Note to self: have kids skip the Vatican this Halloween. Pope Benedict XVI has joined Kimberly Daniels at the Christian Broadcasting Network in issuing his own warning against Christians participating in Halloween. The Pope wants Catholics to know that the holiday is dangerous to not just their waistline but their eternal souls.
The Vatican has issued a statement denouncing Halloween as “anti-Christian” and “dangerous.”
In an article entitled ‘The Dangerous Messages of Halloween’, the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, lays out the soul-sucking dangers of the holiday. Liturgical expert Joan Maria Canals warns “Halloween has an undercurrent of occultism and is absolutely anti-Christian.”
Canals suggests that parents “be aware of this and try to direct the meaning of the feast towards wholesomeness and beauty rather than terror, fear and death.”
The church is suggesting a nice distraction for the kids like a mass or prayer vigil. I may give that a try Saturday night and suggest it with the kids, but if you do not see any postings on Sunday morning, you will know why.
Of course, there is still some room for dress up at such masses:
For the story, click here.
Wouldn’t eating the body and drinking blood fit into the dangers of Halloween?
It is patently absurd to for Pope Benedict or anyone else to attach any religious significance to Halloween.
Jill:
That’s pro-Christian terror, fear and death. See the difference?
Jill–
So the pope is suggesting a new Catholic version of the holiday celebrated on the last night of October that focuses on prayer and attending mass? You got a problem with that? Will it now be called Holyween? Who knows–kids may prefer drinking the sacramental wine blessed by priests to eating accursed candy prayed over by witches.
This pope becomes more like the fundamentalist christians in the United States everyday. Now I know why I don’t attend the catholic church very often.
Professor, the added photo is a jem, well done.
———–
I could get behind Canals’ suggestion if the wine were served in those plastic skull or dismembered hand type goblets sold everywhere for a buck at Halloween, and the ‘bread’ was little sugar skulls, like Day of the Dead candies. And seconds on the wine.
I have a fundamental question. Is the red-eyed joker in the photo posted above on the reader’s *right-hand* side, the Pope?
On the other hand, is the dressed-up jack-in-the-box clown on the reader’s left-hand side, the Pope?
I will be relieved if right-hand is right and eternally damned if the left-hand is right.
I wonder how familiar the Pope is with the origin of “All Hollows Eve?”
This is ZOMBIE DEFAMATION!!! How dare the Pope dress up like Nosferatu, not just on Halloween, but everyday? nal, I take your point but zombies were eating bodies and drinking blood before popes were a gleam in the eye of greedy men wishing to grab earthly treasure. Who is he to take a perfectly legitimate activity and claim it only belongs to him and his church?
I have always hated Halloween, since I was a child when it was a much, much more modest affair. I admit that as the entrepreneurs of society used it as another time for boosting sales, I as a father had to let my children participate in this celebration of harmful food products and ersatz scariness and often accompanied them trick or treating. It was done with much hidden loathing because my wife, my friends and neighbors felt differently and for my children’s benefit I didn’t want to play curmudgeon.
From a religious perspective, it is a pagan holiday and so the Pope and some other Christians denounce it. Knowing its’ history I can understand that judgment. I believe from a Jewish and Islamic perspective it is also not so good. However, never underestimate the power of American advertising, where a buck is to be made and I can imagine JT shepherding his costumed brood around neighboring streets. Bah Humbug!.
“I think if you have any kind of government Candy program, you’re going to be stuck with it and it will lead us in the direction of the European style, you know, sort of British-style, single payer, government run Candy system,” Mitch McConnell remarked. “And those Candy systems are known for delays, denial of sugar rush and, you know, if your particular sweet tooth doesn’t fit the government regulation, you don’t get the Candy.
Then, he added, “And it may cost you your life. I mean, we don’t want to go down that path.”
Damn when people get in the way, “All Hallowed Eve” gets screwed every time. Commercialism gets its way for Corp Profits. Relegion is proof that you cannot profit without a Prophet or be a Prophet without a profit…..
whooliebacon,
Will there be death panels?
Mike S., isn’t it great to have reached that age when being a curmudgeon is not only acceptable, but expected? You can probably even buy or rent a curmudgeon costume for Halloween.
Swarthmore mom, I agree with your observations. It appears that the Church is advancing toward fundamentalism with each passing day. I’ll know the transformation is complete when communion wine is replaced by Welch’s grape juice.
Which costume do you like best, the one at the top right or the one at top left?
Which one should I wear tomorrow night?”
AY,
Those are some well played words.
Since I’m probably not going to be around tomorrow, here’s my contribution to the inevitable Halloween song conversation…
That’s true Mike A. and S.M.,
The church is on a “haters-welcome” recruitment binge. They’re trying to poach Anglicans who don’t like their women out of line and no gays of course. Why not go after the pagans as well?
The pope is trying to unite with Anglicans who don’t like women but also those who have split with the Episcopalians over the ordination of gay bishops.
Welcome, Anglicans, Welcome, Episcopalians, Welcome All, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.
