The Ventura County Fairgrounds will be hosting “Merry Gothmas” on December 13th. After petitioning to the city to cancel the event, a mass and a peaceful protest will be held on December 13th. Below is an excerpt of the original petition:

We the undersigned demand the immediate cancellation of the above event, on the grounds that it is a serious and deliberate offense to the interests of the Christian community and sympathetic other sisters and brothers of faith of Ventura County.

This event is being marketed as an attempt to “summon” spirits, with the assistance of “dark vendors” offering, among other things, “witchy wares,” all with the goal of “embracing the darker side of the season.” These references to spirits, witchcraft, and darkness are all not-very-subtle references to the occult. Practices of this type are offensive to Christians and inimical to Christian belief.