MANILA, Oct. 28, 2011— An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) attempted to put a brake on Halloween’s growing popularity, calling it anti-Christian.
Four days before the Catholic holy day of All Saints, Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP media director, lamented how some Filipinos celebrate the season of ghouls and witches.
“All Saints’ Day was intended to enhance the feast of the saints but it morphed into something else… no longer about saints but evil,” said Quitorio.
“We are not glorifying the saint actually, this is a glorification of Satan himself,” he said.
The CBCP official also warned parents against the “subliminal message” and the danger of dressing up their children as ghosts and goblins.
“They should instead do something that would enhance the faith and values of their children,” added Quitorio.
The Church claimed that Halloween has an undercurrent of occultism and is absolutely anti-Christian.
Quitorio urged parents to be aware of and try instead to direct the meaning of the feast towards wholesomeness and beauty rather than fear and terror.
“Let’s celebrate it meaningfully because we would be emulating the saints. We can do whatever we want for as long as you don’t fall down to that level that would be glorifying the evil one,” he said. [CBCPNews]
