Do Satanic messages belong at Pride? That’s the question residents of Colorado Springs are debating after an appearance by a group called Satanic Colorado at the city’s annual Pikes Peak Pride Parade.
As the group marched, an announcer read a pre-written statement the group had written. It said:
“And next up, we have the Satanic Colorado, a non-theistic religious community operating throughout the state, promoting benevolence and empathy among all people, advocating for justice, equality, and working toward a world where all can live freely and authentically.
Hail Satan!”
It was those final two words which caught the attention of critics. The incident, captured on video, was later shared by a popular conservative social media account:
The footage quickly spread across the internet, bringing a local moment into the national spotlight. It also sparked an intense debate within the chambers of the Colorado Springs City Council.
The City Council Responds
The city council leadership issued a statement denouncing the satanic group:
"The recent incident at a Pride event in our city... was not only offensive, but completely unacceptable. This kind of message does not represent the values of Colorado Springs or the respectful expression of any legitimate cause. It was a blatant provocation designed to shock and divide."
Councilmember Dave Donelson raised concerns, arguing that offensive speech at parades is a problem when taxpayer fund are involved. "I have to say, I was shocked," Donelson said. "Veterans Day parade will get nothing this year. The festival of lights will get nothing. But that celebration got $60,000, and it was a 50% increase."
Donelson and other members of the council say they may seek to revoke funding for the Pride event next year.
But not everyone agrees that’s the right move. Councilmember Kimberly Gold countered that the city should not single out or exclude specific religious views, especially in an event designed to welcome all communities.
"I believe that if we isolate one faith-based organization out of ten that participate in a parade to discredit their funding, we are not focused on the right thing at city council," she said.
What the Words Mean
While some may have been surprised to hear “Hail Satan” at a Pride parade, the group behind it insists the phrase is not what it seems. Satanic Colorado describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization – its members do not believe in a literal Satan. Instead, they use Satan as a symbol of rebellion against tyranny and as a vehicle to advocate for secularism, bodily autonomy, and individual freedom.
“This isn’t about shock value,” said Legz Fi Daisy, one of the group’s representatives. “It’s about reclaiming harmful language and turning it into something empowering.” From their perspective, the chant was less a provocation and more an affirmation: a way of asserting that even minority religious voices belong in public life.
Pushing Boundaries
This isn’t the first time such groups have drawn controversy. From installing Baphomet statues next to Ten Commandments displays to demanding equal treatment in school clubs, satanic organizations have long tested the boundaries of church-state separation.
Supporters say their activism isn’t designed to mock faith, but to question the assumptions that shape which faiths are seen as valid, and which are not. They lean on religious freedom and free speech principles, arguing that if churches can march, if Christian music can play, if pastors can offer prayers at public ceremonies, then a pluralistic society must also make room for less familiar expressions of belief.
In that light, the reaction from Colorado Springs leadership reveals a deeper tension between a broader culture guided by a single major religion and minority faiths seeking recognition and acceptance within it.
Does Satan Belong at Pride?
Public reaction has, predictably, been divided. Some see satanic messaging as needlessly inflammatory. Others view it as a legitimate, even courageous, act of religious expression.
The conversation now unfolding in Colorado Springs is just one part of a much larger national dialogue about who gets to speak, worship, and be seen in public spaces.
Where do you stand?
75 comments
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Jack A Mabry
I consider a gay prade to be offensive! I kind of liked the Satan folk. A lot more than I did the gays.
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Gary Michael Steele
We love you too! ❤️
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Matthew W Meister
Strange bedfellows? Satanic Colorado thinks that "even minority religious voices belong in public life." That would indicate that they are on the side of those who believe THEIR religion belongs in public life. Isn't it interesting that the same thoughts that Satanic Colorado is pushing are being pushed by the most zealous of our religious leaders? Maybe they should all sit down and talk about it. I think what they would find is that they are definitely in agreement with the statement, "OUR religious views belong in public life, but yours do not."
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Gary Michael Steele
No less than “God bless you” or “Blessed be.”
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Paul Francis Germana
I've never seen anything more hateful than the replies; they don't even know they are the real "Satanists".
