‘Hail Satan’ prayer at local US government meeting sparks uproar
Satanic Temple member Iris Fontana gives invocation after winning lawsuit against borough
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Satanic Temple member who won the right to give the opening prayer at a government meeting in Alaska has prompted a protest from officials after declaring “Hail Satan”.
Iris Fontana’s invocation triggered a walkout by the mayor of Kenai Peninsula Borough, several members of the regional assembly and people in the audience.
The borough had previously restricted people from giving invocations unless they belonged to official religious organisations with an established presence on the peninsula.
It was forced to change its policy in November after the Alaska Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Ms Fontana was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with an atheist and a Jewish woman.
During her invocation on Tuesday, she said: “Let’s cast aside our differences, to use reason, logic, science and compassion to create solutions for the greater good of our community. It is done, hail Satan.”
Borough mayor Charlie Pierce and assembly members Norm Blakeley and Paul Fischer were among those who left the assembly chambers before returning for the meeting.
Around 40 protesters gathered outside the administration building holding sighs saying “reject Satan and his works” and “know Jesus and his love”.
One of them, William Siebenmorgen, flew from Pennsylvania to Alaska for the event in Kenai, around 75 miles south of Anchorage.
“God will be pleased with our public prayers of reparation,” he told local radio station KSRM. “We want God’s blessings on America, not Satan’s curses. Lucifer is the eternal loser. Let’s keep him out.”
The Satanic Temple claims it does not believe in the existence of the devil or the supernatural and argues that “to embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments