The spokesman for the International Association of Exorcists says there is a marked increase in occult activity around Halloween which is why this holiday should be banned or substituted with something less sinister.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Father Aldo Buonaiuto, a member of Association, would like to see Halloween replaced by “Holy-ween” – a night when children dress up like saints and attend prayer vigils instead of wearing ghoulish costumes and collecting treats from their neighbors.
Father Buonaiuto also warned about the danger posed to young people who celebrate this feast which is accompanied by an increase in occult activity. He claims the group’s emergency number receives around 40 calls a day around this time of year, many from parents who believe their child has been initiated into the occult.
“Many say Halloween is a simple carnival, but in fact there is nothing innocent or fun about it – it is the antechamber to something much more dangerous,” Father Buonaiuto said. “There are always more evil rituals, animal sacrifices, desecrations of cemeteries and thefts of sacred bones at the time of 31 October.”
He likened participation in Halloween to “an initiation into the occult” and said that this is the time of year that occult sects recruit new members.
“From here the door to the devil can be opened. For this reason it’s necessary for us to speak out and not play down the danger.”
Instead, he suggests children be encouraged to launch Holy-ween, a festival being celebrated in Italy to counter Halloween.
“While most people are steeped in zombies and horror, we put on our door or windows a light or an image evocative of the saints,” he said. “And then there will be masses, prayer vigils and worship to celebrate the saints and victory of good over evil.”
Father Buonaiuto made the comments during a conference of over 300 exorcists who met in Rome last weekend. They were addressed by Pope Francis who asked them to perform their ministry “with love and kindness from the church toward those who suffer because of the evil one.”
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