UPDATE: Harvard Satanic Mass Cancelled

A widely-denounced black mass to be held on Harvard University campus yesterday night was cancelled at the last minute. The black mass, a Satanist ritual designed to mock the Roman Catholic Eucharist, was originally sponsored by Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club who dubbed it an “educational” event. But, after being denounced by local and national Catholics, as well as the Harvard University President, the Club withdrew their sponsorship and the event was forced off-campus.

News of the black mass was originally spread by Catholic bloggers who saw flyers on campus promoting the event. The controversy then made national news when it was condemned loudly by local Catholic leaders. “The Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Boston expresses its deep sadness and strong opposition to the plan to stage a ‘black mass’ on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge” The Archdiocese said in a statement on its Facebook page. In the same statement, the Archdiocese announced an hour of prayer for participants in the black mass.

The Cultural Studies Club was forced to issue a statement defending its sponsorship. “The performance is designed to be educational and is preceded by a lecture that provides the history, context, and origin of the black mass,” they claimed. “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.”

The Harvard Crimson reported last night that the black mass had been moved off campus by the Cultural Studies Club voluntarily, citing “misinterpretations about the nature of the event were harming perceptions about Harvard and adversely impacting the student community.” At 5 p.m., the Club sent out an email saying the black mass had been moved to a local nightclub, The Middle East. But two hours later, they sent a further email saying that venue had revoked its permission, and the Club was pulling its sponsorship.

From there, the Satanic Temple moved the black mass to another off-campus location, the Hong Kong restaurant and lounge. However, there remains some confusion about whether the ritual was actually performed. The Boston Globe reports that they spoke to a Hong Kong employee named “Fred,” who said the Satanists were just drinking and didn’t appear to be performing any sort of rituals. However, The Harvard Crimson reports that the event proceeded as planned at 10 p.m., with nearly 50 individuals dressed in black and face paint. They also report that the owner of the establishment was completely unaware that it had been held.

In addition to voices of faith, Harvard University President Drew Faust spoke out forcefully against the black mass. “The ‘black mass’ had its historical origins as a means of denigrating the Catholic Church; it mocks a deeply sacred event in Catholicism, and is highly offensive to many in the Church and beyond. The decision by a student club to sponsor an enactment of this ritual is abhorrent; it represents a fundamental affront to the values of inclusion, belonging and mutual respect that must define our community.”

Faust refused to cancel or force out the event, citing freedom of expression, but announced that she would be attending a Catholic Holy Hour of Adoration and Benediction held the same night at St. Paul’s Church in Harvard Square. She wasn’t alone; in an outpouring of support, more than 2,000 people attended services at St. Paul’s, according to the Archdiocese of Boston. Ironically, perhaps the end result of this whole debacle was getting thousands of people into the pews and bringing together Boston’s Catholic community in celebration of their faith.