The leader of a small group of self-described satanists and three other people were arrested Friday following a scuffle inside the Kansas Statehouse arising from an effort by the group’s leader to start a Black Mass in the rotunda.
About 30 members of the Kansas City-area Satanic Grotto, led by its president, Michael Stewart, rallied outside the Statehouse for the separation of church and state. The group also protested what members called the state’s favoritism toward Christians in allowing events inside. Gov. Laura Kelly temporarily banned protests inside, just for Friday, weeks after Stewart’s group scheduled its indoor ceremony.
The Satanic Grotto’s rally outside drew hundreds of Christian counterprotesters because of the Grotto’s satanic imagery, and its indoor ceremony included denouncing Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. About 100 Christians stood against yellow police tape marking the Satanic Grotto’s area. The two groups yelled at each other while the Christians also sang and called on Grotto members to accept Jesus. Several hundred more Christians rallied on the other side of the Grotto’s area, but further away.
Kelly issued her order earlier this month after Roman Catholic groups pushed her to ban any Satanic Grotto event. The state’s Catholic Bishops called what the group planned “a despicable act of anti-Catholic bigotry” mocking the Catholic Mass. Both chambers of the Legislature also approved resolutions condemning it.
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Satanic Grotto members, who number several dozen, said they hold a variety of beliefs. Some are atheists, some use the group to protest harm they suffered as church members, and others see Satan as a symbol of independence.
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Video shot by KSNT-TV showed that when Stewart tried to conduct his group’s ceremony in the first-floor rotunda, a young man tried to snatch Stewart’s script from his hands, and Stewart punched him. Several Kansas Highway Patrol troopers wrestled Stewart to the ground and handcuffed him. They led him through hallways on the ground floor below and into a room as he yelled, “Hail, Satan!”
They really buried the story, it’s actually at the very end that the truth is told: Christians started the trouble by playing vigilantes, they fucked around and found out when Stewart defended himself.
Seems like Christian counter protestors sparked that “chaos”.
Did you read the article? It wasn’t counter-protestors, it was self-appointed hall monitor Karen.
I did.
Witnesses and friends identified the young man trying to snatch away the Black Mass script as Marcus Schroeder, who came to counterprotest with fellow members of a Kansas City-area church. Online records show Schroeder, 21, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct, with his bond also set at $1,000.
…so counter-protestor? Lol
The state’s Catholic Bishops called what the group planned “a despicable act of anti-Catholic bigotry” mocking the Catholic Mass.
Having the governor and legislature ban other religions isn’t anti-satanist bigotry,. Totally not, because reasons.
It is also funny given how many evangelicals feel about Catholics. (That they are no Christian.)
Hall monitor Karen brought a 4yo child to an event where she was ready to commit assault.
They tend to use children like objects
If God appears in a burning bush and tells you to kill your kid you just gotta do it.
The so-called “christians” doing the devil’s work…
I liked: “The Satanic Grotto’s… indoor ceremony included denouncing Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God.”
HA! Came to post that as well. What an awesome sentence.
I wish Satanists were half as dangerous as Christians paint them out to be.
Was curious so I looked them up. They’re a non-profit organization that accepts donations. I’m not seeing any offical affiliation with either the TST or the CoS. So just a local group trying to get organized and do good.
Site if anyone wants to donate: https://thesatanicgrotto.com/
I’ve never disliked the time I’ve spent with Satanists. Maybe a little edge lord for my taste, but real recognize real.
Thank god for Satanists
The problem with Satanism is that it just encourages the Christians. You want to take their fan-fic as seriously as it deserves, which is not at all.
