In recent years, disassociates of The Satanic Temple (TST) have publicly challenged the internal governance and public conduct of TST. The network of current and even former Satanist practitioners and supporters have taken positions to criticize the ideological, ethical, and organizational TST terms. The group alleges that TST has not lived up to its own stated principles of compassion, accountability, and resistance to oppression, and in particular, asserts that TST leadership has mismanaged funds, engaged in harassment, and tolerated or perpetuated abusive behavior within the organization.
Among the grievances are accusations of financial mismanagement, which include claims that funds collected through donations, merchandise sales, and membership offerings were not transparently accounted for or were allocated in ways that benefited leadership disproportionately. Related critiques suggest that internal oversight mechanisms within TST were weak or ineffective at holding leaders accountable, leading to perceptions of inequity and favoritism. Some of these complaints were voiced on a Satanic Temple Facebook page and similar social media forums, where affiliates posted detailed narratives about alleged misuse of resources and organizational priorities that they describe as out of alignment with TST’s professed ethical tenets.
In addition to financial concerns, the grievances extended to allegations of harassment and discriminatory conduct, including claims of anti-Israel efforts against Gaza. Some grievances are expressed as broader cultural critiques of TST’s public rhetoric or internal dynamics, while others refer to individual incidents that critics characterize as evidence of a hostile internal climate. In response to these public grievances, TST leadership has indicated that it considers these criticisms as defamatory or harmful to its reputation and fundraising efforts. Reports in activist media and on factional social streams suggest that TST has signaled an intent to pursue legal remedies. The dispute between critics and The Satanic Temple highlights broader tensions within contemporary religious movements that combine ideological advocacy, digital community spaces, and decentralized membership. While there is a push for accountability, equity, and ethical fidelity, TST situates its work in defense of secular rights and constitutional advocacy.
In April 2020, United Federation of Churches LLC, the corporate name used by The Satanic Temple (TST), filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against four former members of TST’s Seattle chapter: David Alan Johnson, Leah Fishbaugh, Mickey Joshua Powell (formerly Meehan), and Nathan Sullivan. The complaint alleged that the defendants had taken over control of TST’s Facebook and social media accounts for the Washington chapter and associated pages, retained exclusive administrative access, and then posted material critical of TST under its own branding. TST claimed these actions constituted cyberpiracy under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), trespass to chattels, conversion, tortious interference with business expectancy, and trademark dilution, among other causes of action.
The lawsuit centered on two primary digital assets: the Washington chapter’s Facebook page, which reportedly had more than 17,000 followers, and a related 
page. TST alleged that by removing authorized administrators and assuming control of the pages and associated login credentials, the defendants interfered with TST’s relationship with Facebook, misappropriated membership-related documents, and potentially diverted membership and reputation from the organization. Additionally, TST asserted that the defendants’ actions were motivated by a desire to damage the Washington chapter and even create a rival organization, which could dilute TST’s trademark and harm its broader membership base.
In February 2021, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones dismissed several key claims, including the ACPA cyberpiracy count as to some defendants and all claims that required the court to interpret or adjudicate religious doctrine. Part of this dismissal was grounded in the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which holds that secular courts generally cannot resolve disputes requiring interpretation of religious governance or belief without violating First Amendment church–state boundaries.
TST appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In its November 2023 memorandum disposition, the appellate court affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part. The Ninth Circuit noted the appeal arose from TST’s attempt to pursue claims for defamation and alleged trademark harms, and indicated that further development of the pleadings might be necessary before those issues could be properly adjudicated, particularly where alleged statements and their purported falsity intersected with religious controversy.
Concurrently, TST pursued a state-level case in the King County Superior Court alleging similar claims arising out of the same dispute. That case continued through 2023–2024, but on September 24, 2024, the Superior Court dismissed all claims with prejudice, holding that United Federation of Churches LLC had no rights to or interest in the contested Facebook page and that the defendants were entitled to continue using it lawfully.