Turn in your condoms in the vestibule.
Mike S,
That sounds like sour grapes from someone who couldn’t come up with a good costume idea
FFN,
I have a good costume for Halloween. A bathrobe and a neighborhood devoid of trick or treaters.
Halloween is the soul of U.S. discourse, the mask of public relations, a.k.a. PR or propaganda, so pass the masks and eat my candy.
Since about 1917 deceit has been one of the largest industries in the U.S. and Britain, and who knows where else:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/01/deceive-business.html
The gentle essence of putting on a mask and asking for candy is but a kind microcosm of the GRANDIOSE DECEIT macrocosm practised each and every day by Bullshitistan, the true name of most things newsiness; and the true name of the Land of Masks.
BTW, the mantra “power corrupts” (started by Lord Acton who was a catholic) began as an action against the notion of the infallibility of the Pope as a governor.
http://powertoxins.blogspot.com/2009/10/about-toxins-of-power.html
If we can’t put on masks you can’t put on bloomers.
I’ll make the Pope this one time offer:
I’ll quit wearing my pagan costumes when he quits wearing his, pointy hat and all.
I don’t expect I’ll be hearing back from his holiness (lower case intended) any time soon. He never writes anymore.
I wonder if it was something I said.
And for a limited time only, I’ll extend this offer to include a behavior limitation. I won’t ask people for candy while I’m dressed up if he quits asking for money while he’s dressed up.
That is all.
Man, that Sax is Saxy.
Better not show that black man n’ White wermen video too fur south of the Mason–Dixon line, though.
Here is the seminal work explaining the Zombie brain. It also links to a discussion of satanic activities for Halloween:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200910306
“Can a researcher develop a consistent theory of undead neuroscience from a detailed study of zombie films? And are there psychological tips to surviving a zombie attack? We’ll talk with Steven Schlozman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a lecturer at the Harvard School of Education, a leading authority on the brains of the living dead.”
No where in this article does the Pope make any anti-halloween statements. The Vatican newspaper prints all kinds of articles from different priests, but these are not the Popes words. The article quotes Aldo Bonaiuto and Father Canals, not the Pope. But don’t let that stop you from insulting the pontif for being Catholic.
No, Bill, you stupid Catholic moron, if it is in my newspaper, that means that I approve it. Just when was the last time the paper printed something that I disapproved? Did Pravda print stuff that Stalin disagreed with? The nuns should have whacked you a little more upside the head to knock some sense into you. You better stay indoors tomorrow night with the lights out, and keep away from the little pagan extortionists asking for treats through wrongful threats of tricks.
That is not from the Pope or the Vatican; there is no “statement”; it is just Canals’ personal opinion. L’Osservatore Romano is full of editorials and opinion pieces. Vatican decrees are published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
Meg, do not be delusional like Bill. There is no First Amendment in Vatican City. I own the paper. If I disapprove, it does not appear. Say a rosary for penance. Snuff out some of those candles, and open the windows to clear out the incense.
And read wiki: “L’Osservatore Romano (English: The Roman Observer) is the “semi-official” newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope’s public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released.” It does run official documents. And “Acta Apostolicae Sedis”? Where are you writing from? A 13th Century monastery or convent?
The Pope has the greatest Halloween costume of all time.
Bill,
Pope Benedict is telling you the straight poop. If it is in the official Vatican newspaper, it is what the real Benedict wants and thinks. It is rather hypocritical for the Pope to claim that Halloween is a Pagan ritual that is dangerous, when the Mass is all about sacrificing an animal and when you take Communion you are eating the flesh of Jesus! What could be more ghoulish?!
Bill and Meg had better pay heed. I detest Halloween. It is all the fault of those damn Irish. They loved their pagan harvest festival Samhain on the first of November. We made them change it to the feast day for all of the hallowed saints, but the little buggers kept their pagan ways the night before on the eve of the hallowed ones. Now they have spread it around the world. This is ridiculous.
Their own saint, Patrick, was not even Irish. He was a good Roman English boy who was enslaved by the wild Irish. But he got even with them. He went back and converted them all to the Church and they have not had an instant of happiness since. Ha!
Trick or Treat? I’ll give you a treat. Fifty million our fathers and fifty million hail marys, and then a good act of contrition. That’s your treat.
“It is all the fault of those damn Irish.”
Why . . . thank you.
BIL, you have my blessing, my child.
Go Green!
Hell Pope Benedict the XVI! Hell! Hell to the Chief!
Actually, the celebration of Halloween is the pagan bastardization of an ancient Christian celebration. The Pope is just doing his job by trying to get things back to the original intention of the thing. Ain’t gonna happen – but he has to try. Google the “religious significance of Halloween” and learn. I’m no fundamentalist bible beater, but I do wish haters with no historical perspective would get their facts straight before showing the world their anti-Christian and anti-Catholic prejudice.
