Sponsored by
Church opposes
A LOCAL church has launched a petition to try to force Derry City Council to scrap the Halloween carnival.
The annual Halloween festivities in Londonderry bring a curse upon the city, according to the Minister of Newbuildings Independent Methodist Church.
Calling on Derry City Council to abandon the festival, Rev Jonathan Campbell revealed that he had launched an online petition, www.ipetitions.com/petition/carnival/ saying the festival encouraged people to become involved in Satanism and brought a curse upon the city.
Quoting Scripture passages, Rev Campbell said: "In light of the warnings of God's word, we are asking Derry City Council to withdraw their support for the annual Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival because it makes evil look innocent and glorifies that which the Lord strongly condemns.
"Christians believe that evil is a real but defeated power. Halloween, however, is about evil triumphant, therefore it is a distortion of reality," he said.
"The carnival...brings a curse upon the city."
He said that he has heard reports of "people having sex openly in the streets during and after the parade".
Rev Campbell added: "Halloween can also breed an unhealthy interest in the occult, which leads to emotional, mental and spiritual distress. This is confirmed by child psychologists who are dealing with increasing numbers of disturbed children."
Rev Campbell added: " These are the reasons why we are opposed to Halloween and the Halloween Carnival. A much better alternative to a Halloween Carnival would be a Guy Fawkes Carnival on November 5, celebrating God's deliverance from this terrorist and his evil accomplices. We urge as many people as possible to sign the petition."
Referring to Halloween started in the British Isles with the Druids, he said. October 31st was a night of terror called Samhain. That night the Druids went from house to house taking victims for human sacrifice. In exchange for the victim, they left a jack-o-lantern with a lighted candle made of human fat inside – which was supposed to protect the home from death demons that night. But Satan's sacrifices are a mockery of Christ's perfect sacrifice for sins on the cross, said Rev Campbell.
A spokesperson for the Council said it was "happy to consider all views on Halloween and believes that an exchange of views across a wide range of issues regarding Halloween is a useful exercise".
Heralding the festivities last year as a success, the spokesperson said: "The Council has an events team in place to ensure that the annual Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival celebrations is a success for the city. The main focus of our celebrations is on the family and a range of activities have been programmed specifically for families. The Council works closely with a number of agencies to promote the Carnival Care message which encourages everyone to enjoy Halloween safely and sensibly."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Londonderry
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
