"Consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s direction, the city cannot dictate religious viewpoints or the content of a prayer. In addition, government may not exclude a denomination or a religion from praying under these circumstances."For background read Florida Battles Satanic 'Prayer' at Civic Meetings City-by-City as one Florida County Official Defies 'Minion of Satan'
-- Brad Holm, City Attorney of Phoenix, Arizona
"I strongly disagree with this group's message. However, the First Amendment protects free speech. As offensive as that message may be, the Constitution demands equal treatment under the law."
-- Mayor Greg Stanton
Also read Arizona City Allows Only Christian Prayers
In addition, read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Says Government Should Favor God of the Bible
-- From "Satanic group to give prayer at Phoenix City Council meeting" by The Associated Press 1/29/16
The Arizona Republic reports that the Satanic Temple submitted a request in December to give the invocation for a City Council meeting. Temple members Michelle Shortt and Stu de Haan are expected to do so on Feb. 17.
The city’s invocation has been delivered by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and people of other faiths.
De Haan says the group doesn’t intend to do anything offensive. He says they don’t believe in a literal Satan but view the biblical Satan as a metaphor for rebellion against tyranny.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "4 Phoenix city councilmen trying to block Satanist prayer" by Dustin Gardiner, The Arizona Republic 1/30/16
While some Phoenix leaders have objected, the city has said it will let the Satanists pray. City Attorney Brad Holm defended the decision in a statement released Thursday.
Councilmen Sal DiCiccio, Bill Gates, Jim Waring and Michael Nowakowski are pushing a proposal to change how the city schedules the invocation. The plan would let the mayor and council members take turns inviting different religious groups to give the prayer.
Waring said the proposal could prevent the Satanic Temple from turning the council's Feb. 17 meeting into "a circus." The group could still give an invocation at a future meeting, but a council member would have to personally invite them.
Other city leaders have defended the satanists' right to speak under the First Amendment. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Phoenix council members try to block Satanic church from giving meeting prayer" posted at KTAR-FM92.3 (Glendale, AZ) 1/29/16
[Satanist Stu de Haan] said people have been concerned about the satanic prayer, but a lot of them don’t understand the religion.
“We’ve gotten a lot of ridiculous questions, like are we going to sacrifice babies and what we’re calling ‘blood libel,’” he said. “There’s nothing ever like that in Satanism.”
“We should have our voice and we believe that reason should trump superstition in general,” he said.
De Haan said the group is not looking to shake any feathers or make changes to the city’s process. His group just wants to be included in the broader religious spectrum.
“We are Satanists and we are your friend,” he said.
To read the entire article above, and hear interview with Satanist, CLICK HERE.
Also read Mississippi Police Chief Thanks God at City Prayer Meetings
And read California Mayor Calls City Prayer Vigil to Seek Solutions
