The Satanic Temple (TST) has opened a second telehealth abortion facility, providing what it terms “religious abortion services,” viewing the termination of pre-born babies as part of its “destruction ritual.”
Despite the use of the term “Satanic,” TST is not affiliated with the Church of Satan, which Anton Szandor LaVey founded in the 1960s. TST operates out of its headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts, where it holds two virtual services each week.
In a recent press release, TST announced the launch of its 24/7 telehealth abortion facility, named “Right to Your Life Satanic Abortion Clinic,” which will be opening in Virginia. Women seeking abortion-inducing drugs will be charged a fee, although the organization claims it will assist in covering some travel-related costs.
TST asserts that abortion is part of its “destruction ritual that serves as a protective rite.” The preparations for this ritual include reading or listening to testimonies from advocates of legal abortion to "subdue any stigmas" that participants might feel.
Erin Helian, the executive director of TST, informed the Christian Post that the organization has received funding from donors, enabling the opening of the Virginia facility. Although TST stated that it has not partnered with external organizations to operate its telehealth clinics, it works with the online pharmacy Honey Bee Health.
“Our staff virtually meet with each patient over a series of online visits to ensure the safety of each patient, including follow-up meetings,” Helian stated. “Our staff thoroughly discusses the potential risks with each patient, and for this reason, we urge each patient to know where their closest medical facility may be located in the unlikely event that complications may arise."
She continued, “We do not agree with the notion that telehealth care puts patients at risk. Instead, we argue that by expanding care and access, telehealth clinics, like ours, can save lives.”
Abortion is one of many advocacy campaigns undertaken by TST, which argues that it constitutes a religious right. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022—the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide—TST opened a “religious abortion clinic” in New Mexico in February 2023.
The facility named the Samuel Alito's Mom's Satanic Abortion Clinic after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who delivered the ruling that overturned Roe, has provided 100 abortions to women in New Mexico since its opening, with an average cost of $91.
Concerns have been raised by multiple pro-life advocates and abortion providers regarding the health and safety risks associated with ordering abortion drugs online. A primary concern is the absence of an in-person consultation with a doctor to learn how far along a woman is in her pregnancy or to determine if she has an ectopic pregnancy.
Women using the abortion pill regimen may experience a range of side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, these side effects can include vaginal bleeding, sweating, vomiting, and pain in various parts of the body.
