My religion taught me that I have an innate right to self-autonomy and "free will", and that upon my eventual death, I will be judged by MY God over the manner in which I exercised my free will.  My religion also taught me to be tolerant, accepting, and loving to those not like me and that it is inappropriate for me to judge another man, just as it is inappropriate for another man to judge me - because that is the sole role of my God.  You see, my religion is unimposing, tolerant, non-judgmental, loving, accepting, and it affects only me and my soul.  I am not pushing my beliefs or way of life onto anyone else; Therefore, I believe it is inappropriate for anyone else to the same to me.  If a person disagrees with my religious practices, that is fine.  They are free to practice their own religion in the manner they choose as long as their actions only impact their own existence.  That is the problem with these regulations that Virginia imposed - they give preferential treatment to one religion at the sacrifice of all others who believe in the right to exercise free will.  These regulations take away my rights.

I find it highly inappropriate for another person's religious views to be forced onto my way of life just because they do not believe abortion is proper, or they cannot trust themselves enough to practice free will in a secular society.  If a person doesn’t approve of abortion - then choose for yourself not to have one. It is not your place to choose on behalf of the rest of us.  If a person gives into temptation so easily that they are unable to function in a secular society – then he or she can colonize someplace else where Dominionism is acceptable.  But allowing one religion to exert its beliefs onto society through the political system is nothing less of Dominionism and we should have zero tolerance for anything of the like in America because no one religion prevails.  We are a melting pot of many religions (including atheists) and “state” should be completely isolated from the influence of any one religion – no matter how prevalent it might be.  

So shame on Virginia for allowing Dominionism to prevail.  The wrong people are in charge when something like this happens.  These antiabortion measures were enacted by fundamentalist politicians whose aim was to close down abortion clinics.  Who else would enact austere laws and regulations that actually hurt women's health because they feel society must be forced to practice their way of worship regardless of the rest of society's beliefs or needs?  They would rather find petty ways to close down clinics and prevent women from getting the full gamut of healthcare that they otherwise are unable to get elsewhere rather than allow one single abortion.  This is not tolerance.  It is not an expression of love given the lack of concern for women's health.  It is most obtrusive, burdensome, and costly for those women affected.  These regulations push one religious viewpoint and agenda and leave us with an austere world to try to cope in.  Virginia can do better than that! 

The only way we can share this state and country in a peaceful and respectful manner is if we don't allow one another’s religious beliefs to impede on each other’s own free will.   The issue of abortion is a constitutional right that protects a woman's free will and autonomy over her own body.  Bedsides, doesn’t the Constitution state that federal law prevails over state.  If Virginia abided by the Constitution, would we still be having this conversation?