DeSantis Signs New Religious Law
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed a new law that allowed religious chaplains the opportunity to hold a position in public schools.
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This chaplain program is supposed to allow volunteer chaplains to give guidance and support to public school students.
Parents Express Outrage Over Chaplain Program
However, once DeSantis signed this bill into law, many Florida parents expressed their outrage over the religious program.
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These parents don’t believe religious chaplains have any right to be on public school grounds, talking with their students, and pushing their own religious views.
A Violation of the Constitution
Many parents have since come out to declare that this chaplain program violates their own constitutional rights, particularly when it comes to freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
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Various organizations and parents have vowed to take Florida school districts to court if they implement this program. The Satanic Temple has found their own way to push back on this law.
Satanic Temple Chaplains in Florida Schools
After DeSantis first signed this law, The Satanic Temple was one of the first religious organizations to express their interest in sending their own chaplains to Florida’s public schools.
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This move comes as the Temple continues to fight for the separation of church and state. To do so, The Satanic Temple knowingly places themselves in these types of situations, as they know this religion is very offensive to many Christians.
DeSantis Fights Back
However, DeSantis quickly fought back against the idea of The Satanic Temple having chaplains in schools.
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“We’re not playing those games in Florida,” DeSantis said. “That is not a religion.”
Keeping the Satanic Temple Out of Schools
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz recently released a new model policy for school districts, pushing only for “credible chaplains” to be put in schools — and thereby keeping Satanic Temple chaplains out.
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“Florida welcomes legitimate and officially authorized chaplains to become volunteers at their local schools and to provide students with morally sound guidance,” Diaz said.
The Satanic Temple Continues to Fight
The Satanic Temple — which received its tax-exempt status back in 2019 as a religious organization — is fighting back against these latest moves that were seemingly targeted against them.
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In a new post on their website, the Satanic Temple explained that they weren’t backing down at all.
Raising Hell
In a signup sheet on the Temple’s official website, the group explained that they would “raise hell” in Florida.
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“Throughout Florida, The Satanic Temple’s members, supporters, and allies are standing up for true religious freedom and confronting encroaching theocracy. Are you ready to stand with us and raise hell in the Sunshine State?” read the sheet.
School Districts Remain Wary
Though this law has officially been passed, many school districts in Florida have been wary about actually voting for a chaplain policy.
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Osceola County School Board voted against creating a chaplain program for the second time in a row. Many members, including those appointed by DeSantis, have expressed their worries over legal issues.
An Unpopular Policy?
Lucien Greaves, the co-founder of The Satanic Temple, spoke during Osceola County School Board’s recent meeting, stating that they were voting on an unpopular policy.
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Greaves stated, “You’re voting on a policy that is unpopular, divisive, poorly planned, obviously dishonest in its goals, unnecessary, and introduces new risks to children, even if you are allowed to implement it.”
Accommodating All Religions
Greaves further said that the school will have to ensure they are accommodating to all religions.
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He added, “The reality is, you’ll have to accommodate religious identities you may not agree with. You will end up with Satanist chaplains.”