A holiday display by the Satanic Temple will be permitted inside the Florida capitol building after the group threatened to sue after its display was rejected last year. The display features Satan as an angel descending into Hell with the words, “Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple.”
The display will be one of five displays on the first-floor rotunda of the building for the Festivus celebration. It joins a nativity scene and a menorah, as well as secular displays.
Last year, Festivus organizers denied the Satanic Temple’s request for space, arguing that some people would be “grossly offended” by the group’s display.
Lucien Greaves, Satanic Temple spokesman wrote that this year “the difference seems to be in the fact that this time around we arrived with lawyers.”
Florida Prayer Network president Pam Olsen said that she does not mind other groups putting up displays but worries that the Satanic Temple is involved to protest Christian Christmas celebrations.
“This is not a religious endorsement by our state government. It’s freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and we will all be up there. But are they really putting them up to wish everyone a happy holiday from the atheists and the Satanists, or are they up there to protest baby Jesus?” she said.
Publication date: December 5, 2014
