A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that The Satanic Temple must be allowed to hold its “After School Satan Club” in a public middle school in Pennsylvania’s Saucon Valley School District.
U.S. District Court Judge John Gallagher, sitting in Allentown, issued the preliminary injunction just days after The Satanic Temple held its second annual conference called “SatanCon” in Boston, which was heavily protested by Catholics.
The Satanic Temple, which, according to its website, denies the existence of God and Satan, is a political activist group known for protesting religious symbolism in public spaces and mocking Christianity by offering “unbaptism” and hosting “black masses.”
The school district, located in Northampton County, on Feb. 16 approved The Satanic Temple’s request to hold an After School Satan Club at its middle school. In response to a shooting threat that referenced the club, however, the district received dozens of emails from concerned parents and staff who wanted the approval withdrawn for safety reasons.
Groups not affiliated with the district that use school facilities must make it clear in their advertising that their events aren’t sponsored by the public school system. The district rescinded its approval on Feb. 24 because it said some of The Satanic Temple’s posts and fliers violated the policy. The group then filed a lawsuit in federal court, arguing that it was discriminated against because of its viewpoints, which the district denied.
In his injunction order, the judge said that “the District must permit the [After School Satan Club] (ASSC) to meet at the location and on the dates upon which the parties contingently agreed … during the current school year.” Those dates are May 10, 17, and 31. The ruling will remain in effect until the case is finally decided in court.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of The Satanic Temple by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert LLP.
According to The74, when choosing where to start clubs The Satanic Temple targets schools that are used by religious clubs.
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Vatican City, Feb 20, 2020 / 05:00 pm (CNA).- During a private meeting with bishops from the southwestern United States, Pope Francis talked about his 2019 meeting with Fr. James Martin, SJ, and about pastoral care and assisted suicide.
The pope met Feb. 10 for more than two hours with bishops from New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Several bishops present at the meeting told CNA that in addition to discussions about his then-pending exhortation on the Amazon region, and on the challenges of transgenderism and gender ideology, Pope Francis discussed his Sept. 30 meeting with Martin, an American Jesuit who is well-known for speaking and writing about the Church’s ministry to people who identify themselves as LGBT.
“The Holy Father’s disposition was very clear, he was most displeased about the whole subject of Fr. Martin and how their encounter had been used. He was very expressive, both his words and his face – his anger was very clear, he felt he’d been used,” one bishop told CNA.
Martin met with Pope Francis shortly after a Sept. 19 column by Archbishop Charles Chaput criticized “a pattern of ambiguity” in Martin’s work, which Chaput said “tends to undermine his stated aims, alienating people from the very support they need for authentic human flourishing.”
“I find it necessary to emphasize that Father Martin does not speak with authority on behalf of the Church, and to caution the faithful about some of his claims,” Chaput added.
The meeting between Martin and the pope was taken by some as a response to Chaput’s column.
The meeting took place in a papal library ordinarily reserved for high-level audiences with the pope, which some journalists saw as a significant decision.
“By choosing to meet him in this place, Pope Francis was making a public statement. In some ways, the meeting was the message,” America Magazine reported of the encounter.
But bishops who met with the pope this week said that while Pope Francis had accommodated a request for a meeting with Martin, he was clear with them that he did not intend for it to convey any significance.
In fact, one bishop at the meeting told CNA that Pope Francis has said he “made his displeasure clear” about the way the meeting was interpreted, and framed by some journalists.
“He told us that the matter had been dealt with; that Fr. Martin had been given a ‘talking to’ and that his superiors had also been spoken to and made the situation perfectly clear to him,” another bishop said.
“I do not think you will be seeing that picture of him with the pope on his next book cover,” the bishop told CNA.
For his part, Martin told CNA Feb. 20 that “I can’t comment on what the Holy Father told me, since he asked me not to share the details with the media, other than to say that I felt profoundly inspired, consoled and encouraged by our half-hour audience in the Apostolic Palace, which came at his invitation.”
Two bishops told CNA that Martin’s work in regards to the LGBT community was also discussed with the heads of numerous Vatican congregations, and that some officials expressed concern about aspects of the priest’s work.
