Karla LaVey
Encyclopedia
Karla Maritza LaVey (born 1952) was a High Priestess of the Church of Satan
.
, former High Priestess of the Church of Satan
, and current Founder of the First Satanic Church
. She has two half siblings, Zeena Schreck and Satan Xerxes Carnacki LaVey. She founded the First Satanic Church headquartered in San Francisco in 1999, which carries on her father's legacy. In addition to holding the title of High Priestess, LaVey was also a founding member of the Church of Satan
, which was originally named "The Satanic Church". LaVey acted as the public representative for both the church and her father for the better part of four decades.
On April 13, 1973 Karla claimed to have met and presented Sammy Davis Jr. with his warlock
baphomet
amulet on behalf of her father when it was actually Dr. Michael Aquino IV° of the Church of Satan who had done so. During this same time she was very close friends with Alice Cooper
, whom she would later introduce to her father.
Karla has been featured on television, radio, in news and magazine articles including Fox News. She has lectured on the subject of Satanism
around the world. She can be seen in the films Satanis, Witchcraft 70, and Speak of the Devil.
In 1979, Karla was dispatched to Amsterdam
to oversee the International Church of Satan headquarters which acted as a liaison to its members overseas. During this time Karla was given the title High Priestess of the Church of Satan
which she would occasionally use in interviews with print media and her lecture tours.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Karla made numerous appearances on television combating the Satanic Panic that seemed so prevalent for the time. Some of her appearances included the Joan Rivers
Show, Ron Reagan
Show, 20/20, and 60 Minutes
.
On October 29, 1997 Anton LaVey
, Karla’s father, died of heart failure.
On November 7, 1997 Karla held a press conference to announce the death of Anton LaVey
. It was at this time that Blanche Barton
(LaVey’s assistant/biographer who also gave birth to LaVey’s only son, Xerxes), and Karla LaVey announced that they would run the Church of Satan
as co-High Priestesses.
Several days later Barton produced a hand written will claiming that LaVey had left all of his belongings, property, writings, and royalties, including the Church of Satan to be put in a trust managed by Barton. Karla contested this will which was later found to be invalid.
A settlement was later reached in which Anton LaVey
’s belongings, writings, and royalties would be split among his three children and that Barton would receive the “corporation known as Church of Satan.”
Karla then decided to continue on with her father's work by organizing the First Satanic Church
and running it out of San Francisco, just as her father had. The Church of Satan
, under the leadership of Blanche Barton
, was later moved to New York City
, and subsequently transferred over to yet another administration.
Currently, Karla LaVey promotes and sponsors live Satanic events, shows and concerts. She also hosts a weekly radio show in San Francisco.
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
.
Biography
She is the daughter of Carole and Anton LaVeyAnton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
, former High Priestess of the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
, and current Founder of the First Satanic Church
First Satanic Church
The First Satanic Church was founded on October 31, 1999 by Karla LaVey to carry on the legacy of her father, Anton LaVey, author of The Satanic Bible.-History:...
. She has two half siblings, Zeena Schreck and Satan Xerxes Carnacki LaVey. She founded the First Satanic Church headquartered in San Francisco in 1999, which carries on her father's legacy. In addition to holding the title of High Priestess, LaVey was also a founding member of the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
, which was originally named "The Satanic Church". LaVey acted as the public representative for both the church and her father for the better part of four decades.
On April 13, 1973 Karla claimed to have met and presented Sammy Davis Jr. with his warlock
Warlock
The term warlock in origin means "traitor, oathbreaker".In early modern Scots, the word came to be used as the male equivalent of witch ....
baphomet
Baphomet
Baphomet is an imagined pagan deity , revived in the 19th century as a figure of occultism and Satanism. It appeared as a term for a pagan idol in trial transcripts of the Inquisition of the Knights Templar in the early 14th century...
amulet on behalf of her father when it was actually Dr. Michael Aquino IV° of the Church of Satan who had done so. During this same time she was very close friends with Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, whom she would later introduce to her father.
Karla has been featured on television, radio, in news and magazine articles including Fox News. She has lectured on the subject of Satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
around the world. She can be seen in the films Satanis, Witchcraft 70, and Speak of the Devil.
In 1979, Karla was dispatched to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
to oversee the International Church of Satan headquarters which acted as a liaison to its members overseas. During this time Karla was given the title High Priestess of the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
which she would occasionally use in interviews with print media and her lecture tours.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Karla made numerous appearances on television combating the Satanic Panic that seemed so prevalent for the time. Some of her appearances included the Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
Show, Ron Reagan
Ron Reagan
Ronald Prescott "Ron" Reagan sometimes known as Ronald Reagan, Jr., is a former talk radio host and chief political analyst for KIRO radio in Seattle until his show was canceled on August 8, 2007...
Show, 20/20, and 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
.
On October 29, 1997 Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
, Karla’s father, died of heart failure.
On November 7, 1997 Karla held a press conference to announce the death of Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
. It was at this time that Blanche Barton
Blanche Barton
Blanche Barton is an American religious leader who is Magistra Templi Rex within the Church of Satan, and is addressed by Satanists as Magistra Barton.-Biography:...
(LaVey’s assistant/biographer who also gave birth to LaVey’s only son, Xerxes), and Karla LaVey announced that they would run the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
as co-High Priestesses.
Several days later Barton produced a hand written will claiming that LaVey had left all of his belongings, property, writings, and royalties, including the Church of Satan to be put in a trust managed by Barton. Karla contested this will which was later found to be invalid.
A settlement was later reached in which Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
’s belongings, writings, and royalties would be split among his three children and that Barton would receive the “corporation known as Church of Satan.”
Karla then decided to continue on with her father's work by organizing the First Satanic Church
First Satanic Church
The First Satanic Church was founded on October 31, 1999 by Karla LaVey to carry on the legacy of her father, Anton LaVey, author of The Satanic Bible.-History:...
and running it out of San Francisco, just as her father had. The Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
, under the leadership of Blanche Barton
Blanche Barton
Blanche Barton is an American religious leader who is Magistra Templi Rex within the Church of Satan, and is addressed by Satanists as Magistra Barton.-Biography:...
, was later moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and subsequently transferred over to yet another administration.
Currently, Karla LaVey promotes and sponsors live Satanic events, shows and concerts. She also hosts a weekly radio show in San Francisco.