A controversial move to embrace religious “diversity” in an Iowa city led to a satanic invocation before a city council meeting on Tuesday. While some attendees seemed ready to accept this unconventional prayer, a Christian man voiced his disapproval.
Background
On January 20, Ottumwa, located in Southeast Iowa, established a policy permitting invocations at the start of city council meetings.
The stated purpose of this policy is to recognize and show respect for the various organized and unorganized religious beliefs, as well as other faiths, held by the Ottumwa community.
According to the guidelines, speakers are selected from a diverse group of local citizens without preference for any particular religion and are instructed to refrain from preaching or criticizing other beliefs, keeping remarks under two minutes.
The Invocation
Matthew Dalbey, a previous member of the Ottumwa city council, took this opportunity to deliver a prayer that not only paid homage to the devil but also contravened the policy by criticizing other beliefs.
“Let us pray,” began Dalbey. “Dear dark father, let us stand now unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born of fearful minds in darkened times.”
Dalbey, affiliated with the Iowa chapter of the Satanic Temple, mentioned that he and others in the group do not actually worship Satan, yet their actions often suggest otherwise. The Satanic Temple has engaged in various controversial activities, including placing statues on government properties during Christmas, advocating for telehealth abortion services, and distributing literature aimed at children.
Dalbey concluded with a call for turning away from old beliefs and an affirmation of personal sovereignty, finishing his prayer with a resounding “hail Satan.”
Pushback
Pastor Rick Bick from New Life Center raised his voice against the satanic prayer.
Bick, who previously led an invocation and is slated to do so again in December, declared, “Let’s just reverse that curse that was just put on our city.” He emphasized that such statements, concluding with “hail Satan,” are not welcome in Ottumwa.
Bick reiterated that he views the satanic prayer as a curse and called for the community to address it.
In an attempt to ease tensions, Ottumwa Mayor Benjamin Foote suggested a moment of silence for reflection.
Cara Galloway, a council member who opposed the invocation policy, mentioned that objecting to specific invocations could lead to legal issues for taxpayers.
The city released a statement affirming the necessity of maintaining a non-discriminatory stance regarding religious denominations and that all involved in the invocation had adhered to the proper procedures.
Councilman Bill Hoffman expressed his personal disagreement with the invocation, stating that it doesn’t represent the views of most Ottumwa residents. He chose to leave the room during it, opting instead for a personal prayer.
Reactions to the satanic invocation have sparked significant outrage. Some social media users expressed their disbelief, while others noted the growing acceptance of such views within the state.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines urged, “Jesus, come back now,” reflecting a sense of urgency among some community members for a return to traditional values.
As the situation develops, the local political landscape remains tense, highlighted by the upcoming election where attitudes toward groups like the Satanic Temple are scrutinized.
