Florida synagogue has highlighted religious freedoms in its suit regarding the state’s new abortion law.
The law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on April 14 will prohibit the abortion procedure after 15 weeks gestation, without exceptions in instances of rape, incest, or human trafficking. In the past, Florida allowed abortions until 24 weeks, and this new statute is scheduled to become effective on July 1.
DeSantis signed the law in an evangelical chapel located in Kissimmee, Florida. While 74 % of evangelical white Protestants believe abortion ought to be banned in all cases or the majority of instances, 6 in 10 Americans think it should be legal, according to Pew Research Center.
It was filed last week by Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor of Boynton Beach, located inside Palm Beach County. By Jewish law, abortions are “required if necessary to protect the health, mental or physical well-being of the woman” and other reasons that are not allowed under the law, as stated in the lawsuit.
Florida had previously permitted abortions until 24 weeks into the pregnancy, but by Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the 15-week abortion ban according to law. It’s scheduled and came into effect on July 1. The law allows abortions to protect the lives of the woman who is pregnant or protect them from serious injuries—the baby.
In Jewish law, abortion is required at the time of health protection, mental or physical well-being of the woman, or for many other reasons is not permitted under the act,” Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor declares in its suit. “As such, the act prohibits Jewish women from practising their faith free of government intrusion and thus violates their privacy rights and religious freedom.”
The suit also claims that the new restrictions on abortion that are scheduled to take effect on July 1 will favour particular Christian views, which is and violate the Florida Constitution, which states that there shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or penalizing the free expression thereof.
The second suit was filed against the state about the law that allows for 15 weeks of abortion. In the last month, groups representing abortion rights and abortion providers, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida and the ACLU of Florida, challenged the law. The courts may join both lawsuits to come up with a single legal challenge to the state’s law.
