Concord’s commitment to religious freedom led to a controversial holiday display as the city included The Satanic Temple’s exhibit alongside traditional decorations.
At a Glance
- The Satanic Temple installed a display criticizing a Nativity scene near New Hampshire’s State Capitol.
- Concord allowed the display, citing First Amendment rights to avoid legal action.
- The display was vandalized shortly after being unveiled.
- The controversy may prompt a review of city policies on public displays.
Concord’s Diverse Holiday Displays
The Satanic Temple of New Hampshire and Vermont set up a religious display featuring Baphomet outside the New Hampshire State Capitol. This move aimed to critique the Christian Nativity scene placed nearby. The Satanic Temple shows a keen interest in promoting pluralism, despite the contentious nature of their exhibit.
The display portrayed a statue of Baphomet, complete with Catholic clerical attire adorned with inverted crosses, and included a satanic variation of the American flag alongside the Temple’s seven core tenets.
“Under the First Amendment and to avoid litigation, the City needed to choose whether to ban all holiday displays installed by other groups, or otherwise, to allow it,” a post on the City of Concord’s Facebook page said.
Read the article: https://t.co/xnB7lQWomv pic.twitter.com/ntOR3iQaxb
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) December 8, 2024
Legal Implications and Vandalism
The City of Concord decided to permit The Satanic Temple’s display to avert potential lawsuits, underscoring First Amendment concerns. The Temple had previously threatened legal action if their right to display was denied. However, the display faced vandalism shortly after being revealed, broken into pieces despite efforts to allow religious freedom.
“Vandalism is never an appropriate response to this,” said Mayor Byron Champlin.
N.H. State Representative Ellen Read played a pivotal role, ensuring all necessary paperwork and permits allowed the installation. She was also instrumental in handling the aftermath of the vandalism.
Future Implications and Reactions
The controversy has prompted discussions about revisiting policies on public displays, possibly resulting in the creation of a city committee to review future unattended exhibits. This episode has highlighted the delicate balance between freedom and sensitivity during the holiday season.
“I opposed the permit on the basis that the request was not made in the interest of promoting religious equity, but to drive an anti-religious political agenda leveraging the attention one can receive during this time of year,” further said Champlin.
The Satanic Temple continues to advocate for religious variety, reminding the public of the importance of a government that remains neutral in religious matters.
