The Satanic Temple plans to host the club at Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova, Tennessee news outlets reported. It will begin meeting on Jan. 10 in the school’s library and run through the spring semester, according to an announcement Tuesday posted on social media.
As one would imagine, some of the locals aren’t thrilled about the idea of an After School Satan Club.
Rev. Bill Adkins, pastor of Greater Imani Church, said he believes in the First Amendment but his “liberality is being challenged.”
“We cannot allow any entity called Satanic Temple to have private time with our children,” Adkins said. “I can’t go into the school building and pray. But yet we can rent a facility to the Satanic Temple and they can give a party for children. It’s ridiculous. It’s absurd.”
Parent Reggie Carrick told WREG he felt the school system was letting kids down in order to dodge a lawsuit.
“This is gonna spread like wildfire. If they are able to get into one school, how many other schools are they plotting to do?” Carrick asked.
The school’s superintendents put out a statement trying to reassure parents that teaching elementary-aged children about satan is wholesome and there is nothing to worry about.