The Satanic Temple (TST), not to be confused with the Church of Satan, ¹ is a semi-religious ² pro-abortion ³ organization that operates around the United States ⁴ and stages anti-Christian and pro-abortion protests. ^{5 6} Despite its name, TST does “not worship Satan or believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural” ⁷ though it was granted tax-exempt status as a church by the Internal Revenue Service in 2019. ^{8 9}

TST is suing Texas to eliminate the state’s new laws limiting abortion on religious grounds, claiming the law prevents STS adherents from performing their “abortion ritual” ¹⁰ and impedes ceremonies affirming “bodily autonomy that integrates the abortive process.” ¹¹

The organization was founded by atheist activist Lucien Greaves ¹² and is based in Salem, Massachusetts. ¹³

History and Leadership

The Satanic Temple (TST) was founded in 2013 by Malcom Jarry and Lucien Greaves, whose real name is Douglas Mesner. ¹⁴ In 2013, Greaves said TST was envisioned to be a “poison pill” for the Church/State debate” ¹⁵ and laid out a vision in which TST would have lobbyists on the ground in Washington, D.C. ¹⁶

TST did not pursue tax-exempt status until 2017, when President Trump signed an executive order to expand religious freedom. ¹⁷ TST purports to have about 500,000 worldwide members ¹⁸ and was granted tax exempt status as a church by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019. ^{19 20 21}

TST founder Lucien Greaves has said slavery in the United States was “traditionally, and rather credibly,” justified on scriptural grounds and said the Christian identity movement forms the ideological backdrop of “virtually all white supremacist and extreme anti-government movements” in the United States, repeating claims made by the left-of-center Anti-Defamation League. ²²

TST is headquartered at the Salem Art Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts. ²³

Activities

In 2021, The Satanic Temple (TST) announced it would sue to block a Texas law limiting abortion access on religious grounds, claiming the legislation prevents TST adherents from performing their “Satanic Abortion Ritual” ^{24 25 26} and impedes the “ceremonial of affirmation and bodily autonomy that integrates the abortive process.” ²⁷

TST argues it should have access to abortions in accordance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows Native Americans to have access to otherwise illegal drugs for their religious rituals ²⁸ and has filed a letter with the Food and Drug Administration arguing its members should have “unfettered access” ²⁹ to abortion pills due to their faith-based rights. ³⁰

TST has also held a pro-abortion rally at the Utah State Capitol to protest pro-life legislation, ³¹ filed an unsuccessful motion to dismiss Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett from ruling on a TST-related abortion case at the Supreme Court of the United States, ³² and reportedly petitioned SCOTUS to overturn Missouri abortion laws in 2020. ³³

Beliefs

The Satanic Temple claims it does “not worship Satan or believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural.” ³⁴ TST also operates “After School Satan Clubs” at certain public elementary schools ³⁵ as a “counterpoint” ³⁶ to Good News Clubs, which are Christian clubs operated by the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). ^{37 38}

Funding

In 2019, the Satanic Temple received a $12,597 grant from the Network for Good, ³⁹ a nonprofit software organization that facilitates online donations to small and growing nonprofit organizations. ⁴⁰

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36. Stewart, Katherine. “An After School Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s elementary school.” Washington Post. July 30, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/an-after-school-satan-club-could-be-coming-to-your-kids-elementary-school/2016/07/30/63f485e6-5427-11e6-88eb-7dda4e2f2aec_story.html.
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