Iowa city council meeting erupts after former member opens meeting with satanic prayer and 'Hail Satan'
A former Ottumwa City Council member opened a meeting with a satanic prayer ending in "Hail Satan," prompting a pastor to call the controversial incident a "curse."
TL;DR
- Former Ottumwa City Council member Matt Dalbey delivered a satanic prayer at the start of a city council meeting.
- The prayer ended with a "Hail Satan" declaration, which Pastor Rick Bick described as a curse.
- Mayor Benjamin Foote called for a moment of silence and stated the invocation does not represent the community's values.
- City Council member Cara Galloway expressed prior concerns about invocations potentially leading to conflicts and taxpayer liability.
- The city adopted an invocation policy in January aimed at respecting diverse beliefs.
- Dalbey, a member of The Satanic Temple of Iowa, stated the prayer is commonly used but does not imply belief in a satanic deity.
- Council member Bill Hoffman defended Dalbey's First Amendment right while disagreeing with the prayer's content.