Republicans praised for helping to promote Satanism

A group of conservative US politicians accused of blurring the lines between church and state should have been more careful with what they wished for.

In 2009 the Republican-controlled state legislature in Oklahoma, described as being in the Buckle of the Bible Belt, gave the OK for a $20,000 Ten Commandments monument to be erected in the Capitol grounds despite criticism it violated the US constitution.

Now another group has seized upon this apparent relaxing of the separation of church and state by applying for a statue to be built commemorating their religious beliefs: Satanists.

The New York-based Satanic Temple has pitched several designs to the Capitol Preservation Commission, all in ‘good taste and consistent with community standards’, including a giant pentagram and an interactive display for children, to sit next to the Ten Commandments monument.

‘Our proposed monument, as an homage to the historic/literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines,’ said temple spokesman Lucien Greaves.

Mr Greaves reserved special thanks for Republican representative Mike Ritze, whose family paid half the cost of the Ten Commandments monument, for enabling Satanists to receive more prominence in public life.

‘He’s helping a satanic agenda grow more than any of us possibly could,’ he said. ‘You don’t walk around and see too many satanic temples around, but when you open the door to public spaces for us, that’s when you’re going to see us.’

Brady Henderson, from the Oklahoma branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said if state officials allowed one type of religious expression, they must allow alteative forms as well.

‘We would prefer to see Oklahoma’s govement officials work to faithfully serve our communities and improve the lives of Oklahomans instead of erecting granite monuments to show us all how righteous they are,’ he said.

‘But if the Ten Commandments, with its overtly Christian message, is allowed to stay at the Capitol, the Satanic Temple’s proposed monument cannot be rejected because of its different religious viewpoint.’