A US appeals court has ruled against the Satanic Temple in its free speech lawsuit against the Boston City Council. The group, which uses Satan as a symbol to oppose authoritarianism, had sought to deliver an invocation at council meetings but was denied.
The court found that the council's practice of inviting speakers with established relationships and community involvement did not amount to religious discrimination. The Satanic Temple, based in Salem, Massachusetts, failed to demonstrate such ties.
However, the judges issued a cautionary note, warning that the current system could lead to favouritism toward religious majorities and the exclusion of minority groups. They urged the council to avoid such outcomes in the future.
Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, criticised the ruling as a 'flagrant disregard for fundamental constitutional principles'. He argued that it allows public officials to bypass the law and ties religious liberty to political patronage.
The Satanic Temple, founded in 2013, has previously challenged prayer in schools, religious holiday displays, and Bible distribution, while advocating for abortion rights. Its members do not believe in a literal Satan but use the figure as a symbol against authoritarianism.
