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Should Satanic Statues Be Protected By the First Amendment?

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Sharon Nix & Liberty Surveys
December 24, 2023

Should Satanic Statues Be Protected By the First Amendment?

Here’s the Scoop

The installation of a Satanic Temple display in the Iowa state capitol has sparked intense debate over the limits of the First Amendment and the place of religious expression in public spaces.

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, a legal analyst for EWTN, told CNA that this display, which includes a goat-headed figure and is accompanied by the group’s seven core tenets, is “not protected by the First Amendment” and is not genuine religious expression but rather a mockery of religion.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called the display “absolutely objectionable” and encouraged prayer, noting the display’s offensive nature to many.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Jon Dunwell, a Republican and a pastor, asserted that the display is protected by the First Amendment, emphasizing the importance of not having the state evaluate religious expressions.

Picciotti-Bayer argued that the First Amendment does “not protect this kind of offensive and irreligious display,” claiming that The Satanic Temple (TST) is manipulating American principles and the rule of law to “undermine the fabric of American society.”

She highlighted TST’s atheist nature and its founders’ disavowal of Satanism as further proof of the display’s purpose as a mockery, not a sincere religious practice.

This clash of viewpoints raises fundamental questions about the scope of religious freedom and free speech in America.

Should displays like the one from The Satanic Temple be protected under the First Amendment, or do they cross a line that violates the spirit of these constitutional rights?

Your opinion matters in this heated debate about the boundaries of religious expression, free speech, and respect for diverse beliefs in public spaces.

Vote now and share your perspective on whether Satanic statues should be protected by the First Amendment.