Dear Auntie Ella,
My daughter is obsessed with the occult, like many healthy nine-year-olds. Recently, she has been
conducting seances in her bedroom, inviting Madame E. Curti, a local medium, to summon up the spirits of
dead people. Last week, for example, she conjured up her Uncle Albert, Charlie Chaplin, and Mgr Basil Loftus (the last was
rather a surprise until we realised that his soul had long since parted company from his body).
A perfectly normal interest for a young child.
So far there have been no ill effects apart from the fact that her bedroom smells strongly of ectoplasm and the cat has disappeared. Oh - and there was the unfortunate incident when her best friend encountered the demon Melbrinionon-sadsazzer-steldregandish-feltselior and was carried off down to Hell. We are faithful Catholics, regular readers of Crux, and great fans of Pope Francis. Do you see a problem with this?
Auntie Ella writes: It is good for children to have a hobby. Admittedly the Catholic Church warns against occultism, conjuring up spirits, cosying up to demons, and playing around with the supernatural. But after all, Tolkien was a Catholic, and nobody ever told him off for writing those books of his!
Tolkien - wrote about wraiths and spirits