News
Lutheran Minister Running for Congress Defends Past Satanist Wedding Ceremony
Faith Facts
- Iowa State Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott, a Lutheran minister running for Congress, confirmed she officiated a satanist wedding ceremony 20 years ago
- In a 2023 speech, she defended the ceremony and her decision to perform Wiccan prayers in the Iowa Senate
- The revelations have sparked renewed concerns among Christian conservatives about her fitness for federal office
An Iowa state senator and ordained Lutheran minister seeking a seat in Congress is facing renewed scrutiny after resurfaced remarks revealed she officiated a wedding ceremony for two satanists and has defended performing Wiccan prayers in the state legislature.
State Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott, who represents parts of suburban Des Moines, made the admission during a 2023 speech where she recounted officiating the satanist wedding approximately 20 years ago. The Democratic candidate is now running to represent Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.
In her speech, Trone-Garriott described the ceremony as part of her ministerial duties and appeared to show no regret for the decision. She framed the incident as an example of religious tolerance and inclusivity, values she says guided her actions both as a minister and as a state legislator.
The controversy deepens with her defense of offering Wiccan prayers during Iowa Senate proceedings. Trone-Garriott has argued that diverse religious expressions, including pagan practices, deserve equal representation in public forums traditionally dominated by Christian prayer.
“I believe in religious freedom for all,” Trone-Garriott reportedly stated in her 2023 remarks, defending both the satanist wedding and the Wiccan prayers as consistent with her understanding of separation of church and state.
The revelations have troubled many Christians and conservative voters in Iowa’s 3rd District, who question how a Lutheran minister could reconcile officiating satanist ceremonies with Christian teaching. Traditional Christian doctrine views satanism as antithetical to the faith, rooted in opposition to God and biblical values.
Critics argue that Trone-Garriott’s actions represent a troubling departure from orthodox Christian ministry and raise serious questions about her theological beliefs. They point out that while religious freedom is a constitutional right, a minister’s willingness to participate in ceremonies celebrating satanism suggests a fundamental confusion about the exclusive claims of Christianity.
The Lutheran tradition, rooted in the Protestant Reformation, has historically maintained clear theological boundaries regarding spiritual warfare and the reality of evil. Martin Luther himself wrote extensively about spiritual combat and the importance of discerning between godly and ungodly influences.
Trone-Garriott’s congressional campaign has not backed away from her previous statements. Her team has characterized the criticism as an attack on religious pluralism and has suggested that voters should focus on her legislative record rather than her ministerial activities from two decades ago.
However, for many Christian conservatives, the issue goes beyond a single incident. They view her defense of both satanist and Wiccan religious expressions as evidence of a broader worldview that relativizes truth claims and places all spiritual paths on equal footing—a position fundamentally at odds with biblical Christianity.
The controversy arrives at a critical moment in Iowa politics, as Republicans seek to maintain control of the state’s congressional delegation. Iowa’s 3rd District has been competitive in recent cycles, making Trone-Garriott’s candidacy a significant test of whether progressive candidates can gain ground in traditionally conservative areas.
Faith leaders and Christian voters across Iowa are now grappling with what Trone-Garriott’s ministerial choices mean for her potential service in Congress. Some argue that her past actions disqualify her from representing a state where Christian values remain deeply influential in public life.
The incident also raises broader questions about the direction of mainline Protestant denominations, many of which have embraced increasingly progressive theological positions in recent decades. Critics contend that such openness has led to doctrinal confusion and a weakening of Christian witness in the public square.
As the 2026 congressional race takes shape, Trone-Garriott’s religious background—once potentially an asset in a state with strong church attendance—has become a flashpoint in debates over faith, values, and what kind of leadership Iowans want representing them in Washington.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
News
Virginia Voters Back Controversial Map as Legal Battle Looms
Faith Facts
- Virginia voters approved a new congressional redistricting map on Tuesday that critics say unfairly advantages Democratic candidates
- Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has vowed to continue legal challenges against the map, stating ‘the legal fight is just beginning’
- The redistricting battle in Virginia mirrors similar conflicts across multiple states as partisan control of congressional seats hangs in the balance
Virginia voters approved a controversial new congressional map on Tuesday, setting the stage for an intensifying legal battle over the future of representative democracy in the Commonwealth. The decision has sparked immediate pushback from conservatives who argue the redistricting process was manipulated to favor Democratic candidates.
