Satanism is alive and well in our society and in our culture. Here are a couple of recent news items concerning The Satanic Temple and our legal system.
Satanic Temple v. Labrador (9th Cir., August 2025)
- A legal case in which The Satanic Temple (TST) challenged Idaho laws criminalizing abortion.
TST argued that its members in Idaho were harmed by abortion restrictions, asserting that supporting abortion is part of their religious beliefs and that their religious tenets include bodily autonomy. They also cited how the group opened a telehealth abortion clinic in New Mexico in response to restrictive laws.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of the lawsuit, finding that TST lacked standing — i.e. they hadn’t shown that a specific member in Idaho was harmed or imminently would be harmed by the laws. CaseLaw
The Satanic Temple Accuses Iowa Officials of Religious Discrimination
- TST’s Iowa chapter filed a complaint against Iowa state officials, alleging that its members were discriminated against when denied access to use the Iowa State Capitol for a holiday display and event.
- The group claims they were treated differently from “mainstream” religions, particularly around Christmas displays.
- Officials denied their request in part citing concerns over children, the presence of potentially “obscene materials or gratuitous violence,” or that the proposed costumes could be misused. TST argues these concerns were unfounded.
This case underscores continuing tensions about what kinds of religious or philosophical groups have equal access to public facilities and displays, especially during holiday seasons. Questions of the First Amendment, religious freedom, and equal treatment are central. RNS
