Roman Catholic Archdiocese Performs Exorcism at OKC Civic Center After Satanists Hold Black Mass to 'Expel' Holy Ghost
Oklahoma City's Catholic archdiocese said they performed "prayers of exorcism" at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall Thursday to get rid of dangerous spirits after satanists held a "black mass" there last month to "expel" the Holy Ghost from a follower.
The black mass was held at the Civic Center on Sept. 21 by a group known as Dakhma of Angra Mainyu Syndicate.
One of the group's members, Adam Daniels, told ABC News in a recent interview that they are serious worshippers of the devil.
"We are devil worshippers, we are not spiritual satanists," Daniels said. "We believe in Angra Mainyu that is the original devil from Persia."
The group carried out their black mass ceremony in September despite protests from thousands of people outside the event.
Archdiocese spokeswoman Diane Clay told Reuters, as reported by The Chicago Tribune, they carried out the exorcism of the civic center at the request of the public, which sent them dozens of calls and emails expressing concern about entering the building after the black mass. She said an ancient exorcism ritual was performed.
"From the beginning, we have taken seriously the dark and dangerous spirits being invited into our community," said Archbishop Paul Coakley Thursday in a written statement. "To address those concerns, we visited the venue the next morning to pray prayers of exorcism over the place and to pray the prayers for cleansing."
CP previously reported that the satanist group had planned to use a consecrated communion wafer in their blacks mass, but was forced to return the wafer to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City after they filed a lawsuit.
About 40 people attended the black mass and satanic exorcism ceremony, Daniels claimed that the purpose of the black mass was to "expel" the Holy Ghost from a follower.
As a city-funded facility, the civic center cannot discriminate against any group or event once it is not recognized as illegal.