The Satanic Temple has opened a second telehealth abortion clinic in the United States, this time in Virginia, where pregnant women can take part in an abortion ritual that has the backing of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Called the "Right to Your Life Satanic Abortion Clinic," the Virginia facility opened last week and will offer medication abortions that serve as a "destruction ritual" for those taking part in them.
In Virginia, abortion is legal through the 27th week of pregnancy, or the second trimester.
The temple’s first abortion clinic, the "Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic," opened on Feb. 14, 2023, in New Mexico and has "proudly offered over 100 abortions" in the state since then at no cost apart from the medication.
"With an average cost of $91 per procedure, we provide the lowest-cost option for pregnancy terminations in the entire state," the organization said in a release. "We’ve also helped cover travel and medication costs for those facing financial hardship, and we’re honored to have made a positive impact on so many lives during what can be a difficult time."
According to The Satanic Temple, the group’s abortion ritual "is a destruction ritual that serves as a protective rite." It is designed to "cast off notions of guilt, shame, and mental discomfort that a patient may be experiencing due to choosing to have a legal and medically safe abortion."
The purpose of the ritual, the organization claims, "is not to persuade someone to have an abortion if they are undecided."
"Rather, the ritual serves to assist in affirming their decision and to ward off the effects of unjust persecution, which can cause one to stray from the paths of scientific reasoning and free will that Satanists strive to embody," it said.
With the exception of the abortion pills, the services offered by The Satanic Temple are free of charge.
The Supreme Court unanimously preserved access to the abortion-inducing medication mifepristone in June, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023.
Complications from medication abortions can arise if the fetus is not fully expelled, causing sepsis and death, in some cases. The Post Millennial reported that Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign used two such cases to advocate for broader access to abortion.
The temple noted the significance of abortion to the upcoming presidential election and vowed to continue offering the controversial procedure.
"As abortion rights continue to be a central issue in the upcoming US presidential election, we remain steadfast in our mission to expand access and protect bodily autonomy," the group said. "We know the urgency of this work, and we will not stop until we have made a lasting difference."