{"id":33074,"date":"2026-10-09T12:16:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T16:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=33074"},"modified":"2026-10-09T12:16:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T16:16:57","slug":"hail-satan-prayer-sparks-outrage-at-iowa-city-council-meeting-as-pastor-calls-it-a-curse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2026\/10\/hail-satan-prayer-sparks-outrage-at-iowa-city-council-meeting-as-pastor-calls-it-a-curse","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hail Satan\u2019 Prayer Sparks Outrage at Iowa City Council Meeting as Pastor Calls it a \u2018Curse\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Adobe Stock | Inset: KCCI \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A satanic prayer at an Iowa city council meeting sparked outrage after a local pastor interrupted proceedings to denounce the invocation as a \u201ccurse\u201d on the community.<\/p>\n

The controversy unfolded Tuesday during an Ottumwa City Council meeting when former council member and resident Matt Dalbey opened the session with a prayer associated with the Satanic Temple of Iowa, ending with the words \u201cHail Satan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The invocation immediately drew objections from Pastor Rick Bick of New Life Center, who said the city needed to reject what had been spoken over the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just reverse this curse that was put on our city. That \u2018Hail Satan\u2019 is not welcome here,\u201d Bick declared.<\/p>\n

The pastor\u2019s comments came after the council and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance, but before the meeting reached its designated public comment period.<\/p>\n

Council member Cara Galloway objected to the interruption, arguing that Bick should wait until the appropriate time to address the council.<\/p>\n

Bick, however, insisted the matter couldn\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needs to be done now,\u201d he responded. \u201cI appreciate what Ms. Galloway is saying, but that was a curse put on the city. Most of you know that, and we need to just stop and reverse it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayor Benjamin Foote called for a 30-second moment of silence, allowing those present to reflect on the situation.<\/p>\n

Galloway argued that the council should move forward with its agenda, but the mayor proceeded with the moment of silence.<\/p>\n

Dalbey later explained that the invocation came from the Satanic Temple of Iowa, an organization he belongs to. The group describes itself as non-theistic and does not worship Satan as a literal deity.<\/p>\n

Dalbey said the prayer had \u201cnothing to do with the belief in a satanic deity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The incident has also raised questions about religious freedom and prayer in government meetings.<\/p>\n

Ottumwa adopted its invocation policy in January, allowing representatives of different religions, belief systems and nonreligious viewpoints to offer opening remarks and setting the terms of the controversy.<\/p>\n

According to the policy, its purpose is to recognize and respect the diversity of beliefs represented among city residents.<\/p>\n

Galloway was the only council member to vote against the policy when it was adopted. After Tuesday\u2019s controversy, she said the confrontation illustrated the concerns she had raised months earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve opened ourselves up for others to object or respond to others\u2019 invocations, and we need to remember that we are up here to be neutral,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The city subsequently released a statement explaining that officials cannot discriminate against religious groups seeking to deliver invocations under the policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not informed ahead of time what will be said for an invocation, nor do we automatically endorse what the speaker is saying,\u201d officials wrote.<\/p>\n

City leaders also acknowledged receiving numerous calls about the incident, including some containing profanity.<\/p>\n

City administrator Philip Rath said the policy\u2019s openness protects the city from potential legal challenges, underscoring why officials may revisit it.<\/p>\n

The controversy has drawn attention online, with the meeting\u2019s YouTube video reportedly receiving more than 11,000 views within 24 hours.<\/p>\n

And the debate may not be over.<\/p>\n

Dalbey is already scheduled to deliver another invocation at the November 3 city council meeting, renewing scrutiny over religious expression, government neutrality and the boundaries of public prayer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A satanic prayer at an Iowa city council meeting sparked outrage after a local pastor interrupted proceedings to denounce the invocation as a \u201ccurse\u201d on the community. The controversy unfolded Tuesday during an Ottumwa City Council meeting when former council member and resident Matt Dalbey opened the session with a prayer associated with the Satanic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":33077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Hail Satan\u2019 Prayer Sparks Outrage at Iowa City Council Meeting as Pastor Calls it a \u2018Curse\u2019<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A satanic prayer ending in \u201cHail Satan\u201d sparks outrage at an Iowa city council meeting as a pastor calls it a curse on the community.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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