'Hail Satan' opening prayer at Alaska government meeting prompts walkouts, protest

[brooklynite]

The Hill

Several attendees at a government meeting open to the public in Alaska walked out in protest after an opening prayer praised Satan.

The Associated Press reports the prayer, where a woman declared “Hail Satan,” was given by Satanic Temple member Iris Fontana, who won the right to open the meeting with an invocation of her choice.

“That which will not bend, must break, and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared as demise. It is done, hail Satan,” Fontana said to open the meeting, according to local radio station KSRM

The controversial prayer Tuesday night started the meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and prompted several attendees to exit.

[JDC]

1. Why do they open the meeting with any prayer of any kind?

Government meeting.

[jberryhill]

3. That's more or less the point

They open these things with prayers to show how "Christian" they are.

Then they find out, often through expensive tax-funded litigation, that if they allow one religious group to pray, then they have to allow all religious groups to pray.

Then, they get upset when someone other than a Christian says a prayer.

They can, of course, have an across-the-board "no opening prayer" rule, which is kind of the point of exercises like this.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. The same reason "In God we trust" is on our money...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

[backscatter712]

7. They were hoping all the prayers would nice fundy Christian prayers.

But this is fucking America, which means if you open your door to one, you open to all.

Well played, Satanic Temple!

[jberryhill]

2. It would be great if these religious nutters understood the point

...that government can't simply favor one set of religious beliefs, and it would be preferable to dispense with superstitious rituals at all public events.

[RKP5637]

4. K&R!!!

[AllyCat]

6. Exactly. Quit opening government meetings with religion

[Brawndo]

8. This needs to happen everywhere until Christians get the point

Either accept equal treatment for that which is anathema to them or better yet keep it out of public space entirely.