District meets as group wants to pass out Satanic material at Orange County schools

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Religious groups have been allowed to hand Bibles out at Orange County Public Schools for several years, but district leaders are now looking at a policy that could ban the distribution of all religious materials.

The issue is now being driven by The Satanic Temple, which wants to pass out religious material like "The Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities."

"It seems that it would never occur to them that another religious group would want to come and put out their materials," said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for The Satanic Temple.

Greaves told Channel 9 he doesn't actually worship Satan and that his group is atheistic. He said they feel the group, however, should have the right to leave materials anywhere Bibles are distributed.

If the district decided to ban all religious materials, Greaves said he'd consider that a win for his group.

Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, which represents the group who distributed Bibles, believes if the district bows to that pressure, its setting itself up for a lawsuit.

"Certainly the Liberty Counsel will be bringing that lawsuit on behalf of our clients," he said. "This is unconstitutional."

Another group called Freedom From Religion Foundation has also been involved in the fight.

All three groups are expected to attend the district's meeting Thursday evening.

WFTV