Phoenix Diocese Asks Catholics Not To Publicly Protest SatanCon

PHOENIX, AZ — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix is asking local Catholics not to participate in public protests of the Satanist convention, SatanCon, happening in Scottsdale this weekend.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted asked that instead of taking part in public demonstrations or protests, Catholics "unite in spiritual warfare" by praying, fasting and taking sacraments, which includes taking communion.

"These are the most effective spiritual weapons against Satan’s futile attempt at sowing division and confusion in our midst," the Diocese of Phoenix said in a statement posted to its website.

The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix did not answer a question from Patch on Friday asking for the specific reason Olmsted told followers not to attend public protests of the convention.

More than 350 Satanists are expected to be in Scottsdale this weekend for SatanCon 2022, The Satanic Temple's first annual convention.

The conference is set to include panels and presentations, a vendor marketplace and an "Impurity Ball."

SatanCon's organizers know that some people plan to protest the event, and have advised attendees not to engage with them.

Instead of protesting, Olmsted asked local Catholics to pray more, to fast, to attend more weekday masses and to "make sacrifices of reparation for sinners."

In the Catholic tradition, sacrifices of reparation are prayers to make up for the sins of others.

"Our main weapons against Satan are prayer and fasting, rather than works against human beings," the Phoenix Diocese said in its statement.

In an interview with Patch this week Chalice Blythe, a Tucson minister of Satan and director of programming for SatanCon, made it clear that followers of The Temple of Satan do not worship a literal devil. But the temple does advocate for abortion as a religious right, something that the Catholic Church is adamantly against.