He is capitalizing on every opportunity.
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis vehemently asserted that the Satanic Temple should not be officially recognized as a religion by the U.S. government. This declaration, delivered on a Friday morning, emphasized DeSantis’s belief that satanism has no place within American society.
The Florida governor’s statement followed an incident where Mississippi state House candidate Michael Cassidy openly admitted to removing the Satanic Temple’s display in the Iowa state capitol. Cassidy faced charges of fourth-degree criminal mischief and was arrested on Friday, as reported by KCCI. DeSantis, in a tweet, expressed his firm stance, stating, “Satan has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a ‘religion’ by the federal government.” He further pledged to contribute to Cassidy’s legal defense fund.
DeSantis continued to affirm the triumph of good over evil, aligning this sentiment with the American spirit. He also addressed the Satanic Temple display during a recent CNN town hall event, attributing the organization’s recognition as a religion to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Trump administration. The IRS officially acknowledged the Satanic Temple as a house of worship in 2019, granting it tax-exempt status and First Amendment protections.
Expressing surprise at the IRS ruling, DeSantis questioned the legitimacy of recognizing the Satanic Temple as a religion, stating that it deviates from the intentions of the Founding Fathers. However, he acknowledged the legal standing provided by the IRS ruling under Trump, suggesting that it might be the basis for the organization’s claim to legitimacy.
When confronted by Jake Tapper about the IRS decision not implying government support for satanism, DeSantis maintained his stance, asserting that recognizing it as a religion was inherently wrong. Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, countered DeSantis’s remarks, describing them as “raw cowardice dressed up in false heroism.” Greaves accused DeSantis of yielding to an undemocratic mob and abandoning constitutional principles for political expediency.
The Satanic Temple, established in 2013, espouses atheism and does not adhere to belief in Satan, God, or any higher power. Instead, the organization follows “seven tenets” that prioritize science and reason. The use of Satanic imagery serves as a means to advocate for their principles and political objectives, including issues such as abortion access and challenging “religious privilege.”
In response to criticisms of not being a genuine religion, Greaves argued that societal definitions beg for clarification. He emphasized the group’s cultural identity and symbolic constructs, maintaining that, despite being openly atheist, they possess meaningful elements that should be respected in a society that grants religious privilege and exemption.
The incident involving Michael Cassidy tearing down the Satanic Temple’s display prompted him to cite a Bible verse on social media, emphasizing his opposition to what he deemed “extremely anti-Christian.” The broader debate underscores the complex intersections of religious freedom, political posturing, and societal perceptions within the U.S. landscape.
