The Archbishop of Oristano, Monsignor Roberto Carboni, reacted strongly: "It was a mistake that should not be repeated and should not be defended. Children need to believe in the story of Santa Claus. It is up to parents, when they deem it appropriate, to explain to their children the truth about this figure who, for the little ones, is magic, joy, and happiness. Not up to us priests."
Father Carboni's words were very clear, spoken after several families in Baratili San Pietro requested his intervention because the town's parish priest, Don Valerio Casula, allegedly told the children of the village a few days before Christmas that "Santa Claus doesn't exist."
After seeing their children in tears, sad, and confused by this perhaps premature discovery, several parents didn't sit idly by. A few days ago, they decided to write a letter to the archbishop, asking for his intervention to prevent similar situations in the future.
"This isn't a question of faith or doctrine, but of educational sensitivity and respect for roles ," reads the letter written by Alessio Fanari, father of two children. "The manner and context in which the topic was addressed have effectively invaded the educational sphere of families, abruptly disrupting an important symbolic and emotional element for childhood. I don't think it's right that children should be taught the non-existence of such an important figure by people who should instead be guiding them in their discovery in a natural way."
Don Valerio Casula, however, offers a different version of events, firmly rejecting the accusations: " I never said Santa Claus doesn't exist; I simply stated that he has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas, which is something entirely different. Furthermore, when I explained all this, the children weren't in church."
Monsignor Carboni, however, like the parents of many children, did not sit idly by: "After receiving several reports that certainly did not please me," the archbishop explains, "I immediately alerted the vicar general, Father Roberto Caria, who had also received complaints from several families in the village, and I asked him to contact Father Valerio Casula to inform him of the distress this has caused the children and their families."
The parish priest was asked to be more careful when speaking and to moderate his remarks, given that these are children. "It's not up to us priests to give these explanations, to speak clearly about Santa Claus," Monsignor Carboni emphasizes. "If anything, with the little ones, we should discuss the meaning of Baby Jesus and his birth. Instead, it's up to parents to address the delicate subject of Santa Claus and his existence, as and when they see fit, also based on each child's personality. This helps avoid trauma."