Ottumwa Mayor Reviews Invocation Policy Following Satanic Prayer

The mayor of Ottumwa, Iowa, Benjamin Foote, has announced a review of the city's invocation policy after a member of The Satanic Temple of Iowa delivered a prayer at an October 6 city council meeting. Matthew Dalbey, a former council member, opened the session by invoking Luciferian themes and concluding with the phrase, "Hail Satan." The invocation was permitted under a policy adopted in January that allows volunteers from various religious and non-religious backgrounds to lead the opening prayer.

Following the invocation, local pastor Rick Bick of New Life Center publicly objected, characterizing the prayer as a "curse" on the city and calling for it to be reversed. Mayor Foote, who identifies as a born-again Christian, responded by calling for a moment of silence. While the mayor expressed a commitment to upholding First Amendment rights regarding freedom of speech and religion, he indicated that the city is now evaluating its procedures for future invocations. Ottumwa, a city of approximately 25,000 residents, hosts over 50 churches and religious institutions.