Satanists plan statue to stand alongside Ten
Commandments in Oklahoma
A
decision to erect a Christian monument outside the statehouse could backfire as
satanists demand religious parity
The
Horned One may get his own monument outside Oklahoma's statehouse if the
Satanic Temple has its way. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis Bettmann/CORBIS
Associated Press in
Oklahoma City
Sunday 8 December 2013 19.22 GMTLast
modified on Tuesday 7 October 201414.58 BST
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In their zeal to tout their faith in the
public square, conservatives in Oklahomamay have unwittingly opened the door
to a wide range of religious groups, including Satanists who are seeking to put
their own statue next to a Ten Commandments monument outside the statehouse.
The Republican-controlled legislature in the
state known as the buckle of the Bible Belt authorised the privately funded Ten
Commandments monument in 2009. It was placed on the Capitol grounds last year
despite criticism from legal experts, who questioned its constitutionality. The
Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit
seeking its removal.
But the New York-based Satanic Temple saw an
opportunity. It notified the state's Capitol Preservation Commission that it
wants to donate a monument and plans to submit one of several possible designs
this month, said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the temple.
"We believe that all monuments should be
in good taste and consistent with community standards," Greaves wrote in
letter to state officials. "Our proposed monument, as an homage to the
historic/literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines."
Greaves said one potential design involves a
pentagram, a satanic symbol, while another is meant to be an interactive
display for children. He said he expects the monument, if approved by Oklahoma
officials, would cost about $20,000.
The Republican state representative Mike
Ritze, who spearheaded the push for the Ten Commandments monument and whose
family helped pay the $10,000 for its construction, declined to comment on the
Satanic Temple's effort, but Greaves credited Ritze for opening the door to his
group's proposal.
"He's helping a satanic agenda grow more
than any of us possibly could," Greaves 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."
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The Oklahoma legislature has taken other steps
that many believe blur the line that divides church and state. The House
speaker said he wants to build a chapel inside the Capitol to celebrate
Oklahoma's "Judeo-Christian heritage". Several lawmakers have said
they want to allow nativity scenes and other religious-themed symbols in public
schools.
The Republican representative Bobby Cleveland,
who plans to introduce one such bill next year, said many Christians feel they
are under attack as a result of political correctness. He dismissed the notion
of Satanists erecting a monument at the Capitol.
"I think these Satanists are a different
group," Cleveland said. "You put them under the nut category."
Brady Henderson, the legal director for ACLU
Oklahoma, said if state officials allow one type of religious expression, they
must allow alternative forms of expression, although he said a better solution
might be to allow none at all on state property.
"We would prefer to see Oklahoma's
government 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," Henderson 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."
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