I’ve heard of churches, even Catholic parishes, forbidding their members from celebrating Halloween. But I’ve never heard of a municipality, in Louisiana that would be a parish, taking such an action. At least when it comes to Sunday. From RNS, via HuffPo:
This year, for the first time, in unincorporated parts of the parish of 120,000, Halloween is on Monday, Nov. 1. Trick-or-treating hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the prescribed day, and violators risk a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail.
A number of parish officials were unavailable for comment, but news accounts indicate that for years parish authorities have legislated when to observe Halloween. And it has often tied them in knots.
Christian groups have resisted public support for Halloween on Sunday because of its associations with the occult.
Of course, the ACLU sent parish officials a letter saying such a prohibition would violate “neighbors’ constitutional rights to walk their streets and ask for candy any day they pleased.” And I think they have a point.
(Hat tip: Nicole Neroulias)
