FROM: CatholicVote
An anonymous individual destroyed a controversial statue of Baphomet outside the New Hampshire Statehouse in Concord on December 9. The goat-headed figure, a well-known symbol of the Satanic Temple, was part of a holiday display placed near a Nativity scene.
The Satanic Temple, headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts, installed the statue to promote its beliefs. State officials allowed the display to avoid potential litigation, citing the importance of religious inclusivity. The statue featured yellow eyes, inverted crosses, and a summary of the organisation’s fundamental tenets.
Police reported finding the statue “completely destroyed,” with only its legs left standing. The rest of the statue, including its decapitated head, was scattered on the ground. Authorities are investigating the incident but are not treating it as a major crime.
The Satanic Temple, founded in 2013, identifies as an atheistic organisation. Its displays have often sparked controversy, particularly when placed alongside Christian symbols. State Rep. Ellen Read, D-Newmarket, supported the inclusion of the Satanic Temple’s display, arguing it reflected “our pluralistic society.”
“There was nothing inherently offensive about the display,” Read stated. “If you don’t want to allow it for all religions, then you don’t have to allow religious displays.” While Read is not officially involved with the Satanic Temple, she has signed up as an online member and was present at the unveiling of the statue.
Concord Mayor Byron Champlin voiced his opposition to the display, stating at a December 9 meeting that he would have preferred to deny the permit. “I believe the request was made not to promote religious equity but to push an anti-religious political agenda,” Champlin said. “I also don’t respond well to threats of legal action.”
The destruction of the statue echoes a similar incident last year in Iowa, where Michael Cassidy, a Navy veteran, decapitated a Satanic statue displayed at the state capitol. Cassidy, who later turned himself in and faced hate crime charges, explained his actions as a call for Christians to resist anti-religious elements in public spaces.
“The world may tell Christians to accept the legitimization of Satan,” Cassidy remarked, “but none of the founders would have supported government-sanctioned Satanic altars.”
The debate surrounding the New Hampshire statue continues to highlight tensions between religious expression and public policy.