Satanic Temple to deliver invocation at council meeting

Four Phoenix City Council members are pushing back after Tucson members of The Satanic Temple were scheduled to give an invocation at the City of Phoenix council meeting on February 17.

Council member Sal DiCiccio says he could not believe what was happening at City Hall. Council members are considering adding an emergency clause that would allow the council to discuss changes they may implement on Wednesday.

"You know they hear the word Satan, we take Satan as a metaphor," said Michelle Shortt, one of the members of the Satanic Temple.


It's a metaphor that is causing quite the controversy for the Phoenix City Council. The attorney for the City of Phoenix released a statement saying.

"A representative of the Satanic Temple recently signed up to pray at the next available formal Phoenix City Council meeting. The prayer will occur on February 17, 2016. Consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s direction, the city cannot dictate religious viewpoints or the content of a prayer. In addition, government may not exclude a denomination or a religion from praying under these circumstances."

"You know this is about the issue, it's about religious liberty and democratic plurality," said Shortt.

Some opposed to the invocation have questioned the group's motive, asking why come to Phoenix from Tucson to do the invocation. Shortt says the answer to that is simple.

Source: Full Report