Can’t Satanists Have Religious Freedom, Too?

Posted by | November 1, 2015 20:00 | Filed under: News Behaving Badly Religion


Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy was suspended for leading prayer on the field, because a public school isn’t supposed to violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. He got lots of support from the right, including the right-wing presidential candidates. But when Satanists also prayed on the same football field, they were subject to threats, even though they were not led by a school employee, and thus are constitutionally protected.

…senior class president Abe Bartlett and a group of students invited the Seattle Chapter of the Satanist Temple to pray on the Bremerton High School football field.

In a statement Bartlett commented:

The main reason I did it, is to portray to the school district that I think we should either have a policy that we’re not going to have any religious affiliation or public religious practices, or they should say people are going to be allowed to practice their religion publicly whatever their beliefs.

A group of students shouted threats and threw objects in the direction of the Satanists, which is highly disappointing. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the Constitution should understand that a public school cannot favor any religion over another.

Yet, they screamed and shouted when another religious group was allowed to pray on the field. I assume they did not understand that players could pray on the field, they just couldn’t be led by Kennedy, who obviously is an employee of the high school.

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By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

15 responses to Can’t Satanists Have Religious Freedom, Too?

  1. FatRat November 1st, 2015 at 20:14

    I never thought about hiring up some Devil worshippers to pray against a rival team. Could be interesting. Conduct a controlled experiment. Various groupings of differing religions/cults and see if the games are effected one way or another.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsj2ghzUR0A
    THE PEOPLE’S COURT: VONDA BRAITHWAITE V. THE DEVIL
    http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/the-peoples-court/n9487
    http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0kvmid2lA1rngycgo1_500.jpg

  2. StoneyCurtisll November 1st, 2015 at 20:55

    key word..
    Texas…

    • Averant November 6th, 2015 at 11:47

      Bremerton is in Washington, but thanks for trying.

      • maggie November 7th, 2015 at 18:26

        isn’t washington great this way? ;)

  3. KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker November 1st, 2015 at 21:09

    Never trust a person who can clear their conscience of any immoral act by simply asking forgiveness from their imaginary friend.

  4. labman57 November 1st, 2015 at 21:52

    Christian conservative politicians and public servants — including judges and county clerks — strive to protect the religious freedom of all Americans … just so long as you believe in Jesus Christ.

  5. William November 1st, 2015 at 22:22

    Bingo.

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