sanitary landfills and necessitated the organization of funeral services for the unborn fetus.

Satanic Temple Slams the Law

Satanic Temple is a secularist activist organization, known for its role in counteracting the laws that are formulated in the influence of religion. The organization aims at promoting scientific thinking and abolishing blind belief in religious practices. As far as the Fetal Burial law is concerned, the Satanic Temple declared that the law is in direct violation of one of their seven tenets, "One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone" and that is why their members must be granted immunity against it.

In a press release, Lucien Greaves, co-founder and spokesperson for Satanic Temple, said that the law is "a direct violation" of the religious beliefs of the group members, reported Jezebel.

Snopes.com reported that Greaves clearly stated that, "If one of our members claims exemption from this upon terminating a pregnancy, and the state insists that the burial fee must be paid, we will immediately file an injunction." He also specified that, "We will sue, and we will win".

Critics' Say on the Fetal Burial Law

Critics are of the opinion that first and foremost, it is not at all a law, since it was never passed through a legislative process. According to NARAL Pro-Choice Abortion rights group, it is a bureaucratic rule, which imposes an undue burden on Texans who seek abortion care.

The cause and beliefs behind the Fetal Burial Law remains a controversy for the time being and the exact response of the public can be reviewed only after the rule is imposed in December 2016. Also, the rule does not apply on women who have miscarriages or abortion at home, according to Dallas News.