Christian group meets to combat Satanic Temple club at Tacoma elementary school

TACOMA, Wash. – The Satanic Temple of Seattle plans to start an after-school club at a Tacoma elementary school.  But Tuesday night, a group of Christians gathered to fight back against the planned program.

The head of the Satanic Temple says she received calls from parents in Tacoma concerned about the Good News Club, which is an Evangelical after-school program.  Lilith Starr says the Satanic Temple of Seattle is lobbying to get a counter program started at Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma.

“Give them the tools they need to make their own decisions about the world, science, rationalism, critical thinking skills,” said Starr.



She says it’s not about devil-worshiping or converting kids to Satanism.  However, a group of Christians who met at Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma isn’t buying it.

“My son will not be at a school where they’re preaching against what I believe,” said Bishop Michael Doss from Deliverance House of Prayer.

About a dozen church leaders from various congregations gathered to talk about the proposed club and how to stop it.

“I still have a baby in Tacoma schools. And if I have to take my baby out of Tacoma schools, I’m going to home-school because they want to allow this stuff, I’ll do that,” said Doss.

In the Tacoma School District, mother Kiana Simpson is fearful the club will spread to her kids’ schools.

“We don’t know who’s teaching it, their motives behind it, it’s not pure. You know children are innocent,” said Tacoma School District parent Kiana Simpson.

At Point Defiance Elementary, there’s already a “Good News Club” taught by Evangelicals.  Starr says her club would level the playing field instead of what she calls fear tactics by the Good News Club.

“It teaches kids are sinners and worthless and they’re going to burn in hell for all eternity,” said Starr.

Starr says the Satanic Temple of Seattle will complete the official paperwork for the program by the end of November.  They hope to start the after-school program here by the end of November.  The church leaders who met Tuesday night say they’ll continue to pray and lobby the school district to stop the club from starting.