The Satanic Temple can proceed with a December holiday event at the Iowa Capitol following a federal judge’s ruling, according to the Daily Mail.
Summarized by Jennifer Rae Vliet, News Editor of The Plain Truth, from reporting published by the Daily Mail.
Satanic Temple Challenges Iowa Officials
The ruling follows a years-long dispute over the organization’s proposed holiday activities.
Republican leaders in Iowa’s House and Senate have argued that the proposed displays violate restrictions on excessive violence and obscene material.
However, the Satanic Temple alleges that officials applied those restrictions unfairly. It argues that other religious organizations received permission to hold events while officials repeatedly rejected its applications.
Lawsuit Alleges Religious Discrimination
In August, the organization sued the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, director Mark Campbell and his predecessor, Adam Steen.
According to the Daily Mail’s account, the lawsuit alleges religious discrimination and violations of constitutional protections and state law.
The organization bases its challenge partly on free speech rights. Its complaint questions whether state officials can allow religious events while excluding its proposed gathering.
Those allegations form the basis of the legal dispute. The reported ruling allows the December event to proceed while addressing the organization’s likelihood of success on its free speech claim.
Judge Clears the Way for December Event
On Monday, Chief District Judge Stephanie Rose ruled that the Satanic Temple was likely to prevail on that claim.
Her decision cleared the way for the organization’s December event at the Capitol, according to the report.
How the Organization Describes Its Beliefs
Despite its name, the Satanic Temple says it does not believe in or worship Satan.
Founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2013, it describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization. It uses Satan as a symbol of personal liberty, religious pluralism and opposition to authoritarianism.
The organization also identifies secularism and separation of church and state as central priorities.
These stated beliefs are part of the background to its dispute with Iowa officials over access to the Capitol.