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has emerged as a leading voice against the new map, declaring that opponents will not accept the result without a fight. According to Miyares, the legal challenges are far from over.
“The legal fight is just beginning,” Miyares stated, signaling that conservatives plan to take their case to the Virginia Supreme Court.
The controversy centers on allegations that the new congressional boundaries were drawn to provide unfair advantages to Democratic candidates, potentially diluting the voting power of conservative and rural communities across Virginia. Critics argue that the redistricting process ignored traditional principles of fairness and community representation in favor of partisan gain.
Opponents of the map have formally asked the Virginia Supreme Court to strike down the new districts, arguing that the redistricting violates constitutional principles and undermines the democratic process. The legal challenge represents a critical test of whether state courts will intervene to prevent what many conservatives view as partisan gerrymandering.
Virginia’s redistricting battle is part of a broader national struggle over congressional maps following the 2020 census. Similar conflicts have erupted in states including California, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Florida, where partisan control of state legislatures has led to contentious fights over district boundaries.
The outcome in Virginia could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress. With control of the House of Representatives potentially hinging on just a handful of seats, the way districts are drawn can determine which party holds the majority and sets the national legislative agenda.
For conservative Virginians, the fight over redistricting represents more than just electoral strategy—it touches on fundamental questions of fairness, representation, and whether the political process serves the interests of all citizens or merely those in power. Many view the legal challenge as essential to preserving the integrity of elections and ensuring that every vote carries equal weight.
The Virginia Supreme Court has not yet announced a timeline for hearing the case, but legal experts expect the matter to be resolved before the next congressional elections. The court’s decision could set important precedents for how redistricting disputes are handled in Virginia and potentially influence similar cases in other states.
As the legal battle unfolds, both supporters and opponents of the new map are mobilizing grassroots efforts to make their voices heard. Conservative groups are organizing petition drives and public awareness campaigns to highlight what they see as the unfairness of the redistricting process.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
News
Texas Lawmakers Launch Investigation After Disturbing Discovery on Children’s Gaming Platform
Faith Facts
- Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered a legislative study on child safety risks in online gaming platforms after a Roblox game featuring satanic imagery and recreating a Texas school shooting was discovered.
- The banned game included violent first-person shooter content accessible to young users, raising urgent concerns about platform oversight and parental awareness.
- The investigation highlights growing concerns among Christian families about protecting children from dark spiritual influences and violent content disguised as entertainment.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has taken decisive action to protect children from disturbing content on popular gaming platforms. He directed state lawmakers to conduct a comprehensive study on child safety risks within online gaming environments like Roblox, which recently hosted deeply troubling content accessible to young users.
The investigation was triggered after discovery of a first-person shooter game on the Roblox platform that not only recreated a tragic Texas school shooting but also featured satanic imagery. The game has since been banned, but its existence raises serious questions about what children are being exposed to online.
For Christian parents and families who prioritize protecting their children from harmful spiritual influences, this discovery represents a sobering wake-up call. Gaming platforms marketed to children must be held accountable for the content they allow, especially when that content glorifies violence and promotes demonic imagery.
The Roblox platform, enormously popular among children and teenagers, allows users to create and share their own games. While this creative freedom can produce positive entertainment, it also creates opportunities for malicious actors to expose young minds to violence, darkness, and anti-Christian themes.
Speaker Burrows’ directive demonstrates that elected officials are beginning to recognize the serious threats posed by inadequately monitored online spaces. The study will examine how these platforms operate, what safeguards exist, and what additional protections may be necessary to shield children from harmful content.
