this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
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By Peter Pinedo

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 14, 2023 / 18:15 pm

The Satanic Temple display in the Iowa state capitol building is not protected by the First Amendment, a Catholic legal expert told CNA.

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, a legal analyst for EWTN, told CNA that the display installed at the request of a prominent atheist group is not religious expression but rather about making a mockery of religion.

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[–] [email protected] 103 points 10 months ago (1 children)

not religious expression but rather about making a mockery of religion

Mockery of religion is religious expression.

[–] Dkarma 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Deeply held belief that these clowns are in fact clowns

[–] Tangent5280 2 points 10 months ago

insert that video of man holding up and laughing at orangutan with clown make up on its face

[–] zeppo 88 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

So, this chud’s claim is that it’s not a valid expression of religion because TST states on their website that they don’t actually believe in the existence of Satan as a spiritual entity. And… so what? According to her, you’re not allowed to express a mockery of religion because it’s so harmful for society. Right… religions are protected from criticism? And the only protected speech is an expression of religion? I don’t think so.

“concerted effort to undermine the fabric of American society.”

Ha ha. They could hardly ratchet up the hyperbolic paranoia higher. Anyway, I’d say the same about their decades long effort to protect serial child abusers.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 10 months ago

Anyway, I’d say the same about their decades long effort to protect serial child abusers.

Or their attempts to turn the US into a theocracy.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If it's isn't a valid expression of religion, then it's still constitutionally protected speech but Iowa may not be required to allow it in the state capitol building. If they permit a display from one religious group, they have to permit displays from other religious groups, but they (probably) don't have to permit every single otherwise legal display.

[–] zeppo 21 points 10 months ago

I would argue (to Iowa, this person etc) that a religion doesn't require belief in supernatural entities to be considered valid - it could just be a philosophy, which would include TST. Some forms of Buddhism would qualify as that, too, being non-theistic - some Buddhists believe in ghosts, devas, and brahmas, but some, particularly in the west, do not. On the other hand I'm sure some Catholics wouldn't accept that as a valid religion either. I doubt whether it has a solid legal basis though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

But that logic, pulling baby Jesus (and Mary? IDK) out of a nativity scene, and then burning it down isn’t a hate crime.

[–] njm1314 78 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm glad to know they have such a reasoned response to this. Because surely the Catholic church is to decide what counts as religious expression and what's not. Not like they have a history of you know murdering people whose religious expression disagreed with theirs.

[–] Etterra 6 points 10 months ago

Crusade? Never heard of her.

[–] [email protected] 62 points 10 months ago (3 children)

A Catholic legal expert for the Eternal Word Television Network told the Catholic News Agency

exactly what they wanted to hear.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Well duh, she'd be an idiot not to say what they pay her to say.

[–] ZombieTheZombieCat 10 points 10 months ago

Eternal Word Television Network told the Catholic News Agency

This sounds like the opening to an SNL sketch

[–] AnUnusualRelic 4 points 10 months ago

I like that you don't even have to specify in which country those ridiculous events take place. Readers will have automatically filled in the blanks with those two lines.

[–] voidMainVoid 50 points 10 months ago (3 children)

She's lying.

Even though the founders of The Satanic Temple claim not to really be Satanists …

They are Satanists, and they say that they're Satanists. They've never said any different.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Exactly. Who the hell are the Catholic Church to define Satanism for these Satanists? They might as well try to define what Islam is for Muslims while they’re at it. Lol

[–] Bwaz 21 points 10 months ago

Oh, they do.

[–] Archer 3 points 10 months ago

Fingers crossed for another Catholic schism about how to oppress their enemies best

[–] ShunkW 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Right. They've said they don't worship Satan. Rather that Satan is used as a symbol of rebellion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

The disconnect comes from the catholic (mis)understanding that "Satanist" = "devil worshipper"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The TST may not believe in Satan as a literal figure, but as a religious icon.

Iconography is a popular expression of faith, especially in certain Orthodox Christian groups.

Therefore, the use of Satan as an icon to inspire certain beliefs is right inline with their own usage of iconography.

