Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Noto Catholic Diocese Roma in Sicily conveyed his apologies for mentioning that Santa Claus there is not any.
The apology came after a bishop named Antonia Stagliano told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist in the real world.
In a Facebook post on Friday (10/12), Noto diocese insisted that the bishop did not intend to destroy children’s dreams.
The diocesan communications director, Reverend Alessandro Paolino, said Bishop Stagliano was trying to underline the true meaning of Christmas. The bishop also doesn’t want Santa Claus to be seen as something consumerist.
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Illustration. A bishop in Rome says Santa doesn’t exist. (AP/Seth Wenig)- – |
“First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express sadness at this statement that has created disappointment in young children, and would like to emphasize that Monsignor Stagliano’s intentions are very different,” Paolino wrote on the diocese’s Facebook page.
Paolino explains that Santa Claus is a depiction or image of the importance of giving, sharing, and being generous.
However, continued Paolini, when the image loses its meaning and turns into a mere image of consumerism, then you have to evaluate it by giving it a new meaning.
Reported Associated Press, Bishop Stagliano had previously said at a recent religious festival that Santa Claus was absent. He also mentioned that his iconic red shirt was made by the Coca-Cola company for publicity purposes.
Some welcomed Bishop Stagliano’s efforts to focus on the meaning of Christmas. However, there are also others who blame the bishop for disrupting family traditions and celebrations, as well as destroying the morale of children who have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
(fby/asr)
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