The Satanic deity Baphomet as a swaddling babe is on
 display at the state Capitol of Illinois in Springfield.

Satanic display inside Illinois Statehouse days before Christmas draws protesters

Christmas is a symbol of Christianity, how could a government allow such blasphemy and evilness just for the sake of 'free speech'

By Edward Era Barbacena

Religious leaders and others in Illinois became infuriated this week, just days before Christmas, when a Satanic group composed of WHITE individuals unveiled its holiday display inside the Statehouse rotunda in Springfield.

The display features a sculpture of an infant version of Baphomet, a goat-like Satanic deity, and was set up next to a traditional Christian Nativity display inside the government building, the State Journal-Register of Springfield reported.

It is highly questionable why it was allowed in the first place. Freedom of choice is emphasized in the United States but for the aspects of evilness and antagonist to Godliness, it should not be allowed. United States is the first country to recognized satanism group as part of the American society and even allowed a satanic church to be erected. 

Church of Satan, counterculture group founded in the United States in the 1960s by Anton Szandor LaVey (1930–1997), born Howard Stanton Levey. Contrary to its name, the church did not promote “evil” but rather humanistic values. But it still defies the Christianity and holiness of God.

“Hail, Satan!” members of the Satanic Temple of Illinois shouted as a leader identified as Minister Adam described what the display represented to the group, according to a video posted by the newspaper on its website.

“The Capitol welcomes a diverse range of religions every year to display holiday statues during the holiday season, so we wanted to join in on that,” the minister told WICS-TV of Springfield.

The Capitol clearly forgot that the diversity of religion in relation to Christmas  should only be exclusive for the members of any church that recognize Jesus Christ as the only savior of men and should not taint the advent of the holiday with any form of evil. 

Just steps away, a group of kneeling protesters, some holding Rosary beads, recited the Christian “Hail Mary” prayer. They also displayed signs with slogans such as “Satan Has No Rights,” and “Begone, Satan! Mary Crushes the Serpent.” 

The protesters were from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, the report said.

This marks the third year that the Satanic Temple has been granted space inside the Statehouse by the American government for an installation, the newspaper reported. No display was erected last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the report said.

A sign posted near the displays by the state of Illinois explained that the groups were both allowed displays because of First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of worship, as granted under the US Constitution, WICS reported.

The state Capitol of Illinois in Springfield, where both a
 Christmas Nativity and Baphomet statue are on display

“The State of Illinois is required by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to allow temporary, public display in the state capitol so long as these displays are not paid for by taxpayer dollars,” the sign said, according to the report. “Because the first floor of the Capitol rotunda is a public place, state officials cannot legally censor the content of speech or displays. The United States Supreme Court has held that public officials may legally impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions regarding displays and speech, but no regulation can be based on the content of the speech.”

Critics speaking out against the Satanic display have included Bishop Thomas Paprocki, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, who argued that such installations “should have no place in this Capitol or any other place.”

While the Nativity scene is intended to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Satanic display is intended to mark the “satanic holiday” called Sol Invictus, the State Journal-Register reported.

The Baphomet figure was created by Chris Andres, a horror artist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the report said. 

It was on loan from a Satanic Temple group in Massachusetts, WICS reported.