Bill seeks to ban Satan from public property

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A bill introduced by the state Freedom Caucus leader brought members of the Church of Satan to the Capitol on Feb. 7, sparking disapproval from Republican senators.

The group visited the state Capitol because Sen. Jake Hoffman’s SB1279 – coined the “RESPECT Act” – was slated for a vote in the Senate Government Committee. RESPECT is short for “Reject Escalating Satanism by Preserving Essential Core Traditions.”

The bill aims to put a ban on memorials, statues, altars, displays or any other method of “representing or honoring Satan” from being placed on state public property. Hoffman labeled such representation “a desecration of our public property.”

The legislation passed in committee, but that was not before the satanists were recognized as guests of the Senate. When Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe introduced members and ministers of the Satanic Temple of Arizona, every single Senate Republican quickly exited the floor.

In introducing members of the organization, Mendez said, “They (the Satanic Temple of Arizona) practice the religious values of compassion, justice, bodily autonomy, free speech, science, humility and noble action.”

Hoffman said he has more respect for Arizonans than to allow satanic alters or other displays on public property.

“The Respect Act is a very straightforward piece of legislation that says we respect the people of this state, and we reject the escalating Satanism that we’re seeing across the state and country,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said satanism cannot be considered a religion because “Satan is explicitly antithetical to religion.”

But a minister of the Satanic Temple of Arizona countered that the Church of Satanism is recognized as an official religion by the Internal Revenue Service.

Hoffman held firm in his beliefs.

“It is legally and constitutionally suspect to argue that Satan, someone who is universally known to be an explicit enemy of God, is somehow a religion,” the Freedom Caucus leader said.

Mendez questioned if Hoffman was targeting the practice because it “offends” his religion.

The Queen Creek senator kept his defense simple.

“It’s my view. You vote against my views all the time,” Hoffman said. “You’re welcome to do it again.”

Mendez said the proposal “isn’t even a dog whistle” but an attack on religious freedom and the Constitution.

“I don’t understand how we all don’t see this as an attack on the Constitution,” Mendez said when it came time for the committee to vote. “Why am I the only one up here defending the Constitution?”

Hoffman said it does not defy the First Amendment because the bill would still allow for freedom of speech and assembly.

“Your right to speak is very different from the ability to post an altar to Satan on public property,” Hoffman said.

Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, said this legislation is an example of separation of church and state.

“We’ve had plenty of situations where the Commandments have been removed from courthouses across the country,” Shamp said. “There have been plenty of attacks on Christians, on Muslims. This is simply to say there will not be a display in a government building.’’

The bill passed with a 5-1-2 vote. Following the committee’s decision, the RESPECT Act is set to advance to the chamber floor for further consideration.