Parents hold prayer rally to protest Satanic club at North Carolina elementary school

A large group of parents on Friday gathered outside a school in Greensboro, North Carolina to hold a prayer rally against a controversial after-school Satan club.

According to a Fox 8 report, about 50 concerned parents stood outside Joyner Elementary School holding signs and joining in communal prayer. Tempe Moore, the demonstration’s organizer, said the group organized to oppose the establishment of an “After School Satan Club” at any school in the district.

“Kind of a rallying thing to say ‘We here in Greensboro do not want this in our schools,'” Moore said, adding that parents cannot be silent as the club attempts to make its way into the school district.  

"This is not a time for good men to do nothing. It’s a time to let our voices be heard," she said.

The Satanic group’s website states that the group meets at “select” public schools where “Good News Clubs and other religious clubs meet." According to the group, clubs are started at the request of community members who “would like to see the program offered,” but noted that the club is “not interested in converting children to Satanism.”

"Trained educators provide activities and learning opportunities, which students are free to engage in, or they may opt to explore other interests that may be aided by available resources. The environment is open and parents/guardians are welcome to participate," the website states.

The website also notes that the club is operated by The Satanic Temple, a reportedly nontheistic religious and human rights organization that is primarily based in the United States.

"The pre-existing presence of evangelical after school clubs not only established a precedent for which school districts must now accept Satanic groups, but the evangelical after school clubs have created the need for Satanic after school clubs to offer a contrasting balance to student’s extracurricular activities," the website states.

Lucien Greave, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, told Fox 8 that the club isn’t meant to endorse Satanism, but rather is intended to promote critical thinking.

"We’re not trying to endorse Satanism or criticize other religious organizations. Our club focuses on critical thinking, scientific rationalism," Greave said.

Although the club was set to launch on Friday at Joyner Elementary School, the Guilford County School’s chief of staff told Fox 8 that the club is presently under review.