A federal judge this week allowed a lawsuit to move forward against the Broward County School Board over its refusal to allow banners that said “Satan Loves the First Amendment” at two schools.
Activist Timothy “Chaz” Stevens, a minister of The Church of Satanology and Perpetual Soiree, filed the lawsuit alleging violations of the First Amendment and two Florida laws.
The school board filed a motion to dismiss the case, but U.S. District Judge Robert Scola on Thursday issued an 11-page order that allowed Stevens to pursue the First Amendment claim and a claim under a state law known as the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
A trial is scheduled March 10. Stevens in October 2023 requested to put the banners at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and West Glades Middle School, but the school board later rejected the requests, Scola wrote.
The order said the school board between December 2023 and September 2024 allowed religious organizations, such as Calvary Chapel and Potter’s House, to display banners at West Glades Middle School and Coral Springs High School. Stevens alleges “unequal treatment,” Scola wrote.
–News Service of Florida
Fernando Melendez says
All I can say is, Dear Lord what has our country become when we have devil worshipers trying to invoke the devils name and ways into our schools. We can do better than this.
Dennis C Rathsam says
What king of a sic society, would worship the devil?????
Skibum says
I believe you completely missed the point, but not to worry, so did the school district! If we are to have freedom of religion in America, and government is supposed to recognize and treat all religions equally under the law, then allowing any one religion access to Broward County schools should not be followed by the denial of any other religious group’s request to access the schools. What about a Jewish, or “worse” yet… a Muslim religious group requesting access to the schools??? There are so many religions and spin-off religious groups and organizations that it is a very, very slippery slope when ANY government, school district, etc. starts giving access to religious groups or organizations, then denying the same type of requests because they don’t happen to like some of them, well, then we might as well just throw the 1st amendment out the window and admit that we really don’t have religious freedom here in this country after all. It would be so much better for all involved if we would just STOP trying to insert religion into our schools and left ALL religious activities in our many various types of churches. I don’t think anyone would appreciate or tolerate school districts trying to insert math or chemistry classes in any church denomination in the entire country, and I will never understand why some continue to push for churches or other religious groups to have access to school kids. And I’m saying this as a life long Christian, who knows the difference between what kind of lessons should be taught in schools, and what kind of lessons are to be learned in church, if one so desires. Unfortunately, this country has way too many people who just seem unable to discern between the two.
Sarah says
Freedom of religion. Keep religion out of our schools. Out of our government.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
How about no religious banners in any public school. If you’re allowing christian banners then Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu etc…including Satanism, should be able to have banners hung too. Gets a little ridiculous over time, simple solution is keep all religion out of public schools.
Palm Coast Citizen says
Disputes over religious freedom and the separation of church and state often arise from a desire to make a point. The fundamental principle is personal autonomy—we all have the right to pray, meditate, or practice our beliefs without persecution. However, when public institutions allow one religious message, they must allow all, regardless of whether it’s seen as “good” or “bad.” Otherwise, we open the door to religious influences we may not support.
For those who are deeply religious, the right to practice freely remains untouched. You can pray or observe your faith wherever you choose, without obstruction. The best way to protect this freedom is by maintaining the separation of church and state. This isn’t about “removing God”—faith is personal and cannot be taken away. It’s about preserving everyone’s right to practice their religion as they see fit.
Regarding the Satanic banners in schools, I don’t believe Satanists are genuinely evangelizing. Most tend to be humanists using satire to make a statement. That said, I wouldn’t want their messaging—or any religious messaging—on a school campus. I don’t want my children being encouraged toward any religion outside of our family, period. Public schools and government institutions should remain neutral on religion to respect everyone’s rights equally.
JC says
The real question for you is do you believe the devil is real? Like, real evidence.
Skibum says
Well said.
Sherry says
Thank you Sarah! Right On!
Doug says
One of those is an expression of faith and the other is an eccentric provocation meant for nothing more than shock value.
The case should’ve been thrown out.
Joe D says
This is what happens when you open the door to promote religion (any religion…and unfortunately Satanism is a recognized religion in the US and elsewhere), in a PUBLIC school system. That’s one of the reasons our forefathers decided on a “SEPARATION” of church and State when it comes to Government policy and Religion. I don’t think the founding fathers were considering SATANISM at the time, more like the Religious Freedom to practice YOUR CHOICE of religion (mostly Catholic/Calvinists/ Episcopalians/ Lutherans at the time).