According to bishops present at the papal meeting, Pope Francis also spoke about euthanasia, and was asked about comments from Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who said at a December symposium that priests should “let go of the rules” in order to be present with people who have initiated assisted suicide.
At the symposium Paglia mentioned that he would be hold the hand of someone dying from assisted suicide, and that he does not see such an action as lending implicit support for the practice.
Pope Francis apparently told bishops that while priests must love mercifully those who have terminal illnesses, they can not “accompany” someone who is in the act of suicide, which the Catholic Church teaches to be gravely immoral.
One bishop told CNA that the same matter was brought up with the heads of Vatican offices, and “they were really clear that what [Paglia] said was a big problem, and that other bishops have brought it up.”
Vatican officials said “you just can’t do that,” a bishop said, in reference to any pastoral action that might seem to imply approval of, or cooperation with, assisted suicide.
A large crowd gathered for the ceremony welcoming Patriarch Gregory Peter XV Agagianian’s remains to Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square on Thursday, Sept 12, 2024. / Credit: Romy Haber/ACI Mena
ACI MENA, Sep 15, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).
On Thursday, Sept. 12, the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate held a grand ceremony in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square to welcome the remains of cardinal and patriarch Gregory Peter XV Agagianian from Rome. His body will be laid to rest in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Elias and St. Gregory the Illuminator in downtown Beirut.
Agagianian, known for his strong opposition to communist rule during the Cold War era, became a prominent figure in Catholic Church history. He was a leading candidate for the papacy on two occasions. The process of his beatification, a step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church, began in Rome on Oct. 28, 2022.
The late Armenian Catholic patriarch’s remains arrived in Lebanon in a glass casket carried by 12 young Lebanese men from various religious denominations, symbolizing interfaith unity.
As the Armenian scouts’ band played, attendees reached out to touch the casket for blessings. Some threw rice and rose petals on the casket — a Middle Eastern tradition symbolizing a joyful welcome.
The ceremony, attended by various political and religious figures, began with a documentary about the late patriarch’s life.
In a heartfelt speech, the current Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, said: “We brought him to Lebanon to show the world our unity, solidarity, and mutual love among denominations and all parties. Young men from various denominations carried the casket, representing a true reflection of what a Lebanese family looks like.”
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian community, confirmed that Aghajanian’s tomb would be in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Elias and St. Gregory the Illuminator in Dabbas Square, Beirut.
“He is among the incorruptibles of the Church,” he added. “We hope that this miracle will facilitate the plea for his beatification. In any case, he will be a blessed and great saint. We congratulate the Armenian Catholic Church, all churches, and all of Lebanon. God’s wonders are great in his saints.”
Bishop Krikor Badishah, auxiliary bishop of the patriarchal Diocese of Beirut, stated: “Thanks to the magnificent presence of numerous participants, Martyrs’ Square is once again not a mere location but a national symbol that unites all Lebanese, regardless of their affiliations. It is a beacon of hope shining over our beloved homeland, constantly reminding us of our shared values and our unbreakable unity.”
During the ceremony, singer Layal Nehmé Matar performed, accompanied by the Lebanese army’s band, adding an atmosphere of reverence and solemnity.
The beatification process
The initiative to beatify Agagianian began with former Armenian Catholic Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Ghabroyan. It gained momentum when the current patriarch, Minassian, requested the opening of Agagianian’s tomb about two years ago, revealing his apparently incorrupt body.
While there is no official protocol in the Church for determining whether a body is incorrupt and incorruptibility is not considered an indication of sainthood, many saints are considered to be incorrupt. The formal process for his possible canonization was launched in Rome on Oct. 28, 2022.
This stage involved a thorough investigation, examining all aspects of Agagianian’s life and virtues. Information was gathered from written documents and contemporary witnesses, as well as accounts of miracles attributed to his intercession. The process is now progressing rapidly.
