In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, Follow Our Case is spotlighting Cavanaugh v. Bartelt.
Stephen Cavanaugh was incarcerated in the Nebraska State Penitentiary. He identified himself as a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which was founded as satirical statement on teaching intelligent design in public schools, but that ostensibly claims legitimacy as a religion.
“We believe religion – say Christianity, Islam, Pastafarianiasm – does not require literal belief in order to provide spiritual enlightenment,” the Church of FSM says on its About page. “Much of the transcendent experience of religion can be attributed to the community. And while some members of religion are indoctrinated True Believers, many are not. There are many levels of Belief and each is no more or less legitimate than the other.”
FSM’s Gospel says its worship services are to be conducted in Pirate-Speak and attendees are to not only speak but dress as pirates, whom FSM says we all descended from.
“Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full Pirate regalia,” the FSM Gospel says.
Cavanaugh’s complaint says that he was denied the ability to wear religious clothing and pendants — a pirate costume, therefore his religious freedom was violated.
The court ruled in 2016 that FSM is a parody of religion and not entitled to protection as a religion. The case was dismissed.
