Christmas is a time of reflection on the gift of Christ and the salvation that He provides through the cross. For generations, Americans have displayed nativity scenes in front of churches and in public settings. Yet, these displays have not gone without opposition. In Illinois, the Satanic Temple of Illinois constructed a display in the Capitol rotunda, near the nativity display. Despite their dark representation, the light of Christ remains on full display and the gospel is proclaimed.

A Christmas nativity scene is a staple in the rotunda and has been erected every year since 2008. The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC), which was started as a non-denominational association by Dan T. Zanoza, began the tradition. Illinois was the first state to have a Christmas nativity. Other states have followed our lead, and there are now 32 displays in various states’ capitol buildings.

This year’s nativity scene debuted on November 30^th. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield Catholic Diocese, Tom Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society of Chicago, and Minister Gary Pierce spoke at the dedication ceremony. Springfield’s Majestic Praise and Worship Choir performed Christmas carols.

The U.S. Constitution’s first amendment allows religious displays in public settings as long as the exhibits are temporary and presented by private associations. However, the law also dictates that the state cannot discriminate between groups and must allow access to all private organizations and individuals. As a result, groups such as the Illinois branch of Freedom from Religion have posted displays for several years. These exhibits included a sign in 2019 denouncing all religions as “myth.”

For the last three years, the Satanic Temple of Illinois has placed displays in the rotunda in opposition to the Nativity. In previous years, the group’s display was called “Snaketivity” and represented Eve’s arm with her hand holding an apple and the snake wrapped around her arm. Upon the base of the sculpture appeared the phrase “Knowledge is the Greatest Gift.” Their statement was a deliberate affront to Christians, as Christians know that the greatest gift is Jesus Christ and His redemption on the cross. (See photo to the right.)

This year the Satanists put their display up on December 21st when many Pagans celebrate the winter solstice. The group used a statue on loan from the Satanic Temple in Salem, Massachusetts. Entitled “Baby Baphomet,” this statue of a male infant, human-goat hybrid is a grotesque representation and mocks the infant Christ in the manger. The group’s intent is to create a mockery of Christianity while presenting blasphemous images in the name of “equal access.”

Members from the temple were present for the ceremony. Some were dressed in black, while others wore regular clothing. They circled the display and chanted what can only be described as incantations. One member, who identified himself as “Minister Adam,” spoke to the media, stating, “The Capitol welcomes a diverse range of religions every year to display holiday statues during the holiday season, so we wanted to join in on that.” The group claims that the statue represents “plurality, unity, compassion, and empathy.” Despite the affirming descriptions the group gives to their sculpture and activities, the true nature of their group cannot be ignored.

Beth Rogers, a member of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC), was present when members of the Satanic Temple of Illinois revealed their display. She interviewed the man who identified himself as “Adam and asked if “this religion is about secularism and pluralism?” He answered, “No, it is about Satanism.” She then asked what values represented Satanism. He stated, “compassion, empathy, benevolence, struggle for justice against arbitrary authorities, pluralism and making sure that all religions are represented especially at this time with the state.” Seemingly, the group utilized several of the buzzwords of the Left and the leftist agenda. (See video below.)

The question must be asked, how is mocking Christianity compassionate or empathetic? In what way is the grotesque figure of Baphomet benevolent? The truth is that groups enmeshed in darkness deceive the public and themselves in their attempt to paint an image of equality and peace. In reality, their public display is intended to oppose God, to blaspheme the name of Jesus, and to mock His believers.

This time the Satanists did not have an easy time displaying their hatred. A Catholic organization, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property, was present when the Satanists celebrated their display. The group held up protest signs stating, “Satan has no rights.” Some of the Catholics present recited the rosary during the ceremony. Beth Rogers of the SNSC quoted Scripture declaring the divine nature of Jesus Christ and the triumph He has over Satan.

Rogers questioned Adam about the nature of Satanism and shared her testimony and the gospel. She asked Adam, “if you were to die today where would you want to go? Heaven or Hell?” Adam responded, “I don’t believe in any of that.” He acknowledged Christians’ rights to display the Nativity and have equal access in the capitol, but he quickly discontinued the conversation with Beth. Perhaps he felt convicted by the gospel. Regardless, we should pray for Adam and all the members of the Satanic Temple to be convicted of their sins and to receive Jesus Christ as their savior.

The Nativity and the Satanic display in the Capitol rotunda represent the battle between the light of God and the darkness of Satan. Satan attempts to appear compassionate and benevolent. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.” So, we should not be surprised that his followers would appear to be benevolent and interested in equality and justice. In reality, Satan is using them as agents of deception and destruction. As we read in I Peter 5:8, “Be Sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Take ACTION: Pray for those trapped in sin and deception, like Adam and other Satanists. Please, lend your support to groups such as the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) and the Thomas More Society, which underwrites the cost of the SNSC’s display, to ensure that the nativity scene and other religious displays in the capitol’s rotunda will continue. The Nativity crèche will remain on display until January 6th. If possible, visit the capitol to view it and show your support for the work of the SNSC. Today the most important thing we can do is share the Gospel with someone who needs to hear it.

We must make known the words of Jesus recorded in John 8:12;

“I am the light of the world;
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

As the oldest teenage daughter of IFI’s executive director, I have had the privilege of visiting Springfield for a great number of events. But this past Wednesday was perhaps the most important event I’ve volunteered for as I witnessed over four thousand pro-life Illinoisans converge on our state capitol to oppose two extreme abortion bills currently pending in the General Assembly.

