• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., raises the Eucharist as he concelebrates the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Jan. 23, 2025. On March 20, a Kansas judge dismissed a case brought by Archbishop Naumann against the Satanic Grotto for the return of a consecrated host and consecrated wine the group originally claimed to have secured for a "black mass" but admitted under oath they did not actually possess. (OSV News photo/Mihoko Owada)

Kansas Satanists forced to admit under oath they don’t possess Eucharist for ‘black mass’

March 21, 2025
By Gina Christian
OSV News
Filed Under: Eucharist, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments

A Satanic group planning a “black mass” at the Kansas Statehouse March 28 has sworn in court it is not in possession of a consecrated host and wine the group said it aimed to desecrate at the event.

On March 20, a judge dismissed a case brought by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., against the Satanic Grotto for the return of a consecrated host and consecrated wine the group claimed to have secured.

The dismissal of the case was “an unexpected but welcome development,” since the defendants admitted under oath they did not have the sacred species, the Kansas Catholic Conference said in a statement issued shortly after the ex parte hearing.

Catholics believe that upon their consecration at Mass, the bread and wine become Jesus Christ — body, blood, soul and divinity — while still retaining the appearances of bread and wine. The Catholic Church teaches in its catechism that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life,” with the reception of the Eucharist forming faithful into a single body sent forth to “fulfill God’s will in their daily lives.”

On March 14, Archbishop Naumann had filed a petition to recover the Eucharist — under state laws governing the return of wrongfully taken or held personal property — in the civil division of the District Court of Leavenworth County, Kansas.

The legal move followed claims made by Satanic Grotto president Michael T. Stewart — both on social media and directly to Kansas Catholic Conference executive director Chuck Weber — that he had obtained at least one consecrated host and an unspecified quantity of consecrated wine for the group’s upcoming “black mass.”

“We now have a sworn statement before a judge that the group does not possess a validly Consecrated Host,” said Weber in the March 20 statement. “This alleviates a major concern.”

The statement said both parties had proposed and agreed to Stewart “testifying under oath that neither he nor members of his group were in possession of the Eucharist.”

“We are confident as can be given the fact that he (Stewart) gave this statement under oath and subject to perjury if he was lying,” Weber told OSV News in a March 21 phone call.

But, added Weber, “we’re also keeping in mind that this guy works for the prince of lies, and he’s changed his story so many times now that we can’t keep track of it.”

Court documents obtained by OSV News show that Stewart claimed Weber “did not ask” him “to define what he meant by the word ‘consecrated,'” or where Stewart had obtained the hosts.

Stewart also said in his testimony Weber did not ask “which Christian sect’s communion host was being used,” and that the social media posts cited in the case did not “specify that any particular Christian sect’s ‘Eucharist’ is involved in the ceremony.”

Without responding to specific questions about both the sacred species and the “black mass,” Stewart told OSV News in a March 20 email that his organization “just stood down the Catholic Church in front of the world” while “exposing their hypocrisies lies and rampant abuse of power.”

Regarding the upcoming “black mass,” Weber said in his statement, “It is still sad that a group can get permission for the use of the Statehouse grounds when their sole purpose is the mockery and denigration of not just Catholics, but people from all denominations.”

The Kansas Catholic Conference said in its March 20 statement that Archbishop Naumann is “calling upon the faithful to pray for the spiritual conversion of those promoting and participating in the satanic worship ritual,” whose organizers “have also promised to defile a Bible, a crucifix and other Christian symbols.”

The statement quoted Archbishop Naumann, who said, “These actions are an affront to all Christians.

“I urge all Catholics, other Christians, and people of good will not to succumb to anger or violence, as that would be cooperating with the devil,” said Archbishop Naumann. “Rather, approach this situation with confidence in God’s ultimate victory over Satan, sin, and death, as stated in Matthew 16:18.”

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is scheduling a number of Holy Hours ahead of March 28, with Archbishop Naumann set to reconsecrate the state of Kansas to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation.

Read More Eucharist

Survey: National Eucharistic Revival rekindled faith and outreach, but challenges remain

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is back in 2026 — with a patriotic twist and a stop in Baltimore

In pastoral on Communion norms, Bishop Martin emphasizes Eucharist is communal act of worship

Discovering the Eucharist at Bethlehem

Bishops approve new National Eucharistic Congress for summer 2029

Question Corner: Does reception of the Eucharist replace confession?

Copyright © 2025 OSV News

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Gina Christian

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Franciscan University Steubenville Steubenville students died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, say police

  • Pastors encouraged to schedule extra Saturday services with snow, ice forecast for Maryland

  • Archbishop Broglio: ‘Morally acceptable’ for troops to disobey ‘morally questionable’ orders on Greenland

  • Like mother, like daughter at St. Mark School in Catonsville

  • Participants in the thirteenth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Monsignor Edward Michael Miller Prayer Service and Peace Walk In Baltimore, faithful walk for peace in Martin Luther King Jr.’s spirit

| Latest Local News |

Archdiocese of Baltimore well represented at pro-life events in nation’s capital

Pastors encouraged to schedule extra Saturday services with snow, ice forecast for Maryland

Loyola University receives $12 million gift to establish Bloomfield Hall, create scholarship opportunities 

Like mother, like daughter at St. Mark School in Catonsville

Participants in the thirteenth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Monsignor Edward Michael Miller Prayer Service and Peace Walk

In Baltimore, faithful walk for peace in Martin Luther King Jr.’s spirit

| Latest World News |

March for Life rallies thousands to build culture of life as political cracks emerge

Marchers celebrate the unique gift of life at 53rd annual March for Life

Bishop Bambera: Christian unity is ‘vital’ and ‘not an add-on’

Archdiocese of Paris convenes council in response to historic rise in catechumens

Cardinal says Ukrainian medal belongs to all Catholics, not him, as he urges continued aid

| Catholic Review Radio |

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • March for Life rallies thousands to build culture of life as political cracks emerge
  • Marchers celebrate the unique gift of life at 53rd annual March for Life
  • Archdiocese of Paris convenes council in response to historic rise in catechumens
  • Bishop Bambera: Christian unity is ‘vital’ and ‘not an add-on’
  • Visuals, rituals, traditions: How Catholic schools stand out
  • Cardinal says Ukrainian medal belongs to all Catholics, not him, as he urges continued aid
  • Vance visits Minneapolis to ‘tone down the temperature’ during immigration enforcement
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore well represented at pro-life events in nation’s capital
  • Thousands of pro-life Catholics attend Life Fest affirming ‘love is the answer’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED