Catholic Church: Halloween is evil and should be replaced by Holyween

The Vatican held its first conference for exorcists and on the agenda was a debate over Halloween's dangers to children.

By Dave Lancaster |

17:22 30 October 2014

The Catholic Church has its eye on rebranding Halloween with a more saintly "Holyween" festivity, according to reports.

In the Vatican's first conference to gather exorcists, the argument was raised that an increase in occult activity at this time of year was a danger to children.

Father Aldo Buonaiuto, of the International Association of Exorcists, claimed that October saw a spike in demonic possession call-outs and blamed Halloween for the rise. Many calls came from parents fearing that their children were possessed.

The father said: '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.

'There are always more evil rituals, animal sacrifices, desecrations of cemeteries and thefts of sacred bones at the time of the 31 October.

'Participating in Halloween is 'like an initiation into the occult.'

Thus the Holyween campaign was launched to replace the dark with the light.

'While most people are seeped in zombies and horror we put on our door or windows a light or an image evocative of the saints.

'And then there will be masses, prayer vigils and worship to celebrate the saints and victory of good over evil.'