News release from April 26, 2019:

The Satanic Temple is Officially Recognized as a Church by IRS

A first in this nation's history, The Satanic Temple has been
recognized by the United States government as a legitimate and
legally protected Church.

The Satanic Temple (TST), the world’s most eminent modern Satanic
religious organization, is celebrating their recent approval -
recognition as a legally protected Satanic church, receiving
501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. This status, elevated
beyond previous designation as a religious non-profit, is a
culmination of years establishing itself as a constitutionally
protected class, completely encompassing all attributes designated to
churches that are uniquely distinct from other charities and/or
religious groups.

The decision to pursue exempt status comes as a re-evaluation of
prior principled refusal to accept religious tax-exemption after the
passing of legislation to prevent the IRS from revoking tax-exempt
status from churches as part of an IRS Funding bill. “In light of
theocratic assaults upon the Separation of Church and State in the
legislative effort to establish a codified place of privilege for one
religious viewpoint”, says TST’s co-founder Lucien Greaves, “we feel
that accepting religious tax exemption — rather than renouncing in
protest — can help us to better assert our claims to equal access and exemption while laying to rest any suspicion that we don’t meet the qualifications of a true religious organization.”

To qualify as the first of its kind Church, as opposed to a religious non-profit, The Satanic Temple distinguishes itself from other
non-theistic religious groups with its unique set of Tenets, as well
as regular congregations and religious services, with an established headquarters located in Salem, MA.

The Satanic Temple’s continued efforts to participate in the public
sphere, where other religious groups have been given favor, has faced
various challenges and discrimination from government officials and
agencies alike that continuously question or outright mock the
religious identity and beliefs of its congregation. “As ‘the
religious’ are increasingly gaining ground as a privileged class, we
must ensure that this privilege is available to all, and that
superstition doesn’t gain exclusive rights over non-theistic
religions”, says Greaves. Thus, the designation of Church given to
TST and it’s members affirms their rights as religious individuals
and cannot be subject to question in legal proceedings.

As Lucien Greaves puts it, “Satan is here to stay”.

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Our mailing address is:
64 Bridge Street
Salem, MA
01970

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