Tens of thousands of concerned citizens have signed a petition to block a satanic black mass from coming to the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall.
Although city officials approved the black mass, the petitioners hope that their efforts will encourage the event organizers to hold their ceremony elsewhere.
A black mass is a satanic ceremony that mocks the traditional Catholic mass. The ritual often involves desecration of the Eucharist, and inviting the devil in instead of casting him out.
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) Student Action Director, John Ritchie, said the ceremony is sacrilegious.
"The black mass is an attempt to rip God out of the fabric of our nation," he said in a statement. "That's why more and more people are joining the protest.
"The sole purpose of the black mass is to attack God, the Catholic Mass and the Holy Eucharist in a most obscene, indecent and hateful manner. Satanists typically steal a consecrated Host from a Church to desecrate in unspeakable ways."
Ritchie, whose organization is sponsoring the petition, also questioned the city's decision to approve the black mass' location.
"Why is the Civic Center facilitating and advertising this sacrilege, using its tax-funded facility as a platform to attack God and demean all God-loving Americans?" he asked.
"This event harms the common good on many levels. It forces Civic Center employees and government workers to assist, or work in close proximity to, an event that targets the Catholic Faith."
Archbishop Bishop Paul Coakley also questioned the ceremony's location.
"I ask those who are allowing this event to reconsider whether this is an appropriate use of public space," he said. "We trust that community leaders -- and, in particular, the board members of the Oklahoma City Civic Center -- do not actually wish to enable or encourage such a flagrantly inflammatory event and can surely remedy this situation."
The black mass is scheduled to occur on September 21.