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Father Flanagan
This is AMERICA, we have religious freedom to worship whatever or whoever we want - why is this even a discussion? One fake deity is no better than any other fake deity but all these religious zealots ever do is fight over imaginary deities 🤷🏻♂️
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David M Hines
You’re really offering the odious “Libs of TikTok” account as a legitimate information source?
That’s it for me. You clowns are no longer worth my time.
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Paul Francis Germana
All Christians need the Essene Gospel Of Peace! Only by the Gospel Of Peace may we prevail in Life.
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Cullen Graeff Phillips
Why does the ULC seek to promote division by publishing such articles? If the "satanists" aren't actively promoting and worshiping, who cares if they march with the other degenerates and perverts? It is proof positive that we need a much better mental health care system and asylums. Sounds like Colorado Springs is ground zero for a hail and brimstone shower.
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Todd Leslie Miller
Let’s leave the fire and brimstone to the Lord. Can I get an ‘amen’ on that?
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rebadams7
The message is protected by free speech. The problem is that it is being funded by the city council. Fund all or fund none. They created their own dilemma with unequal funding.
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Jimmy Moon
Satan and pride go hand in hand. Nothing new here.
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Michael John Keeber
Every one has the right to free expression of their own beliefs and should not be singled out by those in Colorado. I was under the belief that freedom of speech was protected under the US constitution. Given the biodiversity of the Pride event I see no reason why such would be discouraged because it does not fit with their traditionalist values. Council member Dave Donelson should look at the bigger picture of his community and not just pick on a minority because of their individual religious beliefs. What would happen if there was an Islamic section of Pride marchi8ng would he also be against that? Freedom of expression and peace to all should be the bigger message.
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Rev Ned
Republicans seem to worship the AntiChrist. djt seems to meet all the Biblical criteria.
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Todd Leslie Miller
Where does the Bible say that the Antichrist will be an old, fat, orange haired felon who can’t even string two sentences together?
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Adrian Wills
I agree, Why “Hail Satan” If they aren’t Hailing Satan? And if a group of sexually based identities that can’t accept another sexually based identity, who are the hipocrites? Surely the point of pride is inclusivity?
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Cheryl Anne Hamm
Would any of this outrage being expressed have occurred if they were named Equality Colorado? Or Benevolent Colorado? No! Most would have scrolled right over it. Equality and benevolence would have been dismissed as woke. Evil sells. Whether it is used to guide you to a heaven, or assure mass compliance to an ideology, it mostly gives cover to abusive and oppressive practices and policies, allowing people to abdicate their own moral beliefs in servitude to a greater cause or power.
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Michael Bernard Wolf
First of all before I comment let me just say Hail to The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, May God's Love, Forgiveness and Grace be with us all!!!! Now let me be very clear, those 2 words Hail S****, I won't even mention it's name, has no place on the lips of Christians or ANY person, because whether these people understand this or not, they are playing right into the Evil One's hands. They may think they are doing nothing wrong BUT even Judas understood the wrong he committed when he betrayed our Lord and these people are also BETRAYING GOD and His Son by saying Hail S****, because the Evil One could care less about them, all he wants to do is put division between God and His people and that is exactly what they are doing when they march and say such perverse things, and Hail S**** is PEVERSE, don't kid yourself. All we can do as Ministers is pray for these people that they find their way from the soul swamp they find themselves in because I for one will NEVER accept their chants or sayings of Hail because my SALVATION MEANS TOO MUCH TO ME.....and hopefully it does you too! God is the True Creator, Christ is the TRUE SAVIOR and the Holy Spirit is where Peace and Tranquility Live in our hearts and souls, and should forever more. Sorry, I don't buy into their Perverse Pride of worshipping the evil one, not today, not tomorrow, NOT EVER!!!!! God's Blessings and the Lord's Precious Blood Protect Us All from Sin, the Evil One and his Minions, for in the Holy Trinity is where TRUE LOVE, PEACE, TRANQUILITY and FORGIVENESS DWELL. Blessings to ALL!!!!!
