Q&A - Lillee Answers Tough Questions

Last summer of 2003, Lillee received an email from a college graduate who wanted to ask a lot of questions about the FCoS. As a Catholic, his tone was rather caustic and accusatory. She answered his questions to the best of her ability, and he recently contacted her to ask more. I wanted to share these as some of you may have the same questions when you read about the FCoS.

STUDENT: I enjoyed our correspondence a while ago. Well, I first wrote back and forth to your dad, then you got involved.

LilleeAllee: MY DAD?

STUDENT: Well, i dont know your relation to John

LilleeAllee: Ah okay - no he is not my dad

STUDENT: We talked about Catholicism and Satanism you had insightful things to say. Is John your husband?

LilleeAllee: John is the High Priest - we are spiritually married but not legally

STUDENT: So explain to me the spiritual marriage thing

Lillee: It is a marriage where it is not a legal but a religious vow it is a commitment that can be retracted at a set date if yours are pronounced in that way. Some pagans first try a commitment for a year and a day. It is also sometimes called handfasting by some pagans or "tying the knot" which is where the term came from. A cord was tied and at the end of the time, if the couple decided to separate, the knot was untied. Our vows are a little different as they also involve our commitment to the FCoS and community as well as each other. You still make vows to each other but not with any kind of big brother issue like a wild wooly divorce looming at you.

STUDENT: How do you pronounce your last name?

Lillee: Johns last name can be pronounced two ways and either is correct - it is Irish. Either Muhammad Ali or like Alley.

STUDENT: How does he say it?

Lillee: He says it the first way - some of his family and I say it the second

STUDENT: Got ya. Where is the church based out of?

Lillee: Salem Mass is where John lives currently

STUDENT: Did he purposely move to Salem?

Lillee: It was just one of those things - he has always lived in the Boston area.

STUDENT: Church was started in SF, right?

Lillee: No - that would be the COS - Church of Satan- started by Anton LaVey - John and his first wife were members of that church.

STUDENT: Is that one still around? I actually live in SF

Lillee: Yes but it is based out of NYC now - Peter Gilmore is the head of it. You may want to read more on the COS - go to churchofsatan.com We are not affiliated with them in anyway.

STUDENT: whats the difference between the two churches?

Lillee: Basically philosophies and the way things are run - we are inclusive, meaning there is no checking into personal info form to join or money up front - also you can be any type of Satanist or pagan.

STUDENT: has John ever met Marilyn Manson?

Lillee: Good question - I am not sure - I met Brian briefly after a show

STUDENT: ok...how was Manson?

Lillee: I am sure when he is "down" as in after a show he is very intelligent and down to earth - I have heard nothing but good things from people who have had conversations with him - but in dealing with these types when they are "on" for the media types etc. It is really hard to judge and I would hope no one would judge on a quick intro.

STUDENT: he was "on" when u met him?

Lillee: Sure - most are after or before a show - it is not like a personal audience with the pope - he is on the job and all of that. This was also before I was involved with the FCoS clergy

STUDENT: do the 2 churches get along?

Lillee: A lot of churches may not get along and not see things eye to eye. We hope to cut down on the issues between Satanists and Pagans and the communities in general.

STUDENT: Why do certain people on your site dress so "scary"

Lillee: Argh - a lot of those pictures were taken way before I was involved per se. I can't comment on when they were taken or why they were dressed in that way if it was for ritual or for effect. It does seem sort of 90's, eh?

STUDENT: Not saying they scare me, but it seems they try to, thus conforming to a stereotype I'd say its bad for your image

Lillee: There is nothing wrong with dressing for ritual. I tend to do it myself and you probably would question my garb on occasion. However, the wannabes that dress do dress for attention. I will not deny that. I think some of them are just immature and looking for something and they want to be a part of something so bad that they feel dressing the part will help them.

STUDENT: that's plain dumb

Lillee: If you look at my pic - I am so far from scary it is not funny and that is about as scary as I get

STUDENT: I feel a lot of people use your church for the images to throw people off or just try to offend people

Lillee: symbolism - maybe - I would agree with that. There are psychological reasons each person will be drawn to it yeah, thats what I mean. Some are very healthy and some I would agree are not We see the same thing in Catholicism and fundamentalism today as well. Some join a religion to explore their spirituality and others go to run from their problems or try to become something they are not.

STUDENT: whats up with the allowance of sex with minors? And no, u can't use mary as an example

Lillee: Whoa - I do not allow sex with minors!