Christian families have long understood that spiritual warfare extends into every area of life, including the digital spaces where children spend increasing amounts of time. When satanic imagery is packaged as entertainment and made accessible to minors, it represents not just a safety concern but a direct assault on the innocence of children.
The timing of this investigation is critical, as more children spend significant portions of their day engaged with online gaming platforms. Parents must remain vigilant about what their children access, but they also deserve platforms that take responsibility for protecting young users from violent and spiritually harmful content.
The banned game’s recreation of a real school tragedy, combined with demonic imagery, reveals a disturbing lack of oversight. It also highlights the importance of parental involvement in monitoring children’s online activities and teaching discernment about media consumption.
As this legislative study moves forward, Christian advocates for child safety will be watching closely to ensure that real protections are implemented. The freedom of online platforms must be balanced against the fundamental right of parents to protect their children from content that contradicts their values and threatens their wellbeing.
This situation serves as a reminder that technology companies have a moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable users on their platforms. When they fail in that responsibility, lawmakers must step in to ensure children are shielded from exploitation and harmful content.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
News
Grand Jury Indicts Major Liberal Nonprofit Over Alleged Payments to Extremist Leaders
Faith Facts
- A federal grand jury has indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on charges of allegedly funneling $3 million to leaders of extremist groups including the KKK
- The SPLC, which has long positioned itself as a civil rights watchdog, is accused of defrauding donors through its fundraising practices
- The far-left organization is dismissing the serious federal charges as politically motivated government weaponization
A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the organization engaged in donor fraud while secretly channeling millions of dollars to the very extremist groups it publicly claims to fight against.
The indictment alleges that the SPLC provided approximately $3 million to individuals connected to extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan. This stunning revelation directly contradicts the nonprofit’s public mission and fundraising appeals, which have long portrayed the organization as America’s premier watchdog against hate groups.
The charges represent a dramatic fall for an organization that has wielded enormous influence in American political and cultural discourse for decades. The SPLC has frequently been cited by media outlets and technology companies as an authority on identifying hate groups and extremism, despite growing criticism from conservatives about the organization’s own radical agenda.
Rather than addressing the substance of the federal indictment, the SPLC has chosen to attack the Justice Department itself. The organization condemned the charges as evidence of a “weaponized” federal government, employing language typically used by political operatives rather than nonprofit leaders facing serious legal accountability.
The allegations raise profound questions about where donor money has actually been going over the years. Conservative Christians and traditional values organizations have long complained about being unfairly labeled as “hate groups” by the SPLC, while the organization raised enormous sums of money ostensibly to combat genuine extremism.
For years, the SPLC has maintained massive financial reserves while operating what critics describe as a lucrative fundraising operation built on fear-mongering. The organization’s endowment has swelled to hundreds of millions of dollars, even as questions mounted about the disconnect between its public messaging and its actual activities.
The federal indictment suggests that disconnect may have been even more severe than previously understood. If the allegations prove true, donors who believed they were supporting efforts to combat genuine extremism were instead unknowingly funding the very movements they opposed.
This case also highlights the dangers of allowing partisan nonprofits to position themselves as neutral arbiters of truth. The SPLC’s “hate group” designations have been used to justify deplatforming, demonetization, and other forms of censorship against conservative and Christian organizations that simply hold traditional biblical values.
The timing of this indictment comes as Americans are increasingly questioning the integrity of institutions that claim moral authority while operating with little transparency or accountability. The SPLC’s immediate pivot to claiming political persecution rather than addressing the serious allegations speaks volumes about the organization’s priorities.
As this case moves forward through the federal court system, it will be important for people of faith to remember that true justice requires equal application of the law. Organizations that have enriched themselves while smearing Christians and conservatives deserve the same scrutiny and accountability as any other entity accused of defrauding the public.
The indictment serves as a reminder that discernment is essential when evaluating which organizations truly deserve our support and trust. Not every group claiming to fight for justice is actually doing so, and some may be engaged in the very practices they claim to oppose.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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