A large crowd gathered for the ceremony welcoming Patriarch Gregory Peter XV Agagianian’s remains to Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square on Thursday, Sept 12, 2024. Credit: Romy Haber/ACI MENA
The legacy of Patriarch Agagianian
Agagianian was renowned for his virtue. The Virgin Mary held a special place in his spirituality, and he was devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Eucharist. He was an advocate for justice and served the marginalized, including the elderly, orphans, and people with disabilities. Even after becoming a bishop, he continued to visit the Armenian diaspora worldwide.
Agagianian held several significant positions in the Church. Named a cardinal by Pope Pius XII in 1946, he was head of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide), the future Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, from 1958 to 1970 and presided over the papal commission responsible for drafting laws for Eastern Catholic Churches. He was also appointed by Pope Paul VI to serve as one of the four moderators of the last years of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), a landmark event in modern Catholic history. At a time when the pope rarely left Rome, Agagianian served as an envoy of the Holy See, visiting many countries across multiple continents. He was twice considered “papabile,” a serious candidate for the papacy, in 1958 and 1963.
Agagianian’s connection to Lebanon
Agagianian was of Georgian-Armenian descent but acquired Lebanese citizenship after coming to the country as an apostolic visitor in 1935. A year later, at the age of 42, he became patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church.
He developed close relationships with various segments of Lebanese society and worked to bring politicians together. He would often gather them at the Armenian Catholic monastery in Jounieh (Mount Lebanon) for private meetings. Agagianian played a role in reconciling Maronite Patriarch Paul Meouchi with then-Lebanese President Camille Chamoun. He also helped appoint Charles Helou (who later became president of Lebanon) as the first Lebanese ambassador to the Vatican.
Agagianian was known as the “builder patriarch” due to his numerous architectural projects, including a school and an orphanage in Anjar, Lebanon. His remains were laid to rest in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Elias and St. Gregory the Illuminator, which he built in the heart of Beirut.
This article was first published by ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Pope Francis meets with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in an audience May 5, 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media
Rome Newsroom, May 5, 2023 / 09:15 am (CNA).
Pope Francis invited the Vatican’s child protection commission to ha… […]
2 Comments
As a weapon in these never-ending battles against increasingly hostile forces I respectfully offer this – laughter.
Make a tape-loop of people laughing uproariously and play it – over and over.
An alternative could be an old speech by Joe Biden or Fr. Martin – they’re always good for yuks.
My personal favorite is Nancy (devout catholic) Pelosi’s telling the press about how the Catholic Church is not certain about when exactly life begins.
When the gradual process of distancing civil liberty from its legal identity with Judaeo Christian mores met its zenith with Justice A Kennedy’s definition of Liberty in Casey, Americans have increasingly lost rational understanding of the purview of liberty. Liberty now identical with derangement.
Satanism is anti human, an inhuman ideology that seeks to destroy what Mankind is. Its intent is to transform us into inhuman demons. Our ACLU is a form of functionary, as has become much of our justice system. Those members of government in the executive, judiciary, legislature who are Woke, and claim belief in God, worship the god of the underworld [Gehenna in the Gospels]. All the more incentive to deepen our faith in Christ.
As a weapon in these never-ending battles against increasingly hostile forces I respectfully offer this – laughter.
Make a tape-loop of people laughing uproariously and play it – over and over.
An alternative could be an old speech by Joe Biden or Fr. Martin – they’re always good for yuks.
My personal favorite is Nancy (devout catholic) Pelosi’s telling the press about how the Catholic Church is not certain about when exactly life begins.
We’ll get through this.
When the gradual process of distancing civil liberty from its legal identity with Judaeo Christian mores met its zenith with Justice A Kennedy’s definition of Liberty in Casey, Americans have increasingly lost rational understanding of the purview of liberty. Liberty now identical with derangement.
Satanism is anti human, an inhuman ideology that seeks to destroy what Mankind is. Its intent is to transform us into inhuman demons. Our ACLU is a form of functionary, as has become much of our justice system. Those members of government in the executive, judiciary, legislature who are Woke, and claim belief in God, worship the god of the underworld [Gehenna in the Gospels]. All the more incentive to deepen our faith in Christ.