Missouri Judge Rejects Religious Challenge to Anti-Abortion Laws

Missouri’s total abortion ban, restrictions on pill-induced abortions, and related laws don’t violate the state constitution’s prohibition on the establishment of religion, a state trial judge said.

Judge Jason M. Sengheiser, of the Missouri Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis, on June 14 rejected a challenge to anti-abortion provisions brought by several religious leaders.

The plaintiffs had argued that Missouri lawmakers enacted the provisions based on the “strictly religious” finding that life begins at conception. That finding ignored the religious views of others and jeopardized Missourians’ health and life, the plaintiffs said.

“While the determination that life begins ...