{"id":2591,"date":"2024-06-28T18:42:08","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T18:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/?p=2591"},"modified":"2024-06-28T18:42:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T18:42:11","slug":"veteran-who-beheaded-satan-statue-urges-americans-to-embrace-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/veteran-who-beheaded-satan-statue-urges-americans-to-embrace-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran who beheaded Satan statue urges Americans to embrace Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An ex-Navy pilot raised some hell when he decapitated a goat-headed installation at the Iowa State Capitol that was organized by the local Satanic Temple.\n\n\n\n

Michael Cassidy, a \u201cconservative Christian\u201d from Mississippi, said he was \u201coffended\u201d by the Baphomet altar and responded by taking its head.\n\n\n\n

Arguing it\u2019s a question between \u201cgood and evil,\u201d Cassidy encourages people to defy \u201csuch darkness\u201d and instead \u201cembrace Jesus Christ.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Keeping reading to learn about the beheading at Iowa State!\n\n\n\n

In December 2023, Michael Cassidy \u2013 a former Republican candidate for Mississippi\u2019s state House of Representatives \u2013 walked into the Iowa State Capitol, and was surprised the legislature allowed the Satanic Temple to display Baphomet, a creepy goat-headed statue.\n\n\n\n

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Baphomet is a winged creature with a goat head, which according to encyclopedia Britannica is a \u201cdeity\u201d the Knights Templar \u201cwere accused of worshipping and that was later embraced by various occult and mystical writers.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The 35-year-old Lauderdale man told Fox News that when he saw the altar, \u201cnobody was there, and it offended me. It touched a nerve. It was, you know, righteous indignation.\u201d Then, he \u201ctore [the head] off\u201d and \u201cput it in a garbage bag.\u201d\n\n\n\n

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Instead of running from the scene, Cassidy \u2013 a \u201cChristian conservative\u201d who loves his country \u2013 took the head to security and in return he received a citation.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,\u201d Cassidy said,  \u201cMy conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so, I acted.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u2018All religions have equal rights\u2019\n\n\n\n

Mortimer Adramelech, a minister with the Satanic Temple of Iowa, told NBC affiliate WHO Of Des Monise Register the Baphomet installation was there for the holidays.\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll religions have equal rights in the public forum under the First Amendment of the Constitution. As Americans we have every right to be here just like anyone else,\u201d Adramelech told the outlet.\n\n\n\n

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The Iowa Department of Administrative Services confirmed the group met the application requirements for the display.\n\n\n\n

According to a statement made by the state\u2019s attorney office Cassidy was initially charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a D felony under Iowa\u2019s hate crime statutes, \u201cfor intentionally damaging a statue owned by the Satanic Temple of Iowa.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The prosecutor\u2019s office writes, \u201cEvidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim\u2019s religion.\u201d\n\n\n\n

In May 2024, the felony charges were dropped and Cassidy was offered a judgement misdemeanor, which means a fine with no jail time.\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot today, Satan,\u201d he tweets.\n\n\n\n

\u2018Religious liberty\u2019\n\n\n\n

People had a lot to say about Cassidy damaging the goat statue.\n\n\n\n

One follower of the Satanic Temple Facebook site says Cassidy\u2019s beheading is \u201ca hate crime\u201d equal to spray painting \u201ca swastika on the wall of a synagogue.\u201d The user writes, \u201cThis conduct needs to be prosecuted as a hate crime, and since he crossed state lines with the intention to commit his crime, Federal hate crime charges should be handed down as well.\u201d\n\n\n\n

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A second, suggesting the former congressional candidate is a hypocrite, adds \u201cFunny how those who crow [the] loudest about \u2018religious liberty\u2019 oppose it the most.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Others defended the man, praising him for taking a stand.\n\n\n\n

One netizen writes, \u201cI admire this man for tearing it down. It is time for us to take a stand against these kinds of symbols. Bravo sir\u2026May you be exonerated and walk away a free citizen.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Puzzled by the legislature allowing the installation, another shares, \u201cI can\u2019t wrap my head around why in the world would they display this demonic entity in the first place. Every Believer in that state should have banned together and peacefully protested this atrocity.\u201d\n\n\n\n

A third adds, \u201cIf he goes to jail or gets fined us as Christians should unite and help our brother.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u2018Reject Satan\u2019\n\n\n\n

Speaking with CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), Cassidy addresses the hate he\u2019s received from Satanists, and love from fellow Christians: \u201cI\u2019ve received both positive and negative feedback, which has been quite remarkable. Some anonymous voices have applauded my firm stance against Satanism, recognizing the degradation in our society. That, in itself, has been heartening.\u201d
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