An Irish priest has labelled trick or treaters wearing devil or demon costumes at Halloween as a "complete betrayal of the Christian faith".
The priest in question, is Father Richard O'Connor from the Diocese of Kerry. He has urged Catholic schools to get back to the "true meaning" of Halloween.
“We’re supposed to be celebrating the Feast of All Saints’ [November 1] and we have the kids dressed up as demons and devils and witches and things like that – the very opposite", the Priest wrote in the Irish Catholic newspaper.
Fr O'Connor also added, "It shows a complete betrayal of the Christian faith, on this particular point".
“Certainly, have Halloween parties, but have them centered on the saints. I would expect Catholic schools to give the lead in that respect".
Fr O'Connor also said that he would have happy to make a "big deal" out of Halloween. He did emphasise that parties must celebrate saints as opposed to demons to give it that "true meaning".
"The word ‘Halloween’ means the eve of the feast of All Saints", O'Connor wrote in a published letter to the Irish Catholic editor.
He also wrote, "Yet on shop windows and even on school windows, we see images of ghosts, skeletons, witches, demons etc, at this time of year, indeed of all sorts of ugly things that remind one of the occult and of Satan".
“But many Catholic parents and the boards of Catholic schools seem to have no problem with this. Instead, they see it, naively, as good fun even though such things are what might be called ‘avenues’ leading towards the occult; and this at a time when Satan-worship, black masses, and seances are on the increase all over the world".
He wrote, “There’s great room for imagination, you take at Christmas, the school will have a little play centred on the nativity, and the kids love dressing up as shepherds, the three kings, and all the rest of it. The same way you could have a party centered on the saints".
He also suggested that children should offer prayers to saints instead of trick or treating.
“Furthermore, instead of ‘trick-or-treating’, the young could also go around to their neighbours offering to pray to those saints for their intentions", he said.
"It would certainly gain help from the saints and it might even gain a few chocolates also for the young from grateful neighbours! Thus, we might see a return again of something of the Christian to this season".
