The diocese apologized to outraged mother and father however stated the bishop was making an attempt to underline the true that means of Christmas.
SICILY, Italy — A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily publicly apologized to outraged mother and father after its bishop instructed a bunch of youngsters that Santa Claus doesn’t exist.
In a Fb put up and subsequent feedback Friday, the diocese of Noto insisted that Bishop Antonio Stagliano didn’t imply to sprint the desires of the kids two weeks earlier than Christmas.
The diocesan communications director, the Rev. Alessandro Paolino, stated Stagliano was making an attempt to underline the true that means of Christmas and the story of St. Nicholas, a bishop who gave items to the poor and was persecuted by a Roman emperor.
Italian information experiences quoted Stagliano as saying throughout a latest spiritual competition that Santa doesn’t exist and that his purple costume was created by the Coca-Cola firm for publicity.
“To begin with, on behalf of the bishop, I specific my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment within the little ones, and need to specify that Monsignor Stagliano‘s intentions have been fairly completely different,” Paolino wrote on the diocesan Fb web page.
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“We actually should not demolish the creativeness of youngsters, however draw good examples from it which are optimistic for all times,” he continued. “So Santa Claus is an efficient picture to convey the significance of giving, generosity, sharing. However when this picture loses its that means, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the will to personal, purchase, purchase and purchase once more, then you must revalue it by giving it a brand new that means.”
However, if the general public feedback part of the Noto web page have been any indication, the Sicilian mother and father weren’t having any of it.
Whereas a number of welcomed the bishop’s try to concentrate on the Catholic that means of Christmas, others faulted Stagliano for interfering with household traditions and celebrations, and crushing the spirits of youngsters whose early years have been disrupted by the pandemic.
“You’re the demonstration that, with regards to households, youngsters and household schooling, you don’t perceive a factor,” a commenter, recognized as Mary Avola, wrote.
