Satanic Temple Wants Monument Next to 10 Commandments in Oklahoma

Proposed designs include a pentagram and an interactive Satanic display for children

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A Satanic group based in New York announced plans Sunday to erect a monument to Satan next to the Ten Commandments monument on the steps to the Oklahoma capitol building.

The Ten Commandments monument was authorized by the state legislature in 2009 and erected with private money from Oklahoma state Representative Mike Ritze, a Republican, last year. The ACLU of Oklahoma sued to have the monument removed, but the Satanic Temple, based in New York hopes to use the opportunity to place its own monument in the public square.

“[Ritze’s] helping a satanic agenda grow more than any of us possibly could,” Satanic Temple spokesman Lucien Greaves told the Associated Press. “You don’t walk around and see too many satanic temples around, but when you open the door to public spaces for us, that’s when you’re going to see us.”

The Satanic Temple says it will submit proposed designs to the Capitol Preservation Commission this month. “We believe that all monuments should be in good taste and consistent with community standards,” Greaves said in a letter to officials. “Our proposed monument, as an homage to the historic/literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines.”

The potential designs, Greaves said, include one with a pentagram and another meant to be an interactive Satanic display for children.

[AP]