So, for the State of Florida to begin opening the Public School System to religious exposure (other than like some colleges and even high schools when I grew up in the 60’s-70’s, offering a “comparative religions” course), where the fundamentals of SEVERAL religions, both western and eastern focused religions (Buddhist/Hindu/ Taoist / Muslim), were compared and contrasted. It was an ELECTIVE course…and I can’t remember Satanism being included, they were asking for TROUBLE.
If you are going to start down that slippery slope of religions being brought into PUBLIC schools, then you either have to allow ALL religions or NO religions. Somewhere the founding fathers discussed that there would be no established “State” religion, which many other countries had at the time, which made religious freedom in the US a unique concept.
Now, as we KNEW there would be…an EXPENSIVE court lawsuit, involving taxpayer’s money, to fight an UNEVEN applying of the laws to “preferential” religions over “non-preferred” religions, and based on existing laws pertaining to the separation of Church and State…the school system is going to LOSE, or else they’ll win in local courts, and it will be appealed to higher ($$$) courts and could even end up in front of the US Supreme Court…all at the waste of taxpayers dollars, which could have been better spent to actually IMPROVE our schools.
If you want your child to be exposed to a particular religious belief during their school day, then do what my blue collar class parents did for my brother and myself: sacrifice (there were no vouchers or subsidies back then)and send us to a private religious (Catholic in my case) school.
c says
“What king of a sic society, would worship the devil?????”
Uh, maybe one that puts a facist-oriented, convicted felon, and cult leader as it’s President? ….
Twice.
Chaz Stevens says
Hey folks, let’s not forget why the separation of church and state exists—our founding fathers weren’t fans of religious tyranny, and yeah, a lot of their beef was with Catholics back then. Fast forward to today: you really wanna ditch that firewall? Look at countries where religion runs the show—hard pass. Keep the pulpit out of politics, and we all get to keep our freedom to believe—or not believe—whatever we want. Cheers to that.
Chaz Stevens says
I’m happy to explain why that’s wrong, on a few levels.
If you have a couple of hours to review some court cases, let me know.
joe says
Would you care to provide any legal basis for throwing out this case?? We’re waiting……
Denali says
And you are entitled to your opinion, no matter how bigoted it is. If you are going use the First Amendment to speak your opinions, use it in its entirety and accept the freedom of religion. Otherwise you are nothing more than a hypocritical bigot.
Land of no turn signals says says
I agree with “C” Biden made a deal with the devil himself in order to get elected.
Chaz Stevens says
Chaz Stevens here … I’m the pro se litigant (meaning I have no legal experience, yet I am winning ATM).
Why This Case Matters:
* Establishing Precedent Against Viewpoint Discrimination: This case challenges discretionary enforcement in public forums, an issue that could have significant national implications for religious neutrality.
* Protecting Minority Voices: At its heart, this is about ensuring that minority religious and secular voices aren’t marginalized in favor of majority faiths in publicly governed spaces.
* An Opportunity for Broader Impact: A favorable ruling would reaffirm key principles of cases like Rosenberger v. Rector and Kennedy v. Bremerton, while addressing the chilling effect of selective policies on free speech and religious equality.
I’ve spent my adult life fighting for the freedom of expression … for all of us.
Doug says
If you wish you remove all sincerity from public discourse, and replace it instead with cynical trolling whose sole purpose is antagonistic provocation- congratulations, you have the internet.
There’s no reason to also have it hanging, as banners, in our schools.
Doug says
Are you so twisted that you don’t understand that hanging a banner in a school that reads “Satan Loves the First Amendment” will convince the children that the first amendment is bad?
I don’t even know why I’m asking you this. Anyone who has chosen to become a “minister of the Church of Satanology” is either wicked or not a serious person- neither of which makes your opinions of any interest.
Pierre Tristam says
That banner would be no less absurd than if it read “God loves the First Amendment.” But that’s the point: neither belongs in schools. If one is up, the other one must be let up. The First Amendment, in any case, bans both. But Florida chooses to violate the constitution in the name of its Christian ideological throat-ramming.
Chaz Stevens says
I would have gone with “God Hates The First Amendment.” You might see that coming soon, thanks for the idea.
Pogo says
@The usual suspects
…and the tumor is out of control.
As stated
https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Army+of+God+Comes+Out+of+the+Shadows