ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Diocese of Green Bay is condemning one of the more than 60 trees on display at the National Railroad Museum.
The tree, sponsored by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin, is part of the museum’s annual “Festival of Trees” fundraiser.
There are blue trees, ones made of balloons, some that spin and others supporting transgender rights – all on display at the National Railroad Museum as part of its annual “Festival of Trees.”
More than five dozen organizations, businesses, as well as civic and religious groups, pay between $75 and $150 dollars to be part of the event, that raises money to support the museum and its educational mission.
But it’s a tree, sponsored by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin, with red lights and ornaments of figures and symbols recognized in modern pop culture as the Antichrist or devil, is coming under fire by the Diocese of Green Bay.
Bishop David Ricken released a statement saying,
Allowing a traditional understanding of Christmas to be usurped and desecrated by an organization/cult is divisive during a time of the year that we come together in unity as a community. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Displaying a Christmas tree with bright red lights, inverted crosses, pentagrams and other satanic symbolism, with a snake wrapped around the tree where our savior belongs, is not something families and children should be exposed to at any time, but most especially during this Christmas season. The tree is offensive and harms the unity and joy that the Christmas season brings.
“The satanic religion or whatever they call themselves is diametrically opposed to Christianity. The symbols of the tree are often inverses or reverses of Christian symbols that alone, to speak nothing of the demonic, is also very offensive to us as Catholics and and Christians,” said Fr. John Girotti with the Diocese of Green Bay.
As a non-religious organization, with a focus on trains, the museum’s executive director says the museum is inclusive.
Tree sponsors can decorate their trees however they’d like as long as the trees don’t promote violence, sexual content, and drugs or alcohol.
When the application from the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin was submitted, museum officials researched the organization.
And while the name of group may be shocking to some, according to its website its mission is “To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.”
Fr. Girotti said, “That may be their statement, and if indeed if that is their statement, I applaud them for that. However, also, I think, included in that statement is respect for other faiths. This is such a deeply offensive act because this is the celebration of Christmas, the birth of Christ. Why would any organization, knowing our community, our community being a community of family, faith allow for a tree such as this to be put up at the very time of the birth of Christ.”
The Satanic Temple of Wisconsin released a statement saying,
The Satanic Temple of Wisconsin is proud to have our Sol Invictus tree displayed among the other holiday trees at the National Railroad Museum. Bringing a tree inside, a tradition that began as a pagan ritual, has evolved into a cherished holiday practice that unites us with our families and communities in a spirit of togetherness and pluralism. We hope the media attention and articles focusing on our tree will inspire the public to seek knowledge and act with benevolence, and compassion. Our tree stands as a symbol of these virtues, as well as a testament to the freedom of religion and expression.
We would like to thank the National Railroad Museum for displaying our tree, as well as our many members who contributed ornaments and helped with the decorating. We look forward to our Sol Invictus tree becoming an annual favorite in the National Railroad Museum’s holiday display, sure to delight local families every year!
Museum officials say they have no intention of removing the tree. And they’d welcome a submission from the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin in the future too.
The Festival of Trees runs through December 31.
