CV NEWS FEED // A satanic worship ritual – a so-called “black mass” that an organizer says is a pro-abortion response to life-affirming Kansas legislatures – is now set to take place outside at the Kansas State Capitol March 28.
The blasphemous ritual was originally going to take place within the capitol building. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced March 12 that it had been moved outside, and that the governor’s office has limited authority to respond. The governor claimed that the protestors’ ability to stage the satanic and sacrilegious ritual is protected by the Constitution.
A March 12 report from the Atchison, Kansas-based Benedictine College states that Michael Stewart, one of the organizers, told a local journal the reason behind the planned sacrilege.
“This is a specific response to our legislatures continuing to pander to groups like the Kansas Catholic Conference and to Kansans for Life, where they keep trying to come back and attack abortion rights, much less other rights,” Stewart told the Topeka Capital-Journal.
In the March 12 statement about the ritual being moved outside, Kelly explained her position on the issue.
“I have been informed about concerns regarding an event at the Statehouse on March 28, and I share those concerns. There are more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols,” Kelly said. “However, as governor, I also have a duty to protect protesters’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, regardless of how offensive or distasteful I might find the content to be.”
“Since these rights are constitutionally protected, the Governor’s Office has limited authority to respond to such actions. That said, it is important to keep the Statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced.”
All events that will take place at the capitol March 28 will be moved to the surrounding Statehouse grounds, Kelly added.
Chuck Weber, executive director for the Kansas Catholic Conference, criticized the governor’s response.
“Governor Kelly’s statement regarding the so-called ‘black mass’ reeks of condescension and a willful ignorance about what is scheduled to happen,” Weber said in a March 13 statement to CatholicVote. “A vile and despicable Satanic worship ritual has been approved to take place on the grounds of Kansas, the State Capitol, ‘The People’s House.’ Where is the condemnation of this provocative expression of hatred and anti-Catholic bigotry?”
The state’s Catholic bishops are working to determine spiritual and legal options in response to the satanic ritual, he said.
As CatholicVote previously reported, the national Catholic organization American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) has planned a public prayer rally of reparation to take place outside the Capitol at the same time as the satanic worship ritual.
Weber told CatholicVote that the Conference is undeterred by the organizer’s comment to the Topeka Capital-Journal criticizing pro-life legislatures.
The Conference’s mission “flows from the celebration of the Eucharist,” Weber said. “At the end of every Eucharistic celebration — the Mass — Father will often exhort the faithful with the words: ‘Go forth, glorifying the Lord with your lives.’ This helps explain and sums up the mission of the Kansas Catholic Conference. We will spread the Gospel through our legislative advocacy. We will not be bullied or otherwise intimidated into ceasing our efforts advocating for public policies that serve the common good.”
Weber told CatholicVote in a previous report that the bishops also ask that Catholics pray for the conversion of every heart during Lent, especially the event organizers.
On March 10, Benedictine College pledged to dedicate its weekly Holy Hours and rosaries throughout the month for the conversion of those planning the sacrilege and for faith throughout the state to be renewed.
In a statement about the pledge, Benedictine President Stephen D. Minnis emphasized the power of prayer, especially through the Eucharist and the rosary. He also asked those in Benedictine’s Memorare Army to pray 10 memorare prayers a day throughout the month, asking Our Lady of Guadalupe to intercede.
Both Catholics in the state and members of TFP have been working to stop the sacrilege at the capitol from taking place, as CatholicVote previously reported.
TFP has launched a nationwide petition. At the time of publication, more than 35,000 people have signed the TFP petition. Each person signs their name under the following statement, which is addressed to the governor:
“With my whole heart and soul, I express full, complete and vehement rejection of the satanic Black Mass scheduled at the Kansas State Capitol on March 28, 2025. I urge you to cancel this event, which offends 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, 426,000 Catholics in Kansas and countless more God-loving Americans. Sacrilege is simply NOT free speech.”