October, 29 2009, 03:33pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
(202) 466-3234,Joe Conn,Rob Boston,Sandhya Bathija
Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network Warns Americans of 'Demonic' Halloween Candy
AU’s Lynn Says Religious Broadcaster Should Send ‘Trick Or Treat’ Goodies Over to His House
WASHINGTON
Put aside your fears of swine flu. TV preacher Pat Robertson's Web
site has just issued a bulletin warning Americans of the real threat we
face this season: Demons may be lurking in our Halloween candy.
In a column
on the Christian Broadcasting Network's Web site, writer Kimberly
Daniels asserts that "demons" sneak into bags of Halloween candy at
grocery stores.
"[M]ost of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and
prayed over by witches," Daniels wrote. "I do not buy candy during the
Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the
innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it
from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for
Separation of Church and State, urged Robertson and Daniels to lighten
up.
"I've heard of the devil being in the details, but to think he's
lurking inside a Snickers bar is a little too much," Lynn quipped. "Pat
Robertson has always peddled some scary stuff, but this is over the
top."
Added Lynn, "I hate to see all of that candy go to waste. I wish
Robertson would send it to me, because I'm throwing a Halloween party
and could use it."
Daniels asserts that far from being harmless fun, Halloween is a veritable doorway to hell, full of literal monsters.
"Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or
treats," she wrote. "It is a time for the gathering of evil that
masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves,
mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have
been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for
witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon."
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and an influential
player in American politics, has long opposed Halloween. As far back as
1982, he attacked the holiday as a "Satanic ritual" and said on the
air, "I think we ought to close Halloween down."
CBN later produced a pamphlet titled "Hallowed or Harmful: Christian
Perspective on Halloween." It asserted, "During Halloween, little
children in particular are the weak ones."
On Oct. 29, 2007, Robertson called Halloween a "festival of the
devil" and added that celebrating the holiday is "a mistake for
Christians."
Lynn urged Robertson to take a deep breath and try to relax.
"I think Pat has been watching too many scary movies," Lynn said.
"Still, if he doesn't want to celebrate Halloween, that's fine with me,
but he should quit trying to spoil everyone else's fun."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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