Sound The Trumpet : Satanic Temple Display Approved for Florida Capitol

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“Satanic Temple Display Approved for Florida Capitol”
by Orlando Sentinel
December 5th, 2014

The display proposed by the Satanic Temple was denied access to the Florida Capitol rotunda after Department of Management Services last years after officials deemed it "grossly offensive." This year, the display has been approved. (The Department of Management Services)

News Service of Florida

State approves Satanic Temple display for Florida Capitol rotunda

TALLAHASSEE — Unlike last year, a Satanic Temple display will be officially welcome inside Florida's Capitol during the holiday season.

And Festivus, a non-commercial festival "for the rest of us," will be back as a 6-foot stack of empty beer cans. Also expected are a pair of nativity scenes.

The Florida Department of Management Services this week approved a holiday display from the Satanic Temple, which a year ago was rejected because the agency said it was "grossly offensive."

The temple's entry was one of five displays approved to be put up in the first-floor rotunda of the Capitol for the holiday period.

Two additional requested displays, including one to mark the sitcom-created Festivus holiday, are pending final approval. The state agency offered no explanation with its approval of the displays.

John Tupps, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, deferred comment to the department, saying, "DMS makes the rules for the Capitol."

Lucien Greaves, spokesman for the Satanic Temple, said in an email that "the difference seems to be in the fact that this time around we arrived with lawyers."

The temple, which threatened to sue after being rejected last year but never took action, is scheduled to put up its display Dec. 22.

The approved display will banner the phrase "Happy holidays from the Satanic Temple" atop a diorama of an angel falling into hell.

"We hope that, this holiday season, everybody can put their religious differences aside and respect that the celebratory spirit of responsible hedonism is available to all," Greaves said in the email.

Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network and also submitted the application for an approved nativity scene for the International House of Prayer Tallahassee, said she doesn't have a problem with the others putting up displays. However, she questioned the motives of people again are putting up displays in reaction to the Florida Prayer Network's introduction of a nativity scene into the Capitol last year.

"This is not a religious endorsement by our state government. It's freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and we will all be up there," Olsen said. "But are they really putting them up to wish everyone a happy holiday from the atheists and the Satanists, or are they up there to protest baby Jesus?"

Last year, a nativity joined a Hanukkah menorah and Christmas trees that had been displayed for years on the first floor of the Capitol.

Department of Management Services spokesman Ben Wolf said in an email the state agency is waiting for Deerfield Beach resident Chaz Stevens, the sponsor of the Festivus pole, and the American Atheists of Tallahassee, to select the seven-day period for their displays to be set up.

Stevens, whose irreverent display made from Pabst Blue Ribbon cans went up last year to make a point about the need for a separation between church and state, said Wednesday he intends to ask for his display to go up Dec. 15, the same day as the Florida Prayer Network's nativity scene.

"The proud tradition continues forward for another year," Stevens said Wednesday. "I'm trying to be just a little more professional this year. I'm going on Craigslist to see if I can find a mariachi band to bring along."

Festivus is a "holiday" created for the TV sitcom "Seinfeld" as a non-commercial festival "for the rest of us" in the Christmas and year-end holiday season.

The state agency also approved a "Happy Winter Solstice" banner from the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and an entry from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13