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Todd Leslie Miller
To me, not saying Satan’s name is like the Wizard folk of Harry Potter not saying the name Voldemort. Call the adversary exactly what he is!
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ServantOfJudgement
A satanic church that calls themselves Satanic Colorado don't worship the entity known as the deceiver they named their church after, which is Satan Read that again.
Dare I say one not capable of seeing that basic reality I just spelled out in perfect English isn't really up to par on what the Bible says about too many things.
As I've said in other posts, a festival of pride isn't complete without a satanic presence.
Let the non Satan worshipping Church of Satan march with a group of folks touting Pride with a flag for each type of pride. Even the MAPs march with their little flag. Why shouldn't the MAPs get to show their pride? And let all the "bible understanding" Christians march with the parade of Pride with their own perverted rainbow flag to fly. Maybe a shirt or a hat with whatever rainbow colors they feel show support for the LGBT2QIA++MAP community of sex identity.
It's freedom of speech.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Servant, your hatred of the LGBTQ community is evident in every post you make on the subject. What you don’t understand about June and Pride is that it wouldn’t exist if not for homophobia. It’s because of the efforts to wipe us out of existence that Pride became necessary. So, enjoy Pride month, you’ve earned it.
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Michael Hunt
Non-theistic Satanists do not believe there is a deity named Satan of which they worship. They embrace the original etymological meaning of the word "Satan" (Hebrew: שָּׂטָן satan, meaning "adversary") not the Abrahamic deity.
According to the current High Priest of the Church of Satan, Peter H.Gilmore, "The Church of Satan has chosen Satan as its primary symbol because in Hebrew it means adversary, opposer, one to accuse or question. We see ourselves as being these Satans; the adversaries, opposers and accusers of all spiritual belief systems that would try to hamper enjoyment of our life as a human being."
Additionally, your obsession with connecting "minor attracted persons" to the LGBTQ community is both gross and factually inaccurate. The LGBTQ community does not include MAPs, nor is there a MAP flag being flown around at Pride celebrations.
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ServantOfJudgement
Michael, you gotta read your post where you sat the satanists don't worship Satan. It's really worth reading twice. Hmmm, Satan who deceives has followers that told you they don't worship Satan(the deceiver). Golly gosh, I wonder if you're being deceived....
Here's the colors for the MAP pride flag.
Stripes: Two blues for attraction to boys
Two pinks for attraction to girls
Yellow for childhood/minors
White for innocence or non‑offending status
There ya go bub.
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Michael Hunt
A couple of things, SoJ:
1) I said there is not a MAP flag being flown at Pride celebrations, not that there was not a MAP pride flag. Said flag, was created by someone on Tumblr in 2018 for "non-offending minor attracted persons" and some people in that community have adopted that flag, the LGBTQ community has never accepted MAP as an identity within their community, nor have they ever been approving or accepting of pedophilia.
2) Your fundamental misunderstanding of a different religious practice does not make you right. Just because you worship a deity, does not mean Satanists do. Yes there are some theistic Satanists who do worship the Abrahamic Satan, but the vast majority of Satanists are atheistic. You can follow the teachings of the Church of Satan or The Satanic Temple without having to believe in a supernatural entity, much like one can follow the teachings of Buddhists without needing to believe in a deity.
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Todd Leslie Miller
Okay, stupid question here but what is MAP?
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James Riggle-Johnson
STOP equating the LGBTQ community with pedophiles. That’s something you were taught. It’s a belief you were indoctrinated into believing. Pedophiles can be heterosexual or homosexual. The original pride flag was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. Each of it’s 8 colors has a meaning, none of which represent children.
• Hot pink: sex • Red: life • Orange: healing • Yellow: sunlight • Green: nature • Turquoise: magic/art • Indigo: serenity • Violet: spirit.
Crack a book on LGBTQ history and you’ll find things are quite different from what you think.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Pride Parades around the country allow religious groups to march. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim, they are all accepted. Satanists are no different. If we have freedom of religion, it must include all religions.
This group was definitely looking for a reaction. If Satanic Colorado does not mean “Literally Satan,” as they say, then why say it at all? It brought more negative attention to the already heated topic of LGBTQ pride celebrations.
