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 1 year ago (1 children)

not religious expression but rather about making a mockery of religion

Mockery of religion is religious expression.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Deeply held belief that these clowns are in fact clowns

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 88 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] ArbitraryValue 5 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year 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.

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[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Crusade? Never heard of her.

[–] [email protected] 63 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

exactly what they wanted to hear.

[–] Tar_alcaran 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

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

Eternal Word Television Network told the Catholic News Agency

This sounds like the opening to an SNL sketch

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year 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] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't understand what your point is.

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

notice they did not say attorney.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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 1 year 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"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

How the fuck did she graduate from Stanford without a basic understanding of the First Amendment?

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Raping kids is cool, though.

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

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

They cant. Theyre too busy covering up for pedos.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

Christofacist says what

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

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

He's one of the few who asks permission.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe the satanists could do whatever they want and just ask for forgiveness after? Ya know, like any Catholic fuck might sin and do wrong onto others and only feel bad when praying to skydaddy.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

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

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

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

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Quick somebody destroy a cross of Jesus christ

[–] mindbleach 2 points 1 year ago

Argumentum ad nuh uh.

[–] HootinNHollerin 1 points 1 year ago

Que the lawsuits

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