An atheist in South Florida, who once built a Festivus Pole to protest against Christian nativity displays, is now threatening to sue Lake County if its officials allow religious prayers at their commission meeting but no satanic invocation. Chaz Stevens, 51, told the media that his request is part of his “Satan or Silence Project,” which aims to persuade elected officials to either stop religious prayers at the start of council meetings or let him deliver a satanic invocation as well.

Commission chairman Jimmy Corner stressed that he would not allow Stevens to deliver the satanic invocation.

“I've made the decision that he's not coming while I'm chairman, period,” Conner said.

In the past, Stevens has succeeded in convincing several cities to start their meetings with a moment of silence instead of a religious prayer. So, he said he would consider filing a lawsuit against Lake County if they did not allow him to deliver the satanic invocation despite allowing religious prayers.

Stevens told the media that the satanic invocation would, “reflect values long part of the nation's heritage and be solemn and respectful in tone … It'll cost the taxpayers a bunch of money when we sue them and they lose in court. What they're doing is discriminatory and flies in the face of what the U.S. government wants.”

On the other hand, Conner said that he would urge churches to raise funds for a strong defense if such a need was to arise. He clarified over and over that there were no plans to forgo the traditional prayer.

“You see this cross on my lapel? I didn't put it on there this morning. It's something that's there anytime I have this suit on,” said Conner.

Conner went on to condemn the liberal courts, accusing them of not comprehending what the founding fathers meant for America to be.

“No thanks to all the liberal courts in this country, including the Supreme Court, who have no idea what the founding fathers intended for our country to be,” said Conner.

This is not the first time that Stevens has sought permission to deliver a satanic invocation.

“I just want equal billing. We allow various religious nutjobs to give a prayer. They pray to Jesus who is make-believe, god who is make-believe, why not Satan who is make-believe? Why discriminate against one make-believe god over another? Satan and I are being circumvented,” he said.

Photo Credits: My Acts of Sedition