The capitol rotunda was jam packed with pro-lifers, the second and third story balconies were crowded with them, and outside the Capitol building were many dozens more, waiting to get inside and make their presence and their demands known to our state lawmakers. Buses filled with concerned citizens drove in from southern Illinois, the Moline area, Freeport, the northwest suburbs and the southwest suburbs.

The rally started with a stirring hymn in the capitol rotunda, where ironically, not three months ago our Secretary of State erected a Satanic monument just opposite the Capitol Nativity Scene. But Christ’s presence was made known as the rich, powerful words of the well known hymn Amazing Grace filled the halls, from the floor of the rotunda to the third story, causing people to pause, heads to turn and hopefully a few hearts as well.

It is not surprising to note that mainstream media outlets failed to accurately report the great number of “anti-abortion protesters” in attendance on Wednesday afternoon. The fact is, Capitol police had to shut the doors because so many citizens had filled the building to capacity. And that, I am told, is a very rare occurrence.

State Representatives Terri Bryant (R-Mt.Vernon), David Severin (R-Marion), Darren Bailey (R-Olney)and Amy Grant ((R-Wheaton) were joined by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield Catholic Diocese and Rev. James Scudder, Jr., of Quentin Road Bible Church in Lake Zurich in addressing the pro-life multitude.  The crowd responded repeatedly with deafening roars of unanimous opposition to the extreme abortion legislation. I suspect that nearly everyone in the building heard the resounding chants of “No, No, No, No.”

Pro-life veterans were heartened by this response, and I have to believe that abortion proponents were made uncomfortable by the tsunami of pro-lifers that washed over Springfield that afternoon.

Yet we know all too well, the fight is not over. We must continue to apply pressure to our lawmakers and continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, because the baby murder activists are certainly not going to let up any time soon.

Case in point; as I assisted in the take down of the information tables after the rally, I noticed a group of about fifteen to twenty people crowding around a woman, who was telling them it was time to drown out these women haters (a.k.a pro-lifers) and that this (the capitol) was their “house,” at which point they all began chanting: “Whose house? Our house!” followed by “Whose uterus? Our uterus!”

Take ACTION:  Please speak out!  Click HERE to send a message to your state senator, state representative and to Gov. Pritzker. Ask them to stop targeting innocent pre-born children and vulnerable women in Illinois. Ask them to vote against HB 2495 and HB 2467.

A bold voice for pro-family values in Illinois!

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The Bishops of the Illinois Catholic Conference recently released a strong, but appropriate statement admonishing Governor Pat Quinn for his decision to present an abortion-rights leadership award at an upcoming luncheon. This luncheon will raise funds for Personal PAC — the state’s largest political action committee whose main goal is electing pro-abortion candidates to state and local office in Illinois.

Personal PAC’s President and CEO is Terry Cosgrove, the same Terry Cosgrove who sits on the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Cosgrove was nominated to sit on this commission by Governor Quinn. (Read more about this HERE.)

Personal PAC ran ads, sent out mailers and made phone calls on behalf of Quinn’s campaign. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, they “contributed close to $500,000 in cash and in-kind services to the governor’s 2010 campaign.”

In response to this outrage, Francis Cardinal George, Bishop Thomas Doran (Rockford), Bishop Daniel Jenky (Peoria), Bishop Edward Braxton (Belleville), Bishop Thomas Paprocki (Springfield), Bishop Daniel Conlon (Joliet) and the Catholic Conference of Illinois sent a statement to the media and others admonishing Governor Quinn’s involvement with Personal PAC’s Pro-Choice Leadership Award.

Here is the text of their statement in its entirety:

We have recently been made aware of Governor Quinn’s decision to present a Pro-Choice Leadership Award at an upcoming event for a political organization known as Personal PAC. This organization describes itself as a “political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-choice candidates to state and local office in Illinois.” Personal PAC has raised and spent millions of dollars in this effort and supports the lobbying efforts of Planned Parenthood in Springfield.

We deeply regret the Governor’s decision to present this award, which so closely associates him with a political action group whose purpose is contrary to the common good. With this action, Governor Quinn has gone beyond a political alignment with those supporting the legal right to kill children in their mother’s wombs to rewarding those deemed most successful in this terrible work.

Pope John Paul II asked in his Letter to Families (1994), “How can one morally accept laws that permit the killing of a human being not yet born, but already alive in the mother’s womb?” Governor Quinn not only accepts these laws, he promotes them and publicly presents awards to their advocates. This approach is irreconcilable with any honest profession of the Catholic faith. While we deeply regret and oppose his actions, we continue to pray for his conversion and the protection of unborn human life.

To our Catholic institutions statewide, we reaffirm our desire and policies that those acting in the manner of the Governor should not be given special recognition on Church property or at functions held in support of Church ministry.

Earlier today, Quinn responded to this statement by saying “I am going to the event to present an award to a woman who was a victim of rape and who is a very strong advocate of helping rape victims all over our state [and] our country. I really feel that’s a proper, Christian thing to do to honor someone who’s doing someone [sic] that helps the community at large.”

The Catholic Conference of Illinois was quick to respond. “Governor Quinn’s statement today that he is recognizing a rape victim for her advocacy work dodges the issue. Our hearts go out to any victim of rape, one of the most personally violent crimes against women,” said Mary Massingale, director of communications.

“He is presenting an award – titled the Pro-Choice Leadership Award – at an event hosted by Personal PAC, an organization that describes itself as a ‘political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-choice candidates to state and local office in Illinois.’ This action is irreconcilable with any honest profession of the Catholic faith, and it is what prompted the Bishops’ statement.”

Take ACTION: Send a “thank you” to Cardinal George and the Catholic Conference of Illinois for their strong but appropriate statement in defense of unborn human life.  You can also call the Catholic Confrence’s office at (312) 534-8230.