By Peter Pinedo
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 14, 2023 / 18:15 pm
The Satanic Temple display in the Iowa state capitol building is not protected by the First Amendment, a Catholic legal expert told CNA.
Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, a legal analyst for EWTN, told CNA that the display installed at the request of a prominent atheist group is not religious expression but rather about making a mockery of religion.
I pretty sure satan is from Christianity, are they saying it’s too hard to believe it? Also, even if it is making fun, is that not free speech? Is it not also art? And the real point is, this is about separation of church and state, not just taking the piss on dumb religious people.
Except like the Church of Satan, The Satanic Temple is very clear they don’t believe in a literal Satan. The Satanic Temple is also very much just a paper religion meant to counter these public Christian displays. They walk a fine line of making that very clear while also having plausible deniability.
I wouldn’t call TST a paper religion. I get why you say it, but the tenants and beliefs would still exist, and the people would likely similarly be drawn together, even if the government didn’t overstep the way they do. The fact that they exist outside the US (though admittedly to a lesser degree) should speak to that point.