Mexico City, Mexico, Oct 31, 2007 / 04:28 pm (CNA).- As many people prepare to celebrate Halloween today, the Catholic Church in Mexico has published an article describing the holiday as “damaging and against the faith.”  The celebration of the American holiday has filtered into Mexico with monster costumes now competing in sales with flowers, which are sold for the traditional Day of the Dead festivities.

The Archdiocese of Mexico stated in a letter that it sees the celebration of Halloween as, "worshipping a culture of death that is the product of a mix of pagan customs.  The worst thing is that this celebration has been identified with neo-pagans, Satanism and occult worship."

As an alternative, the archdiocese recommended that parents not allow their children to go trick-or-treating, but instead attend costume parties where they can dress as Biblical figures.  The article also urged that these events be held on All Saints’ Day, November 1st.

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