'Not a religion': Florida Gov. DeSantis signs school chaplain bill, says Satanists not welcome

[teach1st]

'Not a religion': Florida Gov. DeSantis signs school chaplain bill, says Satanists not welcome
Tallahassee Democrat (USA Today Network), 4/18/2024

Satanic Temple members are planning on taking advantage of a bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Thursday that allows volunteer chaplains to provide support services for public K-12 students.

But DeSantis says that's not going to happen.

"Some have said that if you do a school chaplain program, that somehow you're going to have Satanists running around in all our schools," he said at a press conference at a high school in Kissimmee, where he also signed a bill (HB 1317) giving more school access to “patriotic organizations."

"We're not playing those games in Florida," DeSantis continued. "That is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this."

Constitutionally suspect to say the least. But it will funnel Florida tax money to his lawyer pals as Florida fights the inevitable lawsuits. The Satanic Temple is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt church.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/18/florida-gov-desantis-says-satanists-cant-be-school-chaplains/73358229007/

[RAB910]

1. Pretty sure there is a part in the Constitution that prohibits fascist government assholes from establishing official

religions

[-misanthroptimist]

2. I think that maybe DeSantis doesn't get to decide what is or is not a religion.

He's not qualified legally, educationally, or morally.

[Redleg]

4. Well stated

[slightlv]

6. Before now,

No one would have dreamed of politicians making Healthcare decisions for women. We now see how deep they are into a subject of which they are totally ignorant. They have put women under their thumb, they'll try to.do the same with religion. Any religion that doesn't align completely with their beliefs will be deemed a false religion and thus invalid. And as much as they hate the IRS, they'll not accept the exemption as proof of anything... other than infiltration into the government by the devil.

DeSantis has simply made the first move into the Theocracy they mean to impose on us.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Ohhhhh, here comes the lawsuit.

This is more of a sure thing for the plaintiff than the Disney lawsuit.

Since De Santis is a lawyer, there is no excuse for this level of ignorance. Malpractice while governing.

[Scrivener7]

5. This will be interesting. This isn't the Satanist's first Constitutional fight rodeo.

[Girard442]

7. I belong to The Satanic Temple for exactly this reason.

I'll be contributing to fight Desantis and assholes like him.

[Midnight Writer]

8. Just like Abbott saying there is no need for a rape exemption in TX abortion bans, because

he will eliminate rape.

These people live in their own fantasy world.

[rurallib]

9. He wants to establish his the of Christian nationalism as the state religion of Florida

but he just opened the door to the Muslim and Hindi and Satanists and the list goes on forever. Jesus what a dolt. Wasn't he some kind of Ivy League educated lawyer?

[moonshinegnomie]

10. a judge needs to declare teh satanic temple equal to christianity

really watch their heads explode

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Sorry Governor Puddin' Fingers

You don't get to decide which is a legitimate religion. Better yet don't mix church and state.