Ottumwa City Council meeting sparks controversy over Satanic invocation

An Ottumwa, Iowa, City Council meeting sparked significant controversy after a resident and former council member, Matt Dalbey, delivered an invocation that included the phrase “Hail Satan.” Dalbey, a member of The Satanic Temple of Iowa, used the address to call for embracing the “Luciferian impulse” and rejecting “arcane doctrines.”

The invocation was permitted under a municipal policy adopted in January 2026, which aims to respect the diversity of religious denominations, belief systems, and non-theistic viewpoints. Council member Cara Galloway, the sole vote against the policy, had previously warned that such an event could occur and noted the potential for legal liability regarding taxpayer funds.

Following the remarks, Pastor Rick Bick of the New Life Center interrupted the proceedings, characterizing the invocation as a “curse” on the city and demanding that officials “reverse” it immediately. In response to the tension, Mayor Benjamin Foote called for a 30-second moment of silence. City officials stated they cannot discriminate between different belief systems and do not review the content of invocations in advance.