Read Prophecy 18 - Beware The Veil of Darkness That Has Come From Hell!

High School Satanism Club Prompts Parental Outrage

Students say lunchtime meetings do not worship Lord of Underworld

By T.S. Mills-Faraudo
San Mateo County Times
9.27.2002

A group of San Mateo High School students trying to stir up controversy formed a club based on Satanism, a religion typically associated with hedonistic philosophy and with the rituals of black magic.

Calling themselves The Satanic Thought Society, co-president of the club James Doolittle admits he originally started the club with his friend Matt Heeney to "rile things up a bit."

But now that the two juniors have studied the teachings of Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, they say Satanism helps people to express themselves.

"Its (Satanism's) purpose is to turn man back into a natural state and not have him corrupted by religion," Doolittle said.

The club does not worship the devil, he said, as some may think.

In a flier posted around the school, the club says its goal is to divide church from state

completely.

The flier also says the club's purpose is to make the community realize that "Satanism is not the practice of resurrecting hate and violence through evil spirits, nor is it a cult religion wherein people worship a horned beast symbolic of the leader of hell."

LaVey started the Church of Satan in 1966 under the theory that Satan is not a supernatural being, but rather a symbol of defiance and rebellion against a conformist, God-fearing society, according to literature on the Anton LaVey Web site.

"Satanism doesn't support hate for no reason," Doolittle said. "Satanism says it's OK to feel hate, because hating allows them to love more."

While the Church of Satan does practice rituals, he said the club will not be doing this.

Furthermore, Doolittle stressed that the club is not about hurting others.

"We don't want people to associate us with any violence," he said.

At the club's first meeting on Wednesday during the school's lunch hour approximately 35 students attended.

"The club is about sharing opinions and views," said Associate Student Body President Joey Izzo, who attended the meeting and joined the club.

The two students were successful in riling up parents as well as a few students.

Pam Cachay said she couldn't believe it when her 10th-grade daughter told her it was announced on the school's loudspeaker that a Satanism club had formed.

"The parents I've talked to are outraged," she said.

Her 15-year-old daughter, Larena Whattam, was equally offended when she heard about the club.

"I was completely appalled. I'm a Christian and I love God," said Whattam, who is member of the school's Christian Club.

Cachay said a group of parents and others in the community will be protesting the club on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in front of the performing arts building.

What angers her the most is the school's support of the club.

"It's just a negative that doesn't belong in the school," she said.

But Principal Jacqueline McEvoy is quick to point out that under the federal Equal Access Act for Secondary Schools, the school must allow this club to exist.

In an e-mail to 300 parents, McEvoy wrote that this law requires that schools allow a limited open forum for clubs. It also said the students in the club are not devil worshipers and they will not be performing rituals.

"These young men are really interested in the philosophical teachings of alternative religions," she said.

Jann Westfall, president of the Parent Teacher Organization, supports the school's reasoning for allowing the club.

"I don't think we should tell kids what they can and can't learn, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

While McEvoy said she has received calls from members of the religious community angry about the club's formation, Father Harold Snider of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Burlingame said the First Amendment is behind these students.

"Lets face it, teenagers love to shock," he said. "The best thing to do about it is to not make a big deal."

© 2002 San Mateo County Times

Protest Of School Satanic Club A Flop

By T.S. Mills-Faraudo
San Mateo County Times
10.2.2002

Police came to San Mateo High School Tuesday prepared to deal with a rally of parents protesting the school's backing of a club based on Satanism.

But the officers milling around the school's performing arts center were left with nothing to do.

While the new club called The Satanic Thought Society has received attention nationwide, there's been little brouhaha locally over the group started by two 10th-graders who just wanted to stir up controversy and study an alternative religion.

Parent Pam Cachay organized the lunch-hour rally, expecting 50 people to show up in an effort to dismantle the club, devoted to the study of the teachings of Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan.

Cachay was stunned to find no one picketing.

The club, however, is receiving attention throughout the country.

An article about the club that appeared in The Times Friday was posted on the nationally known Web site, The Drudge Report. Since then, The Times has received more than 100 e-mails from all over the country. Cachay has been contacted by newspeople from MSNBC and Fox News Network.

She says she plans to send her daughter to another school because of the club.

"They (club members) say they're not practicing rituals. Not yet," Cachay said. "When you start choosing to worship darkness, there's something wrong there."

But San Mateo Union High School District superintendent Tom Mohr as well as the club's founders have said it is not about devil worship.

"I wanted to make it clear that these kids are being supervised properly and they have an outstanding adviser," Mohr said.

Following his adviser's suggestion, club co-founder Matt Heeney declined to comment Tuesday.

© 2002 San Mateo County Times