Washington school district approves After School Satan Club in Tacoma

The Satanic Temple got the approval of the school administrators of Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma to hold the meetings of the After School Satan Club in the school premises.

The club, which is sponsored by The Satanic Temple, aims to counter the evangelism efforts of the Good News Clubs in schools. The Temple contends that it is legal to set up the After School Satan Club wherever other religious clubs are allowed to operate.

Tacoma Public School spokesman Dan Voelpel said that the organizers plan to hold the meetings once a month, The News Tribune reported. It will be held at the school's art room every second Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. The club is scheduled to hold its first meeting at the school on Dec. 14.

Rev. Gregory Christopher, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma, expressed his dismay that the club was allowed to operate at the elementary school.

"I don't think that the Tacoma School District should assist them in proselytizing, nor assist them in their goal to undermine the faith community by allowing them to have an open house at the school," said Christopher.

Lucien Greaves, spokesman and co-founder of the Temple, told The Christian Post that there is strong local support for the club.

"As we've received supportive messages from parents in the Tacoma district, we're confident that the After School Satan Club will be sustained there as well," he said.

Lilith Starr, the head of the Satanic Temple in Seattle, said that the club in Tacoma is the first in the state of Washington. She said that the meetings will feature games, puzzles, snacks as well as scientific education.

The Temple withdrew its application to the Centennial Elementary School in Seattle when the Mount Vernon School District said that there was no space for the club.

The After School Satan Club held its first ever meeting in the U.S. last week at the Sacramento Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Several members of the Catholic group America Needs Fatima and some community members came out to protest against the club.