Republican Governor Asks for Prayers Over Satanic Temple Display

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is urging residents to join her in "praying over the Capitol" after The Satanic Temple erected a holiday display in Des Moines.

The temple, which says that it does not believe "in the existence of Satan or the supernatural" and instead promotes religious freedom and "rational thought removed from supernaturalism," has a display promoting its "seven fundamental tenets" at the Capitol building until Friday.

The rotunda display, which sits alongside religious presentations and includes a hooded figure of the goat-headed occult icon Baphomet, candles and the text of the temple's tenets, has prompted outrage and calls for a ban from some Republican lawmakers in The Hawkeye State.

Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement on Tuesday that she found the display to be "absolutely objectionable" while arguing that the "best response" to it was "more speech" in opposition. She also touted a Christian nativity scene that was set to be installed on the same day, calling it the "reason for the season."

"Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple's display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable," Reynolds said. "In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for the season."

Newsweek reached out for comment to The Satanic Temple via email on Tuesday.

The Satanic Temple of Iowa promoted its display on Monday in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. The temple thanked officials for "holding fast to the principle of religious freedom and ensuring all religions have an equal opportunity to celebrate the holidays together in our beautiful Capitol."

"The Satanic Temple Iowa is proud to participate in the festivities at our Capitol this holiday season," the statement reads. "Our display features the 7 Tenets, a set of seven core beliefs that members see as their guideposts for our deeply held beliefs."

The statement goes on say that the temple's tenets include "advocating for bodily autonomy, a rejection of arbitrary authority, recognizing our own fallibility, and inspiring nobility in thought and action."

While the display has caused outrage, some Iowa Republicans have demanded that it also be removed, regardless of arguments that it is an equal expression of the U.S. Constitution's guarantees concerning freedom of speech and religion.

Iowa State Representative Brad Sherman argued in a newsletter on Friday that "the Iowa Constitution is the supreme law of the State of Iowa." Sherman warned that the "blasphemous display" could negate the "blessings of God upon our state," which he suggested would only be possible by officially endorsing Christianity.

Other Republicans, like Reynolds, have argued against calls to remove the display. State Representative Jon Dunwell, who is also a Christian pastor, said in an X post on Sunday that those demanding its removal were risking "their freedom" in the process.

"It's really not that radical," Dunwell wrote. "I don't want the government dictating, approving, or regulating religious expression. I would rather have an evil blasphemous display, or no display at all, than have the state dictate what they think is appropriate."

"I write that as a Bible-believing, Jesus is the only way, Pastor and elected leader who respects the constitution," he added. "I am SHOCKED so many want to give up their freedom, so they don't have to see a display they disagree with."