Parents in arms about Satan Club after school at QC elementary school

MOLINE, Ill. (WHBF) – Many local parents are upset about the after-school meetings scheduled by a group called Temple of Satan at Jane Addams Elementary School in Moline.

The after-school Satan Club is scheduled to meet from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the school (3520 53rd St., Moline) Thursday, January 13, as well as February 10, 10 March, April 14, and May 12. A flyer about the club says activities will include science projects, quizzes, games, arts and crafts projects, and nature activities.

Candace Sountris, a spokeswoman for the Moline-Coal Valley School District, said Tuesday that there is anxiety and confusion about the upcoming after-school club at Jane Addams Elementary School.

“The district and the Moline-Coal Valley Board of Education have policies and administrative procedures in place that allow the community to use its publicly funded facilities outside of the school day,” the district said in a statement. learned on Tuesday, noting that it does not discriminate against any group. people who want to rent out public facilities, including religiously affiliated groups.

“Religious affiliated groups are among those permitted to rent our premises for a fee,” the district said. “In the past, the district has approved of these types of groups, one example being the Evangelical Club, an after-school children’s evangelistic fellowship. Leaflets and brochures for these types of groups are approved only for posting or lobby display and not for mass distribution.

“Students or parents may then obtain flyers from the lobby, if they so choose, consistent with District policy,” the statement said. “Please note that the district must provide equal access to all groups and that students need parental permission to attend any after-school events. Our focus remains on student safety and student achievement. ”

Based on Satanic Temple Website, the group’s nationwide mission says it is to “encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical power, support practical common sense, fight injustice, and fulfill high goals chief”.

Among its basic tenets are:

• One should strive to act with compassion and sympathy for all living things in accordance with reason.
• The fight for justice is a constant and necessary pursuit that transcends laws and institutions.
• One’s body is invulnerable, subject to one’s own will.
• The liberties of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. Intentionally and without cause to infringe upon the liberties of others is to renounce one’s own rights.

The group – which distributes “Devil Advocates” scholarships to students – has become the main religious Satanic organization in the world with international congregations, and several well-known publicity campaigns designed to preserve and promote secularism and individual liberties, the website said.

“The rise of The Satanic Temple has been met with an increase in commentary regarding what is Satan as the media struggles to grasp how this emerging religion has begun to change the debates. discuss religious freedom with statements about equal access,” the website says.

A Facebook post on Monday from Necia Cole, Moline’s parent (attached a photo of the club flyer) received skeptical responses, including: “Wait what????? How is this even a thing? Who approved this? I just know they’re going to crash because I’m going to take a shortcut. “

Cole added to her post on Tuesday: “I would add that flyers are only allowed due to the rules and regulations that the school has to allow. My child goes to a pretty good school. I might also add that none of the teachers physically handed out flyers. “