posted 12-09-2004 08:38 AM                       

quote: York Evening Press

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FURIOUS church leaders today warned that York Dungeon's festive attraction, Satan's Grotto, would expose children to "evil forces".

Clergymen across the city have written to the Dungeon's bosses asking them not to open the display, which replaces the traditional Father Christmas with a grotesque figure in a dark cloak, red face and horns.

Visitors are handed "gifts" such as severed fingers and other body parts, and can write on a scroll to sign their souls away. The minister of Acomb Baptist Church, the Rev John Billingham, who has complained to the Archbishop of York and City of York Council, said presenting "occult practices" as harmless fun was extremely foolish.

"Children going in there (the grotto) is one thing, but making requests to Satan is quite another," he said.

"Children are opening themselves up to evil forces. There is the potential for harm.

"For thousands of years, even beyond the teaching of the Bible, it has been recognised that such a being known as the Devil or Satan exists."

"He is not a product of the imagination, but the embodiment and personification of all that is evil. He adversely and dreadfully affects all who allow him to influence their lives, wittingly or unwittingly."

But Bernie Fleck, who is the dungeon's performance supervisor, said they had run the Satan's Grotto for four years without complaint and planned to open it on December 13.

"It's meant to be very tongue in cheek and a light-hearted way to get at the commercialism of Christmas," he said.

The Rev Derek Wooldridge, who runs Christian youth camps during the summer, has signed Mr Billingham's letter opposing the grotto along with other clergy in the city. "It's deliberately controversial," he said.

Visitors to the grotto will be greeted by elves impaled on spikes or with their heads chopped off, and robins roasting over an open fire, while Santa himself boils in a witch's cauldron.

Other clergy and church leaders who have signed the letter of opposition include: the Rev Dave Casswell, Clifton Parish Church; the Rev Graham Hutchinson, Elim Church, Heslington Road; the Rev John Lee, St Paul's Church, Holgate Road; the Rev Jim McNaughton, York Community Church, Tang Hall; the Rev Gary Patchen, York Baptist Church, Priory Street; the Rev Steve Redman, The Ark Christian Fellowship, Foxwood; the Rev Roger Simpson, St Michael-le-Belfrey, Duncombe Place; and Carl Tinnion, head of the York branch of Youth With A Mission.

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posted 12-09-2004 07:05 PM                    

quote: Leo Enticknap

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You Americans are so lucky in having Thanksgiving to mark the start point for Christmas preparations.

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posted 12-13-2004 06:34 AM                       

quote:

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Tim, I think it's a toss-up as to which one is worse... That one or the barking dog version of "Jingle Bells"!

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