STUDENT: the church says its ok

Lillee Never have, never will - I do not allow anyone under 18 in my rituals

STUDENT: Circles of sex?

Lillee: John has a political issue with the fact that a minor in Massachusetts is not the same age as a minor in Tennessee

STUDENT: yeah, its weird

Lillee: This is a personal issue for him as he came up against it when he was a minor and wanted to get married and so that is what he is questioning - people will twist it to whatever they wish - the laws are questionable. No, not circles of sex - circles of magic - where I have religious rites. I do not do sex in public or group rituals

STUDENT: oh, well on your website, it seems like he is in favor of it - the minors that is - not a good image

Lillee: John is in favor of establishing a set rule on minors- for all minors in all states in terms of marriage and rape laws. He also wants to see Southern states abolish any of the prejudice that still exists regarding relationships with people of a different color. Say you are 14 and you date your 12 year old girlfriend - it is cute. Now you are 18 and still with that girlfriend - would you like to be accused of a crime? What if you just simply take her to the school dance? You could have that happen. Do you think a 16 and 18 year old dating is the same as say a 16 and a 30 year old? What about statuatory rape? And is the issue of a 16 year old the same as a 4 year old - should there be separate rules?

Is there an age of reason or consent? I want my nine year old to have a different sort of protection under the law than a 16 year old. It is hard to defend a 18 year old who takes a nine year old out - however should that 18 year old be banned from dating a girl in his own class that just happens to be 16 for fear of the law? You want the 18 year old to bring a 20 year old to the school dance? It gets confusing - this is what the issue is. And at any age no means no. Rape is an act of violence, not an act of love.

I will allow teenagers on the elist and answer their questions - but when it comes to any magical issues - I often suggest they talk with their pastor and parents

STUDENT: OK. Have you heard of a band Alkaline Trio? They claim to be marginal Satanists.

Lillee: Never heard their music

STUDENT: its pop punk

Lillee: I think a lot of people are marginal satanists today - I will tell people that I am a philosophical Satanist in many ways

STUDENT: well, the one singer attributes himself to be a marginal satanist cause he read all of LaVey's books and is a selfish person by nature (animalistic)

Lillee: Understandable. He would then be a modern Satanist.

STUDENT: I think its crap. He is one who is using imagery to sell records

Lillee: Many do - that has been going on for years

STUDENT: doesnt that piss you off?

Lillee: Me? Nothing like that pisses me off that much

STUDENT: Does it piss John off?

Lillee: Marketing is marketing - caveat emptor and all of that. That you would have to ask John on - I think he would have to review the specific material to make a judgment

STUDENT: Well, their website claims them to having the most Satanic line in all of punk rock.

Lillee: Of course to sell more records my dear! I was in radio for too many years for that to faze me

STUDENT: "What's upside down, what's coated in silver, this crucifix is my four leaf clover"

Lillee: LMAO

STUDENT: What do you make of it?

Lillee: That makes me giggle more than anything else. He is just saying that his upside down cross is his lucky charm or talisman.

STUDENT: And that is Satanic?

Lillee: So some claim. I do not use the cross in any form upside down or upright in terms of symbolism - but that is me

STUDENT: thats satanic?

Lillee: I dont think so. But the beauty of any paganism is you make your own dogma, so if someone wants to believe that, that is cool.

STUDENT: so, do you guys believe in Heaven? Or a hell?

Lillee: Hmmm - I can only speak for myself - I believe in the Summerlands and nope, no hell - we can make one for ourselves right here

STUDENT: Summerlands?

Lillee: A Celtic idea of an afterlife like heaven skipping the angels and clouds

STUDENT: is there a conflict of interest so to speak of witchcraft and Satanism?

Lillee: Yes.... and no. I am a witch. I happen to be a dark pagan. If you do not define Satanism by the Judeo-Christian construct but see it in the Vedic SAT (being) plus TAN (becoming). It is an interesting combination of the right and left hand path and a philosophy where you are your own devils advocate in terms of when to use which - call it a study in self-control and self-exploration. We do not try to use fantasy or escapism to avoid talking about death or other serious and unpleasant things that happen. We embrace our shadow side as much as we do our light side. Light and dark are as natural and masculine and feminine. To deny either is to deny an important part of your life experience. We look at things from a Hermetic perspective and see science as working with religion ...It really is a true acceptance of self.

STUDENT: Got ya.

Copyright © 2004 C.E. JDA/lca http://churchofsatan.org