Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked about the Satanic Temple of Iowa display that is currently in the Iowa Capitol during his CNN Town Hall on Tuesday night.
DeSantis put blame for the display at the feet of the man he is trying to chase down — Donald J. Trump.
“It’s interesting,” he said. “I heard this and then I was like, ‘Well how did it get there? Is that even a religion?’ And lo and behold, the Trump Administration gave them approval to be under the IRS as a religion. So that gave them the legal ability to do it.”
DeSantis said he doesn’t know how the legislature analyzed it, but said it may be due to the Trump Administration’s action.
Jake Tapper clarified that the Satanic Temple applied for tax-exempt status and the IRS granted it in 2019.
“They recognized it as a religion,” DeSantis said. “I don’t think that was the right decision. We’re going to recognize Satan as a religion? That’s wrong.”
DeSantis added that the statue should be taken down and if they’re going to get sued, it is a fight worth having.
“In Florida, I don’t think we probably would have had it up,” he finished.
If satanism is not a religion, what is it? I am a Christian, but I cannot deny it is a religion, so it has right to exist, no matter how much I hate it. Dictionary defines a religion: The belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers, regarded as creating and governing the universe.
A particular variety of such belief, especially when organized into a system of doctrine and practice.
A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
It is like free speech. I may hate what you say, but you have the right, in America, according to first amendment of our Constitution, to say it.