Faith leaders in Missouri say they’ll continue their efforts to protect reproductive rights in the wake of a court ruling dismissing a lawsuit challenging the state’s strict anti-abortion laws.
St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser ruled against 14 Missouri faith leaders June 14. The clergy, backed by legal assistance from Americans United, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), the law firm Arnold & Porter and local civil rights lawyer Denise Lieberman, challenged the state’s abortion ban as a violation of the church-state separation provisions of the Missouri Constitution.
“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision and will be discussing next steps with our faith leader clients,” read a joint statement issued by AU and NWLC. “Missouri’s abortion ban is a direct attack on the separation of church and state, religious freedom and reproductive freedom. Missouri lawmakers made clear that they were imposing their personal religious beliefs on all Missourians when they enacted these laws. We remain committed to restoring abortion access in Missouri.”
The clergy plaintiffs, representing seven diverse denominations, filed the lawsuit, Rev. Traci Blackmon v. State of Missouri, in January 2023. The lawsuit alleges that Missouri’s abortion ban and other restrictions violate the state constitution by enshrining lawmakers’ personal religious beliefs about abortion in House Bill No. 126 and Senate Bill 5.
The plaintiffs argued that their faiths call them to support abortion access because of the critical importance it holds for the health, autonomy, economic security and equality of women and all who can become pregnant.
Sengheiser ruled that Missouri’s abortion ban does not violate the church-state provisions of the Missouri Constitution. The ruling means that the clergy plaintiffs’ case cannot proceed in the state circuit court, but the plaintiffs have a right to appeal.
For more on the lawsuit, see “Restoring Reproductive Rights,” February 2023 Church & State.