The Satanic Temple

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. 2 5 Despite its name, TST does “not worship Satan or believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural” 6 though it was granted tax-exempt status as a church by the Internal Revenue Service in 2019. 7 8

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Identity Politics (for race-based policy/activism), Abortion Policy
Website: thesatanictemple.com
Founder:

Douglas Messner

Alias: “Lucien Graves” 9

Founded:

2013

Location: Salem, MA View on map
Tax ID: 82-3404757

Contents

    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” 3 and impedes ceremonies affirming “bodily autonomy that integrates the abortive process.” 3

    The organization was founded by atheist activist Lucien Greaves 10 and is based in Salem, Massachusetts. 11

    History and Leadership

    The Satanic Temple (TST) was founded in 2013 by Malcom Jarry and Lucien Greaves, whose real name is Douglas Mesner. 10 In 2013, Greaves said TST was envisioned to be a “poison pill” for the Church/State debate” 12 and laid out a vision in which TST would have lobbyists on the ground in Washington, D.C. 9

    TST did not pursue tax-exempt status until 2017, when President Trump signed an executive order to expand religious freedom. 13 TST purports to have about 500,000 worldwide members 4 and was granted tax exempt status as a church by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019. 8 14 7

    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. 15

    TST is headquartered at the Salem Art Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts. 11

    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” 16 3 17 and impedes the “ceremonial of affirmation and bodily autonomy that integrates the abortive process.” 3

    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 18 and has filed a letter with the Food and Drug Administration arguing its members should have “unfettered access” 19 to abortion pills due to their faith-based rights. 20

    TST has also held a pro-abortion rally at the Utah State Capitol to protest pro-life legislation, 21 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, 22 and reportedly petitioned SCOTUS to overturn Missouri abortion laws in 2020. 23

    Beliefs

    The Satanic Temple claims it does “not worship Satan or believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural.” 6 TST also operates “After School Satan Clubs” at certain public elementary schools 24 as a “counterpoint” 25 to Good News Clubs, which are Christian clubs operated by the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). 26 27

    Funding

    In 2019, the Satanic Temple received a $12,597 grant from the Network for Good, 28 a nonprofit software organization that facilitates online donations to small and growing nonprofit organizations. 29

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $954,156
    • Number of Grants: 53
    • Number of Funders: 23

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $110,7602022 Amazonsmile FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $105,4932023 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $87,4362022 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $80,8822025 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $80,0182024 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $40,0002022 Silicon Valley Community FoundationReligion
    $40,0002022 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $35,0002024 Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund C/o Bny Mellon NaTO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
    $30,0662024 PayPal Giving FundGENERAL SUPPORT
    $29,3072021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $29,0002022 Vanguard CharitableFor recipient's exempt purpose
    $25,0002024 American Endowment FoundationRELIGION
    $25,0002023 American Endowment FoundationRELIGION
    $25,0002022 American Endowment FoundationGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $23,9712022 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $23,3512023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $20,0002024 Krl FoundationTHE MISSION OF THE SATANIC TEMPLE IS TO ENCOURAGE BENEVOLENCE AND EMPATHY, REJECT TYRANNICAL AUTHORITY, ADVOCATE PRACTICAL COMMON SENSE, OPPOSE JUSTICE, AND UNDERTAKE NOBLE PURSUITS
    $18,9542020 Network for Good, Inc.Unrestricted
    $18,6582023 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.RELIGION RELATED
    $14,6542022 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.RELIGION RELATED
    $11,5072021 Network for Good, Inc.UNRESTRICTED
    $9,8082023 PayPal Giving Fund
    $8,9062024 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.RELIGION RELATED
    $8,6182021 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $6,9842023 The Blackbaud Giving FundGENERAL SUPPORT

    Contact InfluenceWatch to report errors, suggest edits, or provide tips for additional profiles.

