A Catholic diocese in Italy has been forced to issue a public apology after its bishop told a group of local kids that Santa Claus isn’t real. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Noto in Sicily insisted that Bishop Antonio Stagliano was only trying to push home the true meaning of Christmas when he made his comments.
- He wanted to share the story of St. Nicholas. Reverand Alessandro Paolino, the communications director for the diocese, said that Stagliano was also trying to explain the story of the real St. Nicholas, who was said to be a bishop who gave gifts to the under priviledged but was persecuted by a Roman emperor. However, he went a bit far by telling the kids that Santa doesn’t exist and his costume was created by Coca-Cola.
- What a grinch! Paolino took to the diocesan Facebook page to issue a statement on behalf of Stagliano. “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,” he wrote. “We certainly must not demolish the imagination of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life.”
- I don’t think kids are really thinking that deeply about Santa. One day they’ll realize that Santa isn’t real, but there’s no deep symbolism behind it when they’re little, so what’s the harm? However, Paolino says differently. “So Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, 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,” the statement continued.
- Parents in Sicily weren’t feeling the apology. A few appreciated that the diocese even issued a statement but others felt it was half-hearted and that the incident never should have happened to begin with. “You are the demonstration that, when it comes to families, children and family education, you don’t understand a thing,” one commenter wrote.
