Anton LaVey (1930-1997) was the founder of the Church of Satan. The Church was established in San Francisco during the height of the sex revolution. LaVey’s brand of Satanism is primarily atheistic or agnostic and seemingly benign. Ostensibly, it was formulated in reaction to an oppressive, largely Christian-value dominated society, which most good Satanists regard as the true evil in the world.

Anton LaVey was the subject of a lot of controversy. It appears as though some of it may have been self-created in order to garner more public attention for himself and his organization. Although, it is apparent that he did have relationships with numerous Hollywood celebrities and it is rumored that some of them obtained some position in his Church, which sells its priesthood and boasts that if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.

In a famous photo Jayne Mansfield is seen on her knees drinking from a chalice held by Anton LaVey who is clad in his notorious devil costume complete with cape and horns. She is supposed to have been a Priestess in the Church of Satan. He is also rumored to have had relationships with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Marilyn Monroe. And, he may have had some affiliation with the Kennedy Family. There are many photos of LaVey posing with political figures and celebrities like John Kerry and Sammy Davis, Jr.

It is also rumored that he made a cameo appearance in Roman Polanski’s film, “Rosemary’s Baby” as the devil himself. But, there is nothing to substantiate this particular claim. Although, there is another interesting correspondence in that The Church of Satan was established in 1966, which is considered to be “The Year One” by some Satanists. It is also the year of the events in “Rosemary’s Baby,” in which the Satanists at the end of the movie declare 1966, “The Year One,” amidst cries of “Hail, Satan!”

Despite unsubstantiated rumor’s related to Polanski’s film there is a strange, yet intangible, connection between LaVey’s church, the Manson Family and the murder of Polanski’s wife Sharon Tate, which has all the earmarks of a genuine blood sacrifice. Polanski, the notorious debaucher, would make a great fit with LaVey’s institution, which, at least on the surface, is all about free love and free will. It makes one wonder what the relationship between Polanski, The Church of Satan and the Manson Family was – if any.

Furthermore, LaVey’s apparent relationship with Lt. Col. Michael Aquino further deepens the mystery of the true nature of the Church of Satan. It is customary for occult organizations to have layers to its structure. It appears that there may be far more to the Church of Satan than what appears on the surface through its relatively benign-seeming publications like “The Satanic Bible” and “The Satanic Witch.”

It seems there must be more to the core of The Church of Satan since it was Aquino, a high-ranking colonel during the Reagan administration who was fingered by former mind-controlled sex slave, Cathy O’Brien, as a master hypnotist and mind controller in her book, “Trance Formation of America.” Aquino went on to form The Temple of Set, a complex organization that boasts an impressive line-up of members from politics and academia. Aquino, who also was accused of molesting some children in San Franciso years ago, served in the Psychological Warfare Division of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Temple of Set’s official site is at: www.xeper.com.

Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton published numerous books on the subject of Satanism and the Church of Satan. There is also an interesting magazine published by the Church of Satan called “The Black Flame.”

The Church of Satan and Anton LaVey remain a mystery and a source of interest to many people largely because there is a sense that the real story is unknown and will never be known.

You can learn more about The Church of Satan from their official web site: www.churchofsatan.com.