Clergy members who filed a lawsuit against Missouri’s near-total abortion ban announced on Wednesday their decision to drop the case after voters approved Amendment 3, a measure enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution.
The 2023 lawsuit, led by over a dozen religious leaders and filed in St. Louis circuit court, argued that the abortion ban violated the state constitution by relying on religious language. The Rev. Traci Blackmon, one of the plaintiffs, emphasized that challenging the ban was rooted in her faith, which she said compels her to “defend the dignity and autonomy of all people.”
Voter approval of Amendment 3 earlier this month reversed Missouri’s abortion ban. The amendment guarantees the right to abortion and other reproductive decisions up to fetal viability, approximately 24 weeks into pregnancy.
The lawsuit was initially dismissed by a St. Louis judge, who ruled the ban did not violate the state constitution. Attorneys representing the group, including members of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the National Women’s Law Center, had planned to appeal. However, with the passage of Amendment 3, they say the fight has shifted to ensuring state officials respect the updated constitution.
“With the passing of Amendment 3, the people of Missouri have made it clear that they reject efforts to control personal health care decisions based on religious beliefs,” said K.M. Bell, an attorney for the National Women’s Law Center.
In the wake of the amendment’s approval, Planned Parenthood has announced plans to resume providing abortion services in Missouri by next month. However, advocates anticipate potential legal challenges from Republican lawmakers and officials who remain opposed to abortion rights.
The battle over abortion access in Missouri reflects the broader national debate over reproductive rights, with implications for how states navigate the balance between personal autonomy and legislative control.