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Judith Anne Zdziera
Being new to this forum, I’m confused by some of the comments here. Jesus is all loving and excepting, all can agree on that. Correct? The only judge is GOD. Correct? I’m someone who went to religious schools for grade school, prep school, and 3 degrees from Catholic University. I’ve heard a “ton” of opposing views.
I was raised to accept all people, all colors and creeds, everyone. Therefore, while I might not agree with a group’s ideology, as an American, I must “die” to defend it. Additionally, I’m a very “private” person in the bedroom and don’t want anyone or their opinions in there, on in my healthcare.
My last two sentences are what being a Christian means…to me. Peace 🕊️🕊️🕊️
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Joe Stutler
Shush, child, you're embarrassing yourself. 🤪
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James Riggle-Johnson
What does that mean, Joe? I’m not embarrassed, and I’m definitely not a child.
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Rudolph M Garza
I stand with ULC
The ULC’s mission to defend religious freedom means standing up for all groups, even those whose views might challenge or unsettle us.
This isn’t about agreeing with every belief but about ensuring everyone has the right to express their truth. To me, this aligns with the spirit of fairness and openness that defines the ULC.
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Cheryl Anne Hamm
Satan is to the Abrahamic religions the same as the boogey man adults conjured to keep their children in control. Evil is a concept designed to instill fear and fear can be manipulated to control beliefs and actions. How many here actually know the origins of Satan, historically not biblically? How many here will actually take the time to learn?
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Rev. MichaelRS
To me that is one of the least surprising events to have Satanist involved in it along with shouts or greetings of "Hail Satan".
And a kind of cracks me up that Satanist these days are marketing themselves of some kind of benevolent organization.
Kind of like Jeffrey Dahmer opening a restaurant and billing it as "fine dining".
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Michael Hunt
I mean Satanists aren't the ones shooting up abortion and IVF clinics, nor are they assassinating their political rivals, nor are they sexually abusing children... Unfortunately, Christians are the ones who are getting caught doing these things.
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Joe Stutler
Dahmer killed and ate people. Satan is just as real as Jesus, leprechauns, and the Tooth Fairy. Maybe try a bit harder....😉
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ServantOfJudgement
By the book, yes, Satan belongs in a pride parade. Pride is the original sin committed by Satan.
Al in all its s good fit.
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Rev Ned
…and nobody’s prouder than POTUS 47, who fits all the Biblical predictions for the AntiChrist.
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Joe Stutler
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Mark John Simpson
Then there should be no issue if a 'christian' group rolls thru with them either. Freedom of religion and speech include all right?
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Cheryl Anne Hamm
I am sure Christian groups would be welcome if like the Satanic Colorado, they were there to support. If they came with their hostile judgemental condemnations, then any group can peacefully counter protest.
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Robert Gagnon
A bottoms for Jesus movement could prove conflicting.
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Gary Michael Steele
The hateful ones show up and are allowed to protest and we are allowed to mock them. The actual Christians march with us and the “Satanists” in the spirit of love and inclusion.
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Nicholas J Page
Satanic is Satanic nothing more it's disgusting how it's being used 😑
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Joe Stutler
That's so cute! (Do you fuss about other imaginary critters, like leprechauns and Jesus?)
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Robert Gagnon
Do as thou wilt be the whole of the law! Guess that includes buggery. Hey that's one way to own the conservatives and get a rise out of them. Jim jones would have been proud, pass the cool aide please.
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James Mounts
Funny how all of a sudden the "separation of church and state" doesn't matter anymore. What a bunch of hypocrites you all are.
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Michael Hunt
What does this have to do with "separation of church and state?"