Swine says “the celebration of Halloween is the pagan bastardization of an ancient Christian celebration,” but my child is wrong. Yes, my child, I did indeed “google” the term, and found the first hit, “Halloween: A Return to Paganism,” by Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D.:
http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/e008rp_Halloween.htm
“Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhein which marked the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, a time of year associated with death. The pagan Celts believed that on that night, the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead blurred, and the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. It was a night for preternatural communication with the dead, various forms of divination and prophecy, and sexual rituals.
“By the 800s, the influence of the Catholic Church entered into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV had already designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. Later, the Church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. The eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls were celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils.
“This was the wise way the missionary Church acted in face of this pagan feast that she transformed. She ordered the customs and habits that existed among a people to the Catholic Religion.”
So you see that you are wrong, Swine. The pagan feast did come before the Christian feast. The Vatican will fight all efforts of the modern pagans to regain and restore their ancient misguided rites and rituals.
I suppose the fact that neither you, nor any of the responders here who are bashing the Pope, have actually read the artical? L’osservatore Romano hasn’t yet posted it online, and it isn’t “the Vatican’s official newspaper”; it speaks with its own voice, not necessarily the Pope’s. How about you wait, read the article, then comment on it… instead of echoing what The Telegraph, or Dateline want you to think?
It is “the official voice of the Vatican,” and you had better believe it, Mark. Maybe you should take out a subscription.
BTW, just when would the paper have last disagreed with me?
“The Cathedral Foundation
“L’Osservatore Romano
“Keep your fingers on the pulse of papal news, views and events with L’Osservatore Romano, the official voice of the Vatican.
“L’Osservatore Romano is the leading and most authoritative and comprehensive source for papal writings and activities. No newspaper in the world delivers the messages of the Holy Father directly to you.
“As your connection to the Holy See, L’Osservatore Romano:
* Provides a colorful, informative, weekly newspaper
* Gives immediate access to papal statements, apostolic letters and encyclicals
* Is a wonderful pastoral development resource
* Is the same (English or Spanish language) edition of “L’Osservatore Romano printed in Rome, delivered directly to you every week via U.S. Mail
“Special Web Offer
“New subscribers in the United States can purchase L’Osservatore Romano for just $109 a year (also available on CD). Additional subscriptions make great gifts! Back issues are available in limited quantities.”
http://www.cathedralfoundation.org/cflor3.html
Saying that the something printed in the L’Osservatore Romano is an “official statement (or worse … ‘proclamation’)” by “the Pope” or even “the Catholic Church” is about as logical as saying:
“The mayor BANNED the H1N1 vaccine in NYC!!! That f*ing scum!!!”
… when the New York Times prints an editorial questioning the safety of vaccines.
Mike, you don’t own the Times. I own my paper. I can fire the board and the editors.
The Jesuits publish a weekly called America, a Catholic version of New Republic or National Review. It is like Commonweal, except that priests, not laymen, run it.
Independent voice? Editorial freedom? Ha! A few years ago, I decided I did not like the editor, and I had his Jesuit ass fired. Go look it up.
All you Catholics, Bill, Meg, Mark, as well as you, Michael, get one thing straight. I run this church, not you, not the bishops or cardinals, not the laity — just me. If you don’t like it, go be an Anglican or something. I have read that 30 million Americans are now ex-Catholics, about ten percent of the entire population. I do not care. Let them go. I know I am right. I am well aware that there are a lot of ex-Catholics reading and posting at this very site. Beware – I know who you are.
Nice thing I found since I became Pope. Everyone laughs at my jokes. Did you hear this one? Protestants don’t recognize the Pope, the Pope doesn’t recognize the Protestants, Baptists don’t recognize each other at the liquor store on Friday night, and Catholics don’t recognize each other buying condoms in drugstore on Saturday night.
That one always kills in the Sistine Chapel.
It is nice being infallible, but it is too bad I am not infallible all the time, just when speaking ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals, and only twice so far, in 1854 on Immaculate Conception, and 1950, on Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
I sometimes wish that 95% of my followers did not disregard my teachings on contraception, but even I can’t send them all to Hell. Yet.
And I still hate Halloween. I ordered that no one give any treats to the costumed imps and devils last night. You know what the little pagan tricksters did?
They TP’d Saint Peters!
Pope:
“All you Catholics, Bill, Meg, Mark, as well as you, Michael, get one thing straight. I run this church, not you, not the bishops or cardinals, not the laity — just me. If you don’t like it, go be an Anglican or something.”
****************
After reading your post I am, at long last, prepared to concede your infallibility. Can I be beatified now? LOL
Whoever posted under the name of Michael Bloomberg cannot even get his or her analogies correct. Bloomberg does not own the Times, but he does own Bloomberg TV and related operations worth at least a billion dollar.
If Bloomberg TV put out a broadside against Halloween, you can be that Michael Bloomberg would be held responsible.
NY Daily News: “Mayor to Trick or Treaters: Drop Dead!”
“Can I be beatified now?”
Sure.
They didst beatifieth me, even though I didst beateth offeth.
Dear Pope,
Have you considered replacing the communion wafer with a Chocolate Jesus?