To fulfill its ambitions, the Satanic Temple chose school districts in nine US states, including Utah, Georgia, California, Florida, Oregon, Washington, Missouri, Maryland and Arizona.
Letter from The Satantic Temple of #Seattle to Mt. Vernon School District Superintendent- application for new afterschool club #komonews pic.twitter.com/qN9GsGhjx5
— Suzanne Phan (@SuzannePhan) 22 сентября 2016 г.
Duncan Fobes, a lawyer assigned to represent the Mount Vernon School District, said on Wednesday that Centennial Elementary School, which was chosen by Satanists in Oregon to host an after-school program, must let the “after hours” club occur, or face a trial that it will lose.
“I think that if the school district denied that application, you would face costly litigation that would be distracting from your mission," Fobes told the Mount Vernon School Board at the meeting. "And would ultimately be unsuccessful.”
Fobes said that the Supreme Court ruled in 2001, in a legal standoff between the Good News Bible Club and the Milford Central School District in New York that if schools decide to let non-school organizations use its facilities, it must allow all organizations, whether secular or not.
Citing Mount Vernon School District’s strict adherence to a policy and procedure that “encourages the use of community groups to use your facilities,” it must open the door to the Satanic Temple, Fobes explained.
"This is going to be infectious and widespread," opined Mike Cheek, who has grandchildren in the district. "I know that if there is anything to do with Satan, it is dark and it is evil."
The news split the Mount Vernon community, as many understand that the group’s teachings do not harm children.
"I think the reason the (temple) is here is because they wanted a reaction," McPhaden said. "And they got the reaction. I don't think they want to start a Satanic club in Mount Vernon."
This is not the first controversial action by the Satanic Temple. It has also requested to erect a statue of Satan in Oklahoma in response to Ten Commandments monument: the step urged the state Supreme Court to ban all the religious displays on capital grounds.
