Italian church apologises after backlash over Santa Claus comments
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A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily has apologised in public after its bishop told a group of children that Santa Claus ‘doesn’t exist’.
It was reported that during a recent religious festival, Bishop Antonio Stagliano said Santa doesn’t exist and that the Coca-Cola company created his red costume for publicity.
Bishop Antonio Stagliano was quoted, saying: “No, Santa Claus does not exist.” Photo from CNN.
According to Sicilian media, the bishop stunned the children when he said: "No, Santa Claus does not exist. In fact, I would add that the red of the suit he wears was chosen by Coca Cola exclusively for advertising purposes."
It did not help that the bishop’s comment came during an event held on the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the primary inspiration for the figure of Santa Claus and known for giving gifts to the poor.
Several people appreciated the bishop’s attempt to focus on the Catholic meaning of Christmas.
However, some Sicilian parents and international media were left infuriated by the statement and sparked an online backlash, calling out Stagliano for interfering with family traditions and crushing the spirits of youngsters whose early years were disrupted by the pandemic.
“You are the demonstration that, when it comes to families, children and family education, you don’t understand a thing,” wrote one woman on Facebook.
Italian media described the bishop as “the latest Grinch of December 25th”, who has crushed the “dreams and magic in the hearts of children.”
One national newspaper even said: “He has seen fit to tear through the veil of illusion that every child tenaciously holds over his eyes for the longest time possible in order to continue to believe in a dream.”
After Bishop Stagliano’s comments on the beloved Christmas character went viral on social media, the diocese of Noto insisted that the bishop didn’t mean to destroy the children’s dreams mere weeks before Christmas. Instead, he was only trying to highlight the season’s true meaning.
“First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that Monsignor Stagliano’s intentions were quite different,” wrote Reverend Alessandro Paolino, the diocesan communications director, on their official Facebook page.
“We certainly must not demolish the imagination of children but draw good examples from it that are positive for life,” Rev Paolino continued.
“So Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, and sharing.”
“But when this image loses its meaning, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again, then you have to revalue it by giving it a new meaning.”
What do you think? Did the bishop cross a line? Or was he right when he pointed out that Christmas is becoming a consumerist behaviour?
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