Catholic Church in Mexico discourages Halloween celebrations

The Archdiocese of Mexico stated in a letter that it sees the celebration of Halloween as, "worshipping a culture of death that is the product of a mix of pagan customs. The worst thing is that this celebration has been identified with neo-pagans, Satanism and occult worship."

As an alternative, the archdiocese recommended that parents not allow their children to go trick-or-treating, but instead attend costume parties where they can dress as Biblical figures. The article also urged that these events be held on All Saints’ Day, November 1st.

Today in Church History

834 1st All Hallows Eve (Halloween) observed to honor the saints

1517 Luther posts 95 theses on Wittenberg church-Protestant Reformation

1982 Pope John Paul II becomes 1st pontiff to visit Spain

1992 Roman Catholic church reinstates Galileo Galilei after 359 years

Today in Church History

701 John VI of Greece begins his reign as Catholic Pope

 942 Alberic nominates Pope Marinus II (Martinus III)

1389 French king Charles VI visits pope Clemens VII

Today in Church History

1591 Giovanni A Facchinetti elected as Pope Innocentius IX 

Mass for the faithful departed of the Chinese Church, appeal for bishops release

Hong Kong, Oct.29,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – A mass in suffrage of Msgr. John Han Dingxiang, bishop of Yongnian who died “in mysterious circumstances” and cremated immediately afterwards, but also an appeal for the release of all Catholics “unjustly” detained in China.  This is the objective set out by Hong Kong’s Justice and peace Commission who have organised a mass for November 2nd next to which all of the faithful across the territory have been invited.                                                   

The ceremony will be presided over by Fr. Jacob Kwok in a church in Kowloon. According to Fr. Gianni Criveller, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, and expert on the Church in China, “this initiative is laudable, because it underlines the closeness of Catholics in China and the universality of the Church.  Moreover it is the first time that a mass of this nature will be celebrated here, in which a deceased member of the Chinese Church will be remembered”.

The initiative was launched by the Commission, which published an article in the diocesan weekly Kung Kao Po. In the article Fr. Criveller goes on to explain, “The seriousness of Msgr. Han’s death is underlined (to find out more, click here) and the many interrogatives regarding the situation of the Church, which Beijing has still to answer.  What’s more, the members of the Commission recall that the Olympics should be and occasion for greater openness in China, which has yet to concede full religious freedom”.

The death of the Yongnian bishop provoked widespread disdain among figures across the Catholic world.  Even the Vatican daily, Osservatore Romano, expressed it’s “sorrow at the death of the prelate and the circumstance surrounding his burial, which forbid the participation of priests and Catholic faithful”.

The Kung Kao Po article, goes on to recall that “religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and this is why it must be conceded to every individual.  We are particularly concerned for the welfare of elderly and ill bishops, who should be able to receive the necessary medical care”.  Among these are underlined the “unjust living conditions” of  Msgr. Giulio Jia Zhiguo, bishop of Zhengding; Msgr. James Su Zhimin,  bishop of Baoding and missing since 1997 and Msgr. Cosma Shi Enxiang of Yixian, arrested in 2001.

Every year, concludes Fr. Criveller, “The Commission celebrates a mass for the deceased of Tiananmen, therefore these initiatives held to remember the sensitive situations in China are not unknown.  This mass represents another step forward, a considerable gesture that must be supported”.

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