Non-Christians Win Temporary Pause to Indiana’s Abortion Ban

Indiana can’t enforce its near-total ban on abortions against people whose religions direct them to end pregnancies in certain circumstances, a state appeals court said.

The Indiana Court of Appeal on Thursday said that Hoosier Jews for Choice and several anonymous plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that the state’s abortion law violates their rights under the Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Like the federal statute bearing the same name, Indiana’s law prohibits the state from substantially burdening a person’s religious exercise, except when necessary to advance a compelling state interest. Even then, the provision must be written ...