Kevin Robinson

krobinson4@pnj.com

A secular group invited to lead the invocation at Thursday's Escambia County commission meeting plans to include thoughts from The Satanic Temple West Florida.

The Humanists of West Florida will lead the next invocation at the county commission, according to a press release the group issued Tuesday. The release notes that "in a show of solidarity against religious discrimination, Celebrant Andre Ryland of HWF will include The Satanic Temple West Florida's invocation, along with Humanist and other thoughts."

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Satanist disturbed by City of Pensacola invocation policy

Commissioner Grover Robinson, who extended the invitation to Ryland, said Tuesday he was disappointed the Humanists had issued a press release that risked making the invocation a "press spectacle" rather than a respectful observance of belief. Robinson noted he extended the invitation to Ryland in early December because Ryland had always interacted with the commission respectfully.

"While I do not agree with Mr. Ryland's religious position, I do respect his ability to exercise the free choice God has provided all of us," Robinson wrote in an emailed statement.

"I strongly believe that community prayer is vital to the betterment of our community. At the same time the Bill of Rights allows each American the ability to respectfully pursue the religion of their choice. The vast majority of Escambia County residents are Christian, so it is only natural that the majority of (invocations) would be Christian. However, Escambia County has not discriminated against non-Christians and allowed other non-Christian prayers, even by people who have been disrespectful to others trying to enjoy the same freedom."

Robinson made clear the invitation was for Ryland, and was not for share or transfer.

For the past several years, there has been ongoing tension between various local municipalities and The Satanic Temple.

David Suhor, a representative of The Satanic Temple, has alleged local elected bodies - including the city, the county, the school board and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority - have violated federal law by refusing to let his organization provide an invocation based on its non-traditional beliefs.

Suhor said via email that commissioners had not given any definitive answer on whether the Satanic Temple would be allowed to provide an invocation, and had not provided a written copy of invocation policies that could be reviewed by attorneys.

"It appears these boards wish to ignore (and thereby prohibit) minority religions who want to join the invocation rituals," Suhor wrote. "In the end, no one goes to government meetings for prayer (except the pastor invited). These boards should stop the censorship and divisive practice of prayer and just get down to work. If they can not abide missing prayer time on the taxpayer dollar, they should include a moment of silent reflection, when citizens may pray (or not), according to their own conscience."

Suhor has given invocations at both the city council and the county commission in past years, but he argues some religious organizations have been allowed to repeat and he has not been invited back. Suhor has been a frequent speaker at government public forums, where the exchanges between Suhor and elected officials often range from diplomatic to downright confrontational.

Suhor offered a Pagan invocation to the Escambia County commission in September 2014. Then-Commissioner Wilson Robertson walked out during the invocation.

In July, Suhor delivered a Satanic invocation at a Pensacola City Council meeting. A throng of Christian parishioners were on hand in protest, in some cases carrying bibles or holy water. City Council member Gerald Wingate walked out during that invocation.

In the release, Ryland said he would include words from The Satanic Temple in his invocation because "The Satanic Temple is being denied the constitutional right to do an invocation. They have a right to free exercise, according to the Supreme Court."

The release described Humanism as a "rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art and motivated by compassion."

The county commission meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 221 Palafox Place in Pensacola.

Satanist disturbed by City of Pensacola invocation policy