Satanists hold ritual to turn homophobic church founder’s mother gay ‘in the afterlife’
A Satanist group, the Satanic Temple, has held a ‘Pink Mass’ at the grave of Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps’ mother, and have claimed that she “is now gay, in the afterlife”.
The Satanic Temple posted photographs online of the reading of an incarnation, and same-sex couples “expressing their love”, by kissing over the grave of Fred Phelps Jr’s mother Catherine Johnston.
On the website westboro-baptist.com, owned by the Satanic Temple and not affiliated with the church of the same name, are images of the ceremony, and a description of proceedings.
It reads: “Catherine Idalette Johnston, wife of Fred W Phelps, Sr, Mother to Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, Jr, was honored in a ceremonial ‘Pink Mass’, performed by The Satanic Temple, at her gravesite. The Pink Mass is a Satanic ritual performed at the grave site of a deceased person, which changes the sexual orientation of that person in the afterlife.”
It continues: “Same-sexed couples expressed their love at the gravesite of Fred Phelps, Jr.’s mother before a high priest of the Satanic Temple, who recited an incantation.
“Upon completion of the Pink Mass ceremony, Catherine Johnston is now gay in the afterlife.”
The adamantly homophobic church is known for its anti-gay rhetoric, and often attempts to picket funerals or events of people who it sees to be pro-gay, or accepting of gay, lesbian or bisexual people.
