Diocese of Pennsylvania Issues Apology for Halloween Parade Float
The Diocese of Pennsylvania has expressed regret over a controversial float that featured a replica of the Auschwitz concentration camp gate during an elementary school Halloween parade.
Bishop Timothy Sr. from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg formally apologized on Friday after witnessing this offensive display at the parade the previous night. He mentioned feeling “shocked and appalled” to see that the float, associated with St. Joseph Catholic School in Hannover, bore the words “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
This German phrase translates to “work makes you free” and was infamously used in concentration camps, including Auschwitz, where over a million individuals lost their lives.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum highlights that the phrase was used by the Nazis to ironically taunt the primarily Jewish victims forced into labor.
Bishop Sr. acknowledged that while the approved design did not initially include the image of the gate, it still featured a widely recognized symbol of hatred.
The float generated significant outrage on local Facebook groups. One commenter suggested that the educator responsible for the oversight should resign, while another stated that there was no justification for such a display.
“There needs to be accountability and swift action taken,” another person remarked.
Bishop Sr. described the incident as “highly offensive and unacceptable.” He extended his “deepest apologies” to the Jewish community and anyone hurt or offended by this event.
He also mentioned plans to collaborate with school officials to ensure that this situation serves as a teaching moment, promising a review of their approval process to prevent future occurrences. Additionally, the diocese intends to work with the Jewish Federation of Pennsylvania and the Anti-Defamation League, aiming to deepen students’ understanding of the Holocaust and the increasing anti-Semitism seen today.
It’s worth remembering that over 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.
