On March 5, an Indiana court ruled that the state’s abortion ban bill violates religious freedom. The decision allows any Hoosier whose sincerely held religious beliefs direct them to obtain an abortion to access this medical care. We are three of the women who helped make this happen.
We lead Hoosier Jews for Choice, a group that is one of the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit that challenged the Indiana abortion ban on the grounds of religious freedom. The case challenged Indiana’s near-total abortion ban, which is based on a Christian narrative that life begins at conception; we joined this case because not all people or religions share that belief.
We joined this case because many Jews believe that life does not begin until a baby takes its first breath. Many also maintain that a fetus is not considered an independent life but rather part of the pregnant person’s body. While a fetus has value as potential life, it does not supersede the value of the life of the pregnant person.
Judaism prioritizes not only life but also health and well-being, including mental health. In general, Jews are required to take care of their physical and mental health, even if it means breaking Jewish law. For example, Jewish women are excused from requirements such as fasting on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, in order to prevent any potential harm to themselves or their fetus. While Indiana’s abortion ban includes an exception for the life of the mother, it is exceedingly narrow — only “to prevent substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function” or death — and prevents Jewish women from prioritizing their health in accordance with their religious beliefs.
When Hoosier Jews for Choice joined this case, we joined plaintiffs across a variety of religions that also oppose a full ban on abortion. Many Muslim experts agree that abortion is permitted up to 120 days of pregnancy, and may be allowed even later than that if the mother’s life is in danger. The Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the United Church of Christ all support reproductive rights, including safe and legal access to abortion. Moreover, many women of faith across a variety of religions report having abortions and describe those abortions as being in line with their personally held religious beliefs.
Indiana’s abortion ban personally affected our members. Some members stopped seeking wanted pregnancies for fear that they wouldn’t be able to terminate a pregnancy if health risks or complications developed. Many members changed their methods of birth control or sexual practices to more effectively prevent unintended pregnancies, even when that change was not the best choice for them. We heard over and over again from individuals, parents, and grandparents who feared for their or their children’s health and well being as they navigate their reproductive years. Some even questioned whether they could continue to live, work, and raise their families in Indiana with the abortion ban in place.
We joined this case to ensure that those who have a religious belief that support it are able to obtain an abortion when needed. As a result of this case, Hoosiers of any faith background with sincerely held religious beliefs that direct them to obtain an abortion can now access abortion care in Indiana.
Americans hold a wide range of beliefs about abortion, shaped by different faith traditions and personal values. We respect every person’s right to live according to their beliefs. We are grateful that the courts in Indiana have recognized that our religious beliefs deserve that same respect.
If you have questions about whether you qualify for or how to access a religious exemption in Indiana, contact the ACLU of Indiana at intake@aclu-in.org or via their online intake form.
Cara Berg Raunick, Elly Cohen, and Amalia Shifriss are Indiana residents and members of Hoosier Jews for Choice.
