Iowa city council meeting erupts after former member opens meeting with satanic prayer and 'Hail Satan'

A meeting of the Ottumwa City Council in Iowa was disrupted when a former member, Matt Dalbey, opened with a satanic prayer. Pastor Rick Bick vehemently opposed the prayer, calling it a curse, while Mayor Benjamin Foote called for a moment of silence. The incident has led to discussions about the city’s invocation policy and the balance between allowing diverse viewpoints and maintaining neutrality.

• 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.