Article By David Lindfield
A Democrat-aligned federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama has ordered Iowa officials to let The Satanic Temple hold an anti-Christian event in the state Capitol rotunda during the Christmas season.
The order overrules the state’s objection to a Krampus costume contest it says could expose children to harmful material.
Chief U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose issued the preliminary injunction Monday.
The liberal judge directed the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to approve the group’s application while the lawsuit proceeds, Courthouse News Service reported.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says it intends to appeal.
Judge Says Iowa Went Too Far in Rejecting Event
The Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued in August on behalf of The Satanic Temple, accusing state officials of violating the group’s rights to free speech, religious exercise, and equal protection.
The state objected to a planned costume contest featuring Krampus, a frightening figure from Austrian Christmas folklore.
Officials cited rules against hosting material potentially harmful to children.
They also argue that the stick carried by the character could be construed as a weapon.
When the lawsuit was filed, ACLU attorney Shefali Aurora said:
“In our country and state, it is a foundational principle that the government should not favor one religious belief over another.
“Members of the Iowa congregation of The Satanic Temple Iowa have the same right to express their beliefs as all other religious groups do.”
Rose ruled that Iowa could have imposed a narrower condition, such as excluding the stick, instead of rejecting the event altogether.
“Excluding Krampus costumes because they might frighten children, while admitting the season’s celebratory displays, targets a perspective on the holiday rather than the holiday itself,” Rose wrote.
She said the state restricted “more expression than its stated concern could justify.”
Satanic Temple Presses Ahead With Lawsuit
The injunction gives The Satanic Temple permission to hold its event.
However, the group is still seeking a ruling that Iowa violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments and the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
State representatives have declined to discuss the merits of the case while litigation is pending.
The attorney general’s office has confirmed its plans to appeal the injunction.
The dispute follows a 2023 confrontation over a Satanic Temple display in the same Capitol building.
The group installed a red-clad mannequin with a ram’s head as part of what it called a “holiday satanic display.”
At the time, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) said:
“Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable.”
She stopped short of ordering its removal.
Group Uses Satanic Branding to Push Left-Wing Causes
The Satanic Temple describes Satan as a “symbol of the Eternal Rebel in opposition to arbitrary authority.”
The group promotes Satanic rituals and has repeatedly used religious nondiscrimination arguments to seek space for its displays and events on public property.
Its activism extends beyond Capitol displays.
The group has brought unsuccessful lawsuits challenging abortion restrictions and promoted LGBT pride events.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes The Satanic Temple as a “church,” granting it tax-exempt status.
The status bolsters the Satanic organization’s arguments for religious accommodation in public spaces.
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