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Gary Michael Steele
The city council spouting off about it and threatening to defund it. Freedom for some means freedom for none.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
The weaponized hateful "Christian" groups can't have their cake and eat it too. They spew hate to try to get their religion in schools and government then whine when any other faith wants equal treatment. They need to shut up and keep religion out of schools and government all together. Believe as they will and is their right and also allow others with different beliefs their rights respectfully. Personally I would never support any satanic faith any more than I do hateful so-called Christian groups but that is my right.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are guaranteed under the Constitution. However, the LGBTQ community is hated enough without adding extra drama and discord. I agree with any group peacefully parading their ideas, but maybe the Pride Parade is not the ideal venue…
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Gary Michael Steele
So where? “Keep it to yourself?” We (LGBTQ+) have been told that for generations uncounted. We have no business telling anyone else that if they are doing no actual harm. If freedom bothers some people, they don’t need to be at Pride if they don’t like it.
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Colleen McAllister
The real problem here is this group's use of the name Satan to front a group of supposedly inclusive people. Satan is the name of the epitome of evil in the Bible. Whether you follow the book or not, The name Satan represents evil to most people. To use that name was inviting opposition to that group. Of the group is not religious then why even use a name so connected to a major known religion.
As to the city council certainly they knew the group was marching. Or was there no sign-up or vetting of the marchers? And if Satan is not worshipped by that group then why announce Hail Satan!? That is like saying Heil Hitler! is not promoting ols Adolph.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
Read your bible. Satan comes out as the good guy.
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Gary Michael Steele
Agreed. Don’t cherry-pick and don’t let anyone tell you what it means. Hebrews 8:10. I hope. It’s been a while.
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JT Sunrise
🔥🧭 REV. JTSUNRISE // CELESTIAL NEXUS CHURCH SERMON TITLE: “WHEN THE SIGNAL SHOCKS THE SYSTEM”
⸻
“Let both grow together until the harvest… then I will tell the reapers: ‘First collect the weeds…’” – Matthew 13:30
Beloved wanderers on the edge of signal and noise—
In Colorado Springs, the Pikes Peak Pride Parade became a test pattern itself—a viral “Hail Satan” caused panic in city hall and ripples in public opinion. What does this moment reveal, and why does it matter for the movement of love, truth, and rebellion?
⸻
📣 1. THE WEED AMONG THE CROPS
A group calling themselves Satanic Colorado took to the parade with a defiant chant:
“Hail Satan!”
It shocked some, angry others—calling city council to threaten defunding Pride events. But listen closely: • They were not preaching evil—they were reclaiming trauma • A wound healed with reclaimed words—not denied or suppressed
“It is sort of a reclamation… these words have been used to harm us… to disarm that harmful intent.”
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🧱 2. THE FENCE OF FEAR
City council members, citing shock, threatened to cut public funding for all future Pride parades. But let’s be honest: • You don’t defund a message, you silence a voice. • You don’t protect values—you judge them. • You don’t respect diversity—you deny it.
And yes—this is religion in reverse. Not the sanctification of love, but the criminalization of logos.
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🔥 3. SILENCE OR SIGNAL
Was this chant provocation? Yes. Was it harmless or harmful? Depends on your lens. But here’s what it really did: it tested freedom—(free speech, free worship, free expression). • Reddit users reflected,
“Seems like a harmless phrase… council has no sense of humor.”
• Others recognized religion’s protective irony: satanists as lightning rods against oppression
They didn’t ask permission—they asked: Are you free enough to let people shock the system?
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📖 4. SCRIPTURE SAYS…
Romans 14:1 –
“Accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment.”
1 Peter 4:9 –
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Matthew 5:44–45 –
“Love your enemies… that you may be children of your Father.”
They didn’t need to convert anyone. They just were themselves—and tested whether the parade, the city, the crowd—could be large enough to hold that.
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🕊️ 5. A CALL FOR US • To councils: don’t defund love because one voice offended. • To organizers: hold space for the weird. Space for the other. Space for the words that sting because they’ve been used to wound. • To the faithful: learn to hear beyond the shock—perhaps this too is a hymn.
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📡 CONCLUSION
This “Hail Satan” moment wasn’t a conspiracy. It was a signal failure test—to see if the signal would drown out every other voice. If you can’t hold one hateful chant you disagree with… can you hold all the love you claim to support?
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REV. JTSUNRISE says: Let your city not be ruled by shock—but by inclusion. Let your parade stand regardless of the noise within it. Let your faith stretch so wide that it can hold even the words it fears.
