Group wants to start after-school Satan club at elementary

MOUNT VERNON — The Satanic Temple of Seattle has asked the Mount Vernon School District for permission to start an after-school program.

The Skagit Valley Herald reports the group made the request in direct response to the Good News Bible Club run by the Child Evangelism Fellowship at Centennial Elementary School.

Satanic Temple of Seattle spokesman Tarkus Claypool says a parent brought the bible club to their attention because the parent was concerned the club was teaching children to evangelize to other children.

Claypool says their curriculum teaches children logic, self-empowerment and reasoning — and they don’t worship a deity.

School District Superintendent Carl Bruner says a 1991 Supreme Court ruling stated that if schools allow any organization to use school property, they must allow access to all organizations, religious and secular.

He said the district will explore how to respond to the application.