In the Spotlight|December 20, 2013 11:54 EST
Florida Representatives Ban Satanic Temple’s Proposal at the Florida Capitol on Wednesday
Florida Representatives banned The Satanic Temple's proposal at the Florida Capitol on Wednesday. The Department of Management Services told the group via email their depiction of an angel descending from heaven into an open fire was "grossly offensive."
The Satanic Temple Co-founder Lucien Greaves said his assemblage did not receive a reply when asked what was offensive. Greaves revealed the group might be willing to modify the presentation.
"Officials overseeing holiday displays at the Florida Capitol have allowed a Nativity scene, a Festivus pole and even a chair holding fake pasta with eyeballs and an accompanying "provHerb" from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster," reports the Associated Press.
This is not the first religious debate concerning monuments in Florida. Earlier this year, a Florida courthouse added an Atheist shrine on June 29. The Atheistic statue was built near the Ten Commandments' monument in front of the Floridian judicial building.
"My advice to communities all over the country is, if you don't want to go through this kind of battle, keep it for its public purpose. Let people play Frisbee on it. Let people walk through it. We've gotten to a point where this has become clutter," said Barry Lynn, the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, according to The Record.
A number of groups have been permitted to put up displays on State property because the zone is viewed as a public setting.