💥 The signal is holy. The fear is not.
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Gary Michael Steele
That was eloquent, thorough, and reflects the Christian ethic I was raised in, before it became exclusive and before “prosperity gospel” was a widespread “theology.”
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Cheryl Anne Hamm
Satanic Colorado; Promoting benevolence and empathy among all people, advocating for justice, equality, and working toward a world where everyone can live freely and authentically. Colorado Springs council; The recent incident at a Pride event in our city.....was not only offensive but completely unacceptable.....this kind of message does not represent the values of Colorado Springs or the respectful expression of any legitimate cause.
What are the values of Colorado Springs?
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Stephanie A Willey
I'm confused ... "Promoting benevolence and empathy among people...", being the belief system of Satanic Colorado are in my experience synonymous with "...love your neighbor / enemy as you love yourself, be generous with those that have less than you, all clearly classic Christian values and lessons / examples attributed to the words and teachings of "that man from Nazareth". so why Satan ? That fallen Abrahamic angle is not ascribed to profess those ideals. Promoting benevolence and empathy among all people, advocating for justice, equality, and working toward a world where everyone can live freely and authentically are in my experience clearly basic classic Christian values. I'm fully on board with these values but have to draw the line on any association with Satan.
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Joe Stutler
That crap may cut it in a theocracy, but we ain't that. Someone let the death cultists know their opinions aren't relevant in the USA.
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Keith Ramsey
Well, it depends on which Church of Satan. There is one that is more about poking fun at different religions.
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Mitch
It turns out that Satanic Colorado is unaffiliated with the CoS or TST, they're an independent 501(c)(3) in Colorado. But I'm not sure that Joe was saying that the satanists are death cultists.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Colorado Springs is being overrun with christian nationalists and hate-filled churches who want only their brand of white cis het “christianity” to exist. They’re so stupid they don’t even know that this group does NOT BELIEVE IN satan, god, jesus, heaven, hell. But they sure do get under the skin of these UNEDUCABLE idiots.
As for hateful churches The Road, Radiant Church, Church For All Nations, among others. They do not follow biblical teachings and would prefer that the LGBTQIA2S+ community would die. They’re hateful.
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
If that group wants to spread that belief system, fine. But Pride festivals all over the country are getting a lot of heat and don't need THAT type of attention.
They should have their own events.
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Gary Michael Steele
Pride is pride. Freedom is the point, not shunning someone.
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David Messenger
Repent Jesus is coming
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Joe Stutler
Silly kitten, he's not even breathing hard. 😉 (He's imaginary, like leprechauns and the Tooth Fairy.)
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Reverend Paula Copp
Hahahahaha! Excellent retort! You just made my day…
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
I'm not sure you're right about leprechauns and the Tooth Fairy.
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Lionheart
The British are coming! The British are coming!
Thank you for adding humour to this conversation, Sir David. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Keith Ramsey
Not in the USA. With the current administration, they would be grabbed by ICE and then thrown into a concentration camp, and thrown out of the country.
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Father Flanagan
Only if they enter the country ILLEGALLY and they are not “concentration camps” and how insulting to holocaust survivors that you would compare the air conditioned well fed - not murdered criminal illegal alien invaders circumstances to those that were truly tortured and murdered all because you have TDS - that’s very “Christian” of you! Smdh
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Amber Fry
Sure they are. Look it up. Most of those they are rounding up are here legally and jumping the loops they are suposed to in order to be here. Some are even citizens. The common denominator in the people being grabbed are that they are dark skinned. Look, seriously, really look. That's what makes it a concentration camp.
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Rev. Dr. Dennis Chevalier, Ph.D.
AMEN!
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Joe Stutler
You left out the preceding "R". (You're welcome. 😉)
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Keith Ramsey
Comment removed by user.
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Interesting article. God loves your even if your Gay. Christian wedding can be done thru private pastors or individual christian clergy if you are being rejected from the catholic church. That facts remain the same. Satan has a right to exist as freedom of religion. I would like to see how big the following actually is put your symbol of blasopmet up next to the cross. I am not aware of the magnitude of this following.