The Catholic Church is condemning a satanic Black Mass scheduled to take place Monday at Harvard University, while students argue the event strictly serves an educational purpose.
The Archdiocese of Boston spoke out against the Black Mass and called on the Cambridge, Mass., school to “disassociate itself from this activity,” CBS Boston reported.
“For the good of the Catholic faithful and all people, the Church provides clear teaching concerning Satanic worship,” the archdiocese said in a statement. “This activity separates people from God and the human community to charity and goodness, and it places participants dangerously close to destructive works of evil.”
The mass, which has angered many Catholics in the Boston, Mass., area, will be performed by the Satanic Temple from New York. The event is hosted by the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club and will feature a non-consecreated communion host.
According to CNS News, the Harvard organization posted flyers around campus advertising the event as a “reenactment of a satanic black mass performed by The Satanic Temple **with commentary and historical context**.”
Some students contend that because the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club seeks to explore the mass within an educational context, it should be allowed.
“It’s kind of troubling especially to Christians, but at the same time if they’re doing it for academic inquiry, this should be a safe space,” Misan Oteri, a student at Harvard, told CBS Boston.
Others disagree.
“It is still heavily offending a group,” Farhad Dokhani said. “And what’s the purpose?”
The student group released a statement on the mass:
We are hosting a reenactment of a historical event known as a Black Mass. The performance is designed to be educational and is preceded by a lecture that provides the history, context, and origin of the Black Mass. While a piece of bread is used in the reenactment, the performance unequivocally does not include a consecrated host. Our purpose is not to denigrate any religion or faith, which would be repugnant to our educational purposes, but instead to learn and experience the history of different cultural practices. This performance is part of a larger effort to explore religious facets that continue to influence contemporary culture.
The archdiocese plans to hold a holy hour Monday in response to the Black Mass.
