Florida lawmakers have proposed two bills that could potentially allow Satanic priests to serve as volunteer chaplains in public schools. The bills, Senate Bill 1044 and House Bill 931, would grant schools the authority to select volunteer chaplains to provide counseling services to students. The legislation also mandates that principals inform parents about these services and obtain written consent before students can participate. Additionally, schools would be required to provide parents with a list of volunteers who have undergone background checks, allowing them to choose a chaplain from the provided options.
Lucien Greaves, co-founder and spokesperson of The Satanic Temple, criticized GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis for claiming that former President Trump was responsible for the group’s tax-exempt status. Greaves argued that as long as the Florida government allows chaplains into schools, The Satanic Temple is willing to participate to preserve government neutrality. He also suggested that if the intention is to provide emotional support to troubled youth, licensed counselors could be called upon instead.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the state cannot dictate the religious groups that can participate as volunteers. Consequently, this legislation could potentially open the door for groups like The Satanic Temple to offer their services to students. While the bills are currently progressing through the state legislature, they would only take effect on July 1 if passed.
Greaves further criticized the lawmakers, claiming that they should be addressing more pressing issues instead of supporting a “disingenuous piece of poorly-thought model legislation.” The Satanic Temple has been actively working to introduce after-school programs in various states since 2016, focusing on self-directed learning through games, puzzles, and other educational activities.
It is worth noting that The Satanic Temple is recognized by the IRS as a public charity, and its after-school program aims to provide an alternative to religious groups that engage in proselytization. The group initially developed an extensive curriculum with input from education professionals but later simplified it after realizing its complexity.
While the introduction of these bills has sparked controversy, their fate will ultimately be determined by the Florida legislature.
