Satanic Temple permitted to hold holiday event a Iowa state capitol

A local Satanic organization is allowed to hold a holiday event in the rotunda of the Iowa state capitol based on a federal judge’s ruling. 

Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office told The Associated Press that the court order is the latest in a back-and-forth between the religious group and Republican state officials, who intend to appeal the judge’s decision.

Satanic Temple will hold holiday event at Iowa state capitol

The backstory:

Iowa’s Republican leaders banned the Satanic Temple Iowa’s holiday observances in recent years, referencing the state capitol building’s policies that forbid unwarranted violence and obscene displays.

According to The Associated Press, in August, the Satanic Temple and the leader of its Iowa organization sued the state in federal court, contending that current and ex-Iowa officials discriminated against their religion by refusing to permit their holiday event and violated their constitutional rights and state law.

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Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose stated in her order that the Satanic Temple was likely to succeed on its free speech claim and ruled that the current director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services approve the group’s application for a holiday event within seven days.

The Satanic Temple tells the AP that it doesn’t believe in Satan but describes itself as a "non-theistic religious organization" that advocates for secularism. The group is separate from the Church of Satan.

Furthermore, the Satanic Temple hasn’t always been banned from taking part in the holiday season at the Iowa Statehouse, where a Christmas tree and other religious holiday installations are included in the rotunda.

The AP reported that a Satanic Temple Iowa display, which depicted the goat-headed figure Baphomet, was vandalized three years ago, resulting in scrutiny of the group and its observances.

 

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