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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Nuncio: Christmas not about Rudolph, but the birth of Jesus

Nuncio: Christmas not about Rudolph, but the birth of Jesus

Published Dec 16, 2021 11:20 am

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown said Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and not about Rudolph or anything else.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Charles John Brown in the Vatican in December, 2018. (VATICAN MEDIA FILE PHOTO)

"Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, these things are nice. But they are completely secondary, inputting charitably to the message of Christmas," he told Radio Veritas.

"It’s not about Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, but the birth of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem," Brown added.

In the past, a Catholic priest also lamented how some tend to associate Christmas more with Santa Claus rather than Jesus.

Father Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Manila blamed the commercialization of Christmas for this.

"I think it is brought about by too much commercialism when we celebrate Christmas," he said.

"Santa Claus is always associated with gifts. I think if there is one person who is actually generous, its none other than Jesus Christ because His gift to us is His life," added Secillano.

The executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee view this as a challenge for the church.

"It's a challenge for the church to educate our young that Christmas is not about Santa Claus, it is about the birth of Jesus," Secillano said.

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