OTTUMWA, Iowa — Ottumwa City Council permitted a prayer to Satan during its October 6 meeting, drawing immediate controversy.
Former council member Matt Dalbey of the Satanic Temple of Iowa led the invocation. The prayer began with “Dear Dark Father” and concluded with “Hail Satan.” Dalbey’s invocation included: “Let us pray. Dear Dark Father, let us stand now unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born in fearful minds in darkened times… Let us embrace the Luciferian impulse to eat of the tree of knowledge…”
Mayor Benjamin Foote invited attendees to participate in the invocation. Two council members — Cara Galloway and one other — remained seated during this segment.
Following the prayer, New Life Center pastor Rick Bick objected: “Let’s just reverse that curse that was just put on our city. That ending with ‘Hail Satan’ or ‘Hail Dark God,’ that’s not welcome here.”
Council member Cara Galloway countered that the city’s invocation policy requires allowing such procedures and that the council had no choice but to permit it. The city’s invocation policy, adopted in January 2026, states: “This policy is intended to acknowledge and express the City Council’s respect for the diversity of both organized and unorganized religious denominations…”
The city reported receiving calls since the meeting, noting that some were cordial while many were rude and full of profanities.
