The Pope, L'Osservatore Romano, and Halloween

Many newspapers have been shouting headlines that the Pope has condemned Halloween. After reading many of these articles, it seems appropriate to sort out fact from fiction with what was actually said and why it was said.

First, it should be made absolutely clear that Pope Benedict XVI himself did not condemn Halloween. L'Osservatore Romano, from which the quotes were taken, is the Vatican Newspaper. L'Osservatore Romano has its own editorial board.

L'Osservatore Romano carried an article entitled, "Halloween's dangerous messages" which quoted Catholic liturgical expert, Rev. Joan Maria Canals as saying ,"Halloween has an undercurrent of occultism and is absolutely anti-Christian." Father Canals is a member of a Spanish commission on church rites. Please note that Father Canals, while a liturgical expert, is not the Pope. Father Canals continued by saying that parents should "be aware of this and try to direct the meaning of the feast towards wholesomeness and beauty rather than terror, fear and death."

As explained succinctly in Halloween: The history of the celebration, Halloween finds its very Catholic roots in All Hallows' Eve or Hallowe'en for short. All Hallows' Eve is the vigil before the feast of All Saints Day on November 1. In ancient time, saints and martyrs were "hallowed," thus All Hallows' Eve. There is some connection to the pagan celebration of Samhain, an ancient Celtic celebration. Read more about the pagan connection to Halloween by reading Samhain and the pagan connection to Halloween.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2116, 2117 clearly rejects all forms of divination, which includes conjuring up the dead, magic, sorcery and palm reading. All of these practices are in grave conflict with the teaching of the church. So, while Rev. Canal's comments made headlines in papers across the world, what he said is not at all surprising, nor is it worthy of all the newspaper hype and misinformation. Of course occultism is anti-Christian! Does that surprise anyone? At all times and in all ways, Catholics should seek to see the goodness and wholesomeness in our daily lives rather than terror and fear. That, too, is hardly surprising.

Celebrating Halloween by dressing up and going trick or treating is not, in and of itself, against the teaching of the Catholic Church. Hallowe'en finds its very essence in ancient Catholicism. Has Halloween become too commercial? Absolutely. Do some use Halloween as a time to glorify evil? Of course. Should good Catholics everywhere stop their children from dressing up on Halloween and enjoying the fun of the occasion? This writer says, absolutely not. In fact, Halloween is just one more opportunity for good parents to talk with their children about good and evil and their belief in their Catholic faith! It seems that this is exactly what Rev. Canals was saying.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Christians and Halloween by David Morrison