If you were one of those parents who were hoping to get some “me” time Friday afternoon by dropping your kids off at Elementary School Satan Club for an hour or so, then you are out of luck for now.
The controversial after-school club for kids in first through sixth grades, which was to be held in the Joyner Elementary School cafeteria, has been put on hold while school officials review the law and consider their options.
Last week, when news that the club was scheduled to meet at the school was announced, there was an uproar on social media and in real life as well when people found out that it wasn’t a joke at all, but, instead, was a real club for kids sponsored by a group that bills themselves as Satanists – but also proclaims to have none of the characteristics universally associated with Satan.
Those who called Joyner Elementary on Friday, April 29 to inquire about the club, were read a prepared statement by school staff that said, at the current time, neither the Satan Club, nor the Good News Club – a Christian group for students – were authorized to use Guilford County Schools facilities for their meetings.
The statement also noted that school system officials were reviewing the situation.
A two-decade-old US Supreme Court decision does not allow schools to discriminate against religious groups if that school system allows the use of its facilities by other outside groups. The Bible-based Good News Club has used Guilford County School facilities in the past, but it looks like that practice might come to an end since allowing that club to use school grounds would apparently mean letting the Satanists use the school facilities as well.
In some other areas of the country where the Satan Club has not been allowed access to school facilities, the Satanists behind the club have threatened legal action.
A two-decade-old US Supreme Court decision does not allow schools to discriminate against religious groups.
So, THE SATANIC TEMPLE AFTER SCHOOL SATAN CLUB is a religious group?
I’m afraid I’d have to hear how this is possible before I would go any farther.
Of course they have threatened legal action against schools that say no to them. This is just a stunt to get attention and threaten to invoke a law suit. Since they are satanists, just tell them to go home–to hell.
They aren’t satanists. And the point is to get your dangerous religions banned. Either all are allowed or none are allowed. I’m hope they win and get all your religious cults banned, they don’t belong in a public school, separation of church and state.
For clarity, the point of this is that if you swap out Satan Club for Christian Club, the exact same thing is allowed, . I’m not religious, and in my view Christianity is no better than Satanism. Christianity is a dangerous, fictional, cult in my eyes. This was supposed to make you feel the same way that we feel, keep your dangerous cults away from our kids and out of our schools. It’s pointing out the blatant hypocrisy.
Way to play right into the drama they wanted.
You may not like ’em or agree with them, however if you like the principles our country is founded on, you will appreciate equal treatment under the law. And that’s what this is about, the principle of law applied fairly. It’s not about them.
“School System Officials ” are “reviewing” who can use Guilford County Schools property for after school events? Ah yes, unnamed, unelected school buercrats will now determine what religions, sects, and beliefs are acceptable? I hope these “officials” get personally sued for blatant religious descrimination.
They are just saying that if you let one use the taxpayer facilities then all should be able to use the same facilities. I don’t see any discrimination going on. Now if the good news club was allowed and the after school satan wasn’t then there would be discrimination. If neither can use it there is no discrimination.
Why is this limited to children from one to six years old? Are other groups limited to a certain age group? Do they think that this age of children will be easier to train to worship Satan? Will the persons training the children wear red devil uniforms? And how long with their red horns be? Christianity has the Bible which is a book that has been around for centuries. Does this group have a book? This kind of group does NOT have the right to start with very young children!!! They should start with old people first. How sick will this city get before the persons managing Greensboro be voted out of office.
Because it’s an elementary school club. And fair enough, can’t be brainwashing kids. So as an atheist I want your religion banned from the school too.
The age group is specific to the school – an elementary school.
And a book is not required to be a religion. However, they do have the same tax exempt status as other churches, and they are a legitimate religious organization.
If Christians are allowed to indoctrinate children, so are Satanists. And even if they block all after school organizations, it’s still blatant discrimination since they have allowed Bible based groups access for decades, and only deny access when the Satanist arrive upon request of local parents.
Equal access, equal protections – that’s what the point is. Either allow everyone, even those you oppose, or allow no one. Ever. Anywhere.
We had this same issue starting our Wicca/Pagan group on the Camp Lejuene Chapels, even those sworn to uphold our freedoms couldn’t help themselves and had to block us.
In the end we won, so will the Satanists.
Afraid to say so, but as far as I can remember there have been lawsuits over this type of thing. My guess is that if they allow any other religious groups to meet similarly (Christians, Muslims, etc.) the public school system will lose a lawsuit.
“The Satanic Temple has officially been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, according to a post from the religion’s official Instagram account. Being granted tax-exempt status essentially means that the Satanic Temple has the same legal protections that other religions do, including “access to public spaces as other religious organizations; affirming its standing in court when battling religious discrimination; and enabling The Satanic Temple to apply for faith-based government grants,” according to a press release sent to Rolling Stone.”
Rolling Stone APRIL 24, 2019 5:54PM ET
One fictional, non-existant entity is as good as any other, in my book. How about some clubs dedicated to math or science or music or language……..you know…….things that actually EXIST in the real world and people can make a living from? There are plenty of outlets to role play your fantasy, myth and legend fare but an educational institution should at least stick to fact based clubs such as chess and physics. If you can’t see, hear, feel, taste or smell the subject matter, it doesn’t belong in a school PERIOD.
That is exactly what the Satanic Temple after school programs focus on – music, math, science, nature – things that actually exist. They don’t teach Satanism, they teach critical thought and reasoning.