The Vatican has come out squarely against the holiday, describing it as 'anti-Christian'. The Holy See has warned parents not to allow their children to dress up as part of a 'pagan festival of terror fear and death'.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of this, it is advice that is likely to go down like a lead balloon amongst those who see Halloween as a bit of fun.
Bishop Nick Baines gives some sage advice in his blog today. He reminds us that Halloween is "Halloween is a Christian festival that forces escapists to take seriously human mortality and questions of the meaning of death and beyond." Halloween has its roots in a number of festivals including the Christian festivals of All Souls and All Saints.
Many churches will be running alternative Halloween events so that Christian kids don't feel left out from all the fun. Mouse's advice is simply that whatever you do at this time of year - make it fun.
I think it was CS Lewis who wrote something (very vaguely like) "better to pray for the dead than to dabble with/in(?) them." My problem is that I haven't a clue what to pray that isn't already being experienced by them. So, I'm content to give thanks to the Father for them...
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