Their in the previous sentence being Christians as a whole, not just Catholicism.

Besides, TST is an atheistic interpretation of Satanism, whereas there are definitely Theistic Satanists.

[–] voidMainVoid 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't understand what your point is.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 10 months ago (1 children)

notice they did not say attorney.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

However, she is/was. From her awful website

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is Director of the Conscience Project. A Stanford-educated lawyer, she has dedicated her legal career to civil rights and appellate advocacy.

Andrea got her start as a trial and appellate attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to leading the Conscience Project, she served as the legal advisor for the Catholic Association, filing amicus briefs with federal courts of appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court in key religious freedom and free speech cases.

She has also joined Fox News, Newsmax and a variety of other shows to share expert commentary.

Right. By 'civil rights' and 'religious freedom', she means things like the rights of Christians to oppress other people, like the article here.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

yeah my comment was mostly just around how articles will call anyone things that sound official or significant when it means nothing. someone once went to a wedding for someone famous and is now a media insider or some crap. Sad she is an attorney but this type of thing seems common with religous "professional"

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago

Convenient. First Christians argue atheists make a religion of atheism, then say it’s not.

[–] carl_dungeon 28 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I pretty sure satan is from Christianity, are they saying it’s too hard to believe it? Also, even if it is making fun, is that not free speech? Is it not also art? And the real point is, this is about separation of church and state, not just taking the piss on dumb religious people.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Except like the Church of Satan, The Satanic Temple is very clear they don't believe in a literal Satan. The Satanic Temple is also very much just a paper religion meant to counter these public Christian displays. They walk a fine line of making that very clear while also having plausible deniability.

[–] carl_dungeon 16 points 10 months ago

Right but so what? That cancel out free speech? And besides, what is religion- it only counts if it’s totally fucking insane and you believe it anyway?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

I wouldn’t call TST a paper religion. I get why you say it, but the tenants and beliefs would still exist, and the people would likely similarly be drawn together, even if the government didn’t overstep the way they do. The fact that they exist outside the US (though admittedly to a lesser degree) should speak to that point.

[–] eran_morad 24 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Raping kids is cool, though.

[–] voidMainVoid 10 points 10 months ago

Yeah. The fucking balls. An expert from the child-rape church is telling us we aren't a real religion.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Catholic legal experts, please stick to Catholic law. Your mental handicaps have no space in any justice system.

[–] skeezix 6 points 10 months ago

They cant. Theyre too busy covering up for pedos.

[–] TomAwsm 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, Ms Catholic Lawyer, let's say you and I go toe to toe on bird law and see who comes out the victor.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I have very small hands, can we pose with your hands over mine like they're my hands?

[–] Fridgeratr 18 points 10 months ago

Christofacist says what

[–] IphtashuFitz 18 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If parody isn’t protected speech then Weird Al is in a boatload of legal trouble.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

He's one of the few who asks permission.

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[–] voidMainVoid 4 points 10 months ago

Good point, but this isn't a parody, no matter what the Catholics say.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago

Religion makes a mockery of itself, the Satanic Temple shows us this.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)
[–] SkyezOpen 6 points 10 months ago

They mean God's law, not man's, you silly devil worshipper.

[–] captainlezbian 10 points 10 months ago

So it’s only political speech? Definitely not something protected

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

If that's what this "legal expert" says, then they are not much of an expert on anything at all. If religious freedom is a protection under the first amendment, or any other part of the constitution, then this display is absolutely protected by it. I just got my copy of it (heavier than I expected) to display in my own temple on my property. It's wonderful to see and it makes me feel great about this amazing world to look upon it.

[–] rustydomino 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It’s why I worship the FSM. My belief in my deity is just as sincere as your belief in yours. I got my HR dept to acknowledge my beliefs are legit. Next time I take my employee ID photo I’m bringing a colander with me.

[–] nucleative 3 points 10 months ago

Let's go set up free spaghetti lunch day at the courthouse.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

Quick somebody destroy a cross of Jesus christ

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

rather about making a mockery of religion.

That's Freedom of Religion & Freedom of Speech you stupid #christofascist bag of hair.

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