Popular Magazine Embroiled In Controversy Over Unholy Ritual
Cosmopolitan, a widely-read women’s magazine with a global audience, recently published a thought-provoking report about The Satanic Temple’s innovative telehealth abortion services. This feature, showcased in the magazine’s November/December edition and promoted to its 4.2 million Instagram followers, has drawn mixed reactions, especially from pro-life groups advocating a return to religious values.
Titled “Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic,” the Cosmopolitan piece explores this seemingly unconventional service, delving beyond its eye-catching title to highlight its underlying purpose. It introduces the experience of a 37-year-old mother who opted for The Satanic Temple’s “Religious Abortion Ritual,” expressing admiration for its approach.
The ritual, described as optional, involves women finding a tranquil setting, reflecting upon their personhood while facing a mirror, and reciting affirmations before taking abortion medication. The article portrays The Satanic Temple as a “nontheistic faith” using its provocative reputation to expand access to essential healthcare, challenging prevailing moral perceptions.
Author Arielle Domb contextualizes the Temple’s approach, clarifying the non-worship of the devil and emphasizing Satanism as a nontheistic ideology focused on rebellion, rational inquiry, personal autonomy, and resistance against oppression.
Accompanying graphics, including the inverted cross and pentagram, symbolize aspects associated with satanism, enhancing the article’s impact. The Satanic Temple hailed the feature as a milestone in their advocacy for bodily autonomy, lauding its spotlight on their telehealth clinic and legal arguments supporting their members’ religious rights.
Conversely, pro-life group Live Action expressed alarm at the article, suggesting it signifies a societal need to re-embrace religious values. In an op-ed, Nancy Flanders urged a return to church involvement, cautioning against the glorification and normalization of The Satanic Temple’s ritual abortions.
The Cosmopolitan Instagram post promoting the article sparked intense criticism, with users condemning the magazine’s content as unsettling and inappropriate, reflecting the polarizing nature of the topic.