    Contact Us

    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. Homepage. Church of Satan Official Website. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.churchofsatan.com/
    2. “The Satanic Temple.” Twitter. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://twitter.com/satanic_temple_.
    3. “The Satanic Temple v. Texas.” The Satanic Temple. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/texas-lawsuit.
    4. MacNeill, Arianna. “Why the Satanic Temple in Salem is working to increase abortion access in Texas.” Boston.com. September 8, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/09/08/satanic-temple-texas-abortion-law/.
    5. “About Us.” The Satanic Temple. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/about-us.
    6. “Frequently Asked Questions.” The Satanic Temple. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/faq.
    7. “The Satanic Temple.” GuideStar. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-3404757.
    8. Instagram Post. The Satanic Church. Accessed Via Web Archive September 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20190428000330/https://www.instagram.com/p/BwpikC5hJrY/
    9. Bugbee, Shane. “Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple.” Vice. July 30, 2013. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7adn/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple
    10. “In the Media.” The Satanic Temple. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/in-the-media.
    11.  “The Satanic Temple.” Salem Massachusetts Visitors Page. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.salem.org/listing/the-satanic-temple/.
    12. [1] Bugbee, Shane. “Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple.” Vice. July 30, 2013. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7adn/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple
    13. Dickson, EJ. “The IRS Officially Recognizes the Satanic Temple as a Church.” Rolling Stone. April 24, 2019. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/irs-satanic-temple-church-tax-exempt-826931/.
    14. Dickson, EJ. “The IRS Officially Recognizes the Satanic Temple as a Church.” Rolling Stone. April 24, 2019. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-satan-club-20160731-story.html
    15.  Greaves, Lucien. “I’m a founder of the Satanic Temple. Don’t blame Satan for white supremacy.” Washington Post. August 23, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/08/23/im-a-founder-of-the-satanic-temple-dont-blame-satan-for-white-supremacy/.
    16. Tweet. The Satanic Temple. Posted September 3, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://twitter.com/satanic_temple_/status/1433823739171549184.
    17. “The Satanic Temple.” Twitter. Posted August 5, 2020. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://twitter.com/satanic_temple_/status/1291078333707489281.
    18. Williams, Jordan. “Satanic Temple to challenge Texas abortion law citing religious freedoms.” The Hill. September 6, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/570971-satanic-temple-to-challenge-texas-abortion-law-citing-religious.
    19. “Major Announcement.” The Satanic Temple. Press Release. September 1, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/rrr-fundraiser#donate.
    20. Goodkind, Nicole. “Why Satanists may be the last hope to take down Texas’s abortion bill.” Fortune. September 3, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://fortune.com/2021/09/03/why-satanists-may-be-the-last-hope-to-take-down-texass-abortion-bill/.
    21. Cabrera, Alixel. “Satanic Temple protestors cite Religious Freedom Act to demand reproductive rights in Utah.” The Salt Lake Tribune. September 25, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/09/25/satanic-temple-protesters/.
    22. The Satanic Temple. Press Release. October 29, 2020. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-satanic-temple-files-motion-to-disqualify-amy-coney-barrett-from-ruling-on-tsts-abortion-case-at-the-supreme-court-301162452.html.
    23. O’Neill, Jesse. “The Satanic Temple joins backlash against Texas abortion law.” The New York Post. September 5, 2021. Accessed September 3, 2021. https://nypost.com/2021/09/05/satanic-temple-joins-backlash-against-texas-abortion-law/.
    24. Anderson, Rick. “Yes, an after-school Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s grade school.” Los Angeles Times. October 9, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-satanic-after-school-20160928-snap-story.html.
    25. 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.
    26. Stewart, Katherine. “An After School Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s elementary school.” Chicago Tribune. July 31, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-satan-club-20160731-story.html.
    27. “Educatin’ with Satan.” The Satanic Temple. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/after-school-satan.
    28. “Network for Good, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/680480736/202011829349300511/IRS990ScheduleI.
    29. “Empowering Small Nonprofits to Advance their Missions.” Network for Good. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.networkforgood.com/why-network-for-good/.