INDIANAPOLIS — A federal appeals court has reversed a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of provisions in an Indiana law that requires abortion clinics to either bury or cremate fetal remains.
It comes after a federal judge found that the requirements infringe on the religious and free speech rights of people who don't believe aborted fetuses deserve the same treatment as deceased people.
A legal challenge to the law was brought on in part by two women who had abortions and objected to the provisions requiring burial or cremation, arguing that implies the personhood of a fetus. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is a defendant in the suit.
PREVIOUS | Judge: Indiana can't enforce abortion burial, cremation law
"... Neither of the two plaintiffs who has had an abortion contends that a third party’s cremation or burial of fetal remains would cause her to violate any religious principle indirectly. What these two plaintiffs contend is that cremation or burial implies a view — the personhood of an unborn fetus — that they do not hold," the opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reads in part.
"... A moral objection to one potential implication of the way medical providers handle fetal remains is some distance from a contention that the state compels any woman to violate her own religious tenets," it states.
The full opinion can be viewed here.
PREVIOUS | Federal judge rules portions of Indiana abortion law unconstitutional
House Enrolled Act 1337 was signed into law in 2016 by then-Gov. Mike Pence. Shortly afterward, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky filed suit, claiming the law violated the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment.
The U.S. Supreme Court later upheld the law.
-
State police trooper injured in 6th vehicle strike since snowstorm
For the sixth time in five days, an Indiana State Police vehicle was struck on an Indianapolis-area interstate during ongoing winter weather.
Environmental Sustainability Committee discuss future of data centers
WRTV’s Amber Grigley was there as the public spoke out about possible data center policies for Indianapolis.
Indy volunteers brave bitter cold for annual Point-in-Time Count
The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) and Goodwill Horizon House and Professional Blended Street Outreach (PBSO) conducted this year's Point-in-Time (PIT) Count
IFD: Man causes house fire by using blowtorch in an attempt to thaw gas lines
While no one was injured, IFD is reporting the fire "did significant damage to the interior and displaced 3 adults and 1 dog."
