(Michigan City, IN) - A student led satanic organization has formed at Michigan City High School, generating concern and alarm within the community judging by numerous posts on social media.

 

Members of the “High School Satan Club” are students who started holding meetings on November 1st after school in the building. 

 

The club is affiliated with The Satanic Temple (TST) based in Salem, Massachusetts.  According to the TST website, there is an application process to follow for clubs seeking their designation as a local branch of their High School Satan Club.

 

School officials themselves chose not to comment but the corporation did release a statement saying there was a request by students to form the club.  Officials said the request could not be denied under federal law, which also gives students in the club and other extracurricular groups the right to meet at the school.

 

“The school and district are not affiliated with the club,” school officials said.     

 

Pastor Geoff Safirt with Faith City Assembly of God Church in Michigan City said he perfectly understands the concerns expressed on social media, initially, but urged people not to greet club members with hatred or conflict.

 

Safirt said he believes the best public response is to lead members of the group into a better place by reaching out with “the love of Christ” and showing them that he has a plan and purpose for their lives.  

 

“It’s really hearing what they have to say and understand what they say and choosing to love them even though there may be a difference of opinion,” Safirt said.

 

Under the Equal Access Act of 1984, public schools with at least one student led extracurricular club that meets after school must allow other clubs to be organized and give them access to meeting spaces.

 

The law does provide for exceptions if student groups interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school.  Schools also have the option of eliminating a club but only if they eliminate all student extra-curricular groups.

 

In compliance with the law, “Michigan City Area Schools does not deny any group an opportunity to meet on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the activity,” school officials said.  School officials also revealed club meetings are supervised by a “volunteer faculty sponsor.”

 

Currently, Michigan City High School has 42 clubs and organizations that “reflect the diverse interests of the student body. Participation in all clubs is always voluntary,” school officials said.

 

Safirt said members of the club should also be treated with empathy because heading in that direction often stems from the pain and grief of being hurt or negatively impacted by some other bad experience.

 

“We have an opportunity to show them something different,” he said.

 

According to the Satanic Temple website, the organization was formed in 2013 and claims to be “the primary religious satanic organization in the world with congregations internationally.”

 

Several weeks ago, Safirt said some youth group members of his church started the process of forming a “Jesus club” at the school.  Safirt said their aim is for all students to rely on Jesus for hope and treat others with his love, mercy and grace.  

 

“It’s going to draw people to that.  The Satanist club probably won’t last very long as a result of it," he said.