Satanic priests could soon be serving as public school chaplains in Florida if legislation being considered by lawmakers gets approved.
Senate Bill 1044 and its companion bill, House Bill 931, would authorize public and charter schools to allow volunteer chaplains to provide counseling services, support and programs to their students.
Under the U.S. Constitution, states can't discriminate against any religious group -- so if Florida officials allow a chaplain from one religious group in schools, they'll have to allow all of them. And that includes Satan worshippers.
"Religious liberty really means that the government needs to remain neutral when it comes to which religions they allow and which religions they don't," Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple, told WOFL. "They can allow religion in places, but they can't distinguish between religions."
If the legislation passes, it doesn't necessarily mean a student will be counseled by a Satan worshipper. The bills would allow parents to select a chaplain from a list of potential volunteers, each of whom would first have to undergo a background check. Parents also must give written consent before a student participates in or receives supports, services or programs provided by a volunteer school chaplain.
"We are empowering the school districts to make decisions that are in the best interest of their children, in their communities, and setting the requirements that they feel would be necessary to protect their children and make sure that any type of counseling is legitimate counseling," Florida Senator Gayle Harrell told WOFL.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has criticized the legislation, saying it will "create public education environments ripe for religious coercion and indoctrination of students."
"Chaplains have no place in public schools. Student support services must be provided by trained, certified school professionals, not government-selected volunteer clergy," Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel at the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. "Courts have repeatedly ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to invite religious leaders onto campus to engage in religious activities, such as prayer and religious counseling, with students."
Another problem with the legislation, according to Gross, is that it does not require volunteer chaplains to have any training, certification or other professional credentials or qualifications relating to student support services.
"Florida's students are entitled to receive support services from school professionals trained for these roles and certified by the Department of Education," Gross said. "For example, school counselors must obtain certification from the Florida Department of Education, which requires them to have a master's or higher degree with a graduate major in guidance and counseling or school counseling plus 600 hours of supervised internship experience working with school-aged children."
The legislation is still moving through the Senate. If approved, it would take effect July 1, 2024.