To trick-or-treat: Should Catholics celebrate Halloween?

Cheridan Sanders

October 26, 2011
Should Catholics celebrate Halloween? That's the question that Pedro asks Patrick Douglas, father of six, and Jason Gennaro, father of five, this week on Perspectives: The Weekly Edition. This question received a lot of feedback on Facebook; there are strong opinions and they range in the types of objections raised. One thing that seems to be at the heart of the discussion is the question of what exactly we're celebrating. Is it a Christian feast that has been 'hijacked' or is it something else, possibly occult?
Some people object to glorifying the grotesque, but how less gruesome is it to non-Catholics to view us venerating body parts of saints,  or any number of other forms of Catholic piety? What do you think? And more importantly, would you encourage your children to celebrate Halloween?
Join us tonight for this discussion on Perspectives Weekly at 7 and 11pm ET / 8pm PT. In the meantime, take part in the discussion on Facebook.