News:

You are not signed in as a Premium user; we rely on Premium users to support our news reporting. Sign in or Sign up today!

TACOMA (ChurchMilitant.com) - An after-school Satan Club is triggering outrage from faithful Catholics and concerned parents.

A satanic club for children is slated to open on December 14 at Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington. America Needs Fatima is planning a prayer rally in opposition to the club on the same day.

The scheduled opening of this club has resulted in more than 103,000 signatures collected in support of a petition opposing it.

WATCH NOW The petition is being organized by Return to Order, an organization dedicated to addressing " the growing alarm, confusion and frustration at seeing our beloved nation, a great temporal power, spin out of control."

The text of the petition states,

I strongly protest the After School Satan Club that is being allowed on your premises. This is a grave threat to the spiritual life of children and the future of education. I urge you to revoke the Satanic Temple's permit. Satan has no place in education. Don't let the devil near our children.

The petition was sent to Point Defiance, but in spite of objections, the club is still scheduled to open on school property.

"The After School Satan Club will provide an after-school alternative focused not on proselytizing to children, but rather on giving them the critical thinking skills they need to make their own decisions about the world," said the Satanic Temple of Seattle, which is sponsoring the club.

Some concerned parents aren't convinced, however. According to a press release from America Needs Fatima issued Monday, December 5, Jennifer Droubay said, "No one wants this club.We don't want a group that identifies itself with Satan to have access to our children."

Edward O'Brien remarked, "This is an outrage. This is far from over with the parents."

"Outside entities can rent space at our schools," said Tacoma Schools Superintendent Carla Santorno, responding to requests for the satanic club to be banished from school property. "Our only option would be to pull out all of the other after-school activities."

According to the official Satan Club website, "While the Good News Clubs focus on indoctrination, instilling them with a fear of Hell and God's wrath, After School Satan Clubs will focus on free inquiry and rationalism, the scientific basis for which we know what we know about the world around us."

In response, America Needs Fatima countered, "The idea is to plant the seed of satanism in children, to influence them to accept Satan and evil from an early age."

Have a news tip? Submit news to our tip line.