You’ve been lied to, children heard from a bishop, the latest Catholic clergyman to try to take down Santa Claus and consumerism. Many Italians were not pleased.

“Santa Claus,” thundered Bishop Antonio Staglianò, “is an imaginary character.”

Children’s jaws dropped and the holiday wool fell from their eyes as, for many long minutes in the Santissimo Salvatore Basilica, the bishop continued to stick it to Santa, who he said had no interest in families strapped for cash.

“The red color of his coat was chosen by Coca-Cola for advertising purposes,” the bishop said. Big soda, he added, “uses the image to depict itself as an emblem of healthy values.”

By Jason Horowitz from NYT World https://ift.tt/3EZ2aYZ

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