'Read the First Amendment': DeSantis slammed for backing Michael Cassidy after satanic statue demolition

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis stated that the Satanic Temple "should not be recognized" by the US government as a religion.

DeSantis made the statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday morning, claiming that satanism has no place in American society.

The statement from Florida Gov came about after Mississippi state House candidate Michael Cassidy admitted to pulling down the Satanic Temple display in the Iowa state capitol.

Cassidy was arrested and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief on Friday, according to KCCI.

DeSantis wrote on X, "Satan has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a 'religion' by the federal government. I'll chip in to contribute to this veteran's legal defense fund."

"Good prevails over evil -- that's the American spirit," he added.

DeSantis and his crusade against a Satan statue

During a recent CNN town hall session, DeSantis addressed the Satanic Temple display at the Iowa state capitol, citing former president Trump's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as the reason the non-theistic religious organization is acknowledged as a religion.

The IRS certified the Satanic Temple as an official house of worship in 2019, offering the institution both tax-exempt status and First Amendment protections, per a report by Bloomberg.

"So it's interesting, I heard this, and then I was like, ‘Well, how did it get there? Is that even a religion?’" DeSantis posed the question. "And low and behold, the Trump administration gave them approval to be under the IRS as a religion."

"So that gave them the legal ability to potentially do it," DeSantis continued.

The Florida Governor added that "it very well may be because of that ruling" under Trump that the Satanic Temple "may have had a legal leg to stand on."

"My view would be that that's not a religion that the Founding Fathers were trying to create," DeSantis stated. "But I do think that IRS ruling, I was really surprised to see that they did that."

CNN's Jake Tapper, who moderated the Iowa Town Hall discussion, pointed out that the IRS providing tax-exempt status does not automatically imply that the government favors Satanism.

"No, yeah, exactly," DeSantis replied. "But they recognized it as a religion because otherwise you wouldn't've been able to do it."

"I don't think that was the right decision. Even as a religion, that's wrong," he said on the matter.

What did Satanic Temple’s founders have to say about Gov DeSantis’ remarks?

Lucien Greaves, one of the Satanic Temple's founders, spoke with Fox News Digital and said, "DeSantis's remarks are raw cowardice dressed up in false heroism."

Greaves stated, "He would like voters to believe that he is standing up against the Satanic Temple, but he is, in actuality, simply yielding to an angry, undemocratic mob that would rather see the fundamental pillars of democracy destroyed than suffer the nuisance of seeing a viewpoint they disagree with in a public forum.”

"It is cowardice that compels him to abandon his pledge of office to uphold constitutional law and religious liberty because he can not, or will not, articulate those ideals to voters, opting instead to appeal to their most base fears and ignorance," Greaves added.

Greaves remarked on DeSantis, "I have announced that I am happy to debate DeSantis on these points at any time, but I suspect he is too cowardly for that as well.”

The Satanic Temple was established in 2013 and does not profess faith in Satan, God, or any other higher force.

Instead, the atheist organization adheres to "seven tenets" that emphasize science and reason, and employs Satanic iconography to promote their doctrines and political objectives, such as abortion access and tackling "religious privilege."

In a 2015 Salon interview, Greaves explicitly claimed that the organization is "openly atheist," and the group has been known to target Christians.

"Those who dislike us claim that we are not really a religion, but by what standard?" Greaves said to the outlet. "These things beg for definition. In the Hobby Lobby case, there was no sincerity test at all, and no test that their exemption had some kind of spiritual basis."

Greaves stated, "In regard to our atheism, if you have a society that grants religious privilege and exemption, and you’re willing to give privilege and exemption to certain groups, then it’s unacceptable to give that only to people who believe in the supernatural.”

"We are openly atheist, but we have cultural identity and symbolic constructs that are deeply meaningful to our members," he added in conclusion.

What did the perpetrator Mississippi state House candidate Michael Cassidy say?

Michael Cassidy verified in a text message to Fox News Digital that he had demolished the Satanic display, which was put up last week by the Satanic Temple of Iowa to represent the group's fundamental right to religious freedom.

"It was extremely anti-Christian," Cassidy explained to Fox News Digital when asked why he had demolished the statue.

The former congressional candidate did not explain why he had torn the statue down, but after being charged, he uploaded a Bible scripture to X on Thursday night.

"1 Peter 5:8 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," Cassidy posted on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

Internet calls DeSantis clueless when it comes to US Constitution

People on X cornered the Florida Governor on the provisions made in the US Constitution specifically for accommodating the religious freedoms of a diverse American population.

One X user wrote: "DeSantis should read the First Amendment."

Another user remarked: "And this is the so called party of “freedom of religion”. Pathetic hypocrites."

Another user stated: "He wants to lead a country without knowing the basic principles of our freedoms."

One user tweeted: "You all never actually believed in freedom."

Another X user said: "“I decide who and when you will pray”. Now That’s a winning policy….."

Finally, this user tweeted: "Freedom is essential. As long as they are not harming anyone or anything, let the people freely practice their religion or belief."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.