Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Haunted house in parish hall for Halloween	Mary	Sunday, October 31, 2004
Question: I'm confused. Our parish has set up a "haunted house" for the kids for Halloween. They are having a pre-trick or treating party where the kids can come in costumes and get candy, etc. Isn't there something wrong with this picture? Should a church be the setting of something like this? For that matter, should Catholics plan and participate in this? The party itself doesn't bother me, but the parish hall decorated like a haunted house with demonic themes just seems to be going too far. I'm a convert, so please correct me if I'm misguided in being bothered by this.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Mary: There is something mighty wrong if the parish hall is decorated with occult and demonic themes. St. Paul teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22: "From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves." As for the party and celebration, if Halloween is celebrated as a Fall Festival with positive costumes such as Bible characters or generic themes such as prince and princess, birds, animals, some cartoon characters, etc. then there is no problem in my view. For more detail about this subject see my essay, Should Christians Participate in Halloween? God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Haunted house in parish hall for Halloween

Mary

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Question:

I'm confused. Our parish has set up a "haunted house" for the kids for Halloween. They are having a pre-trick or treating party where the kids can come in costumes and get candy, etc. Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

Should a church be the setting of something like this? For that matter, should Catholics plan and participate in this?

The party itself doesn't bother me, but the parish hall decorated like a haunted house with demonic themes just seems to be going too far. I'm a convert, so please correct me if I'm misguided in being bothered by this.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Mary:

There is something mighty wrong if the parish hall is decorated with occult and demonic themes. St. Paul teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22: "From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves."

As for the party and celebration, if Halloween is celebrated as a Fall Festival with positive costumes such as Bible characters or generic themes such as prince and princess, birds, animals, some cartoon characters, etc. then there is no problem in my view.

For more detail about this subject see my essay, Should Christians Participate in Halloween?

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.