Florida Satanists are stepping up to fill school counselor roles after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law permitting religious chaplains in public schools amid staffing shortages. Lucien Greaves, the co-founder of The Satanic Temple, stated, “Nothing in the text of the bill serves to exclude us, and no credible interpretation of the First Amendment could. Should a school district now choose to have chaplains, they should expect Satanists to participate as well.”
When signing the bill in April, DeSantis claimed Satanism was “not a religion” and its members would be excluded from the program. However, Greaves accused the governor of misleading the public and failing to uphold constitutional law, which protects all religious identities equally.
The governor’s office reiterated his April comments: “We’re not playing those games in Florida. That is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in [the chaplain program].”
This law is part of broader efforts in various states to introduce Christian elements into public schools, such as teaching the Bible or Ten Commandments. The Satanic Temple, founded in 2014, continues to advocate for religious freedom in public education, including through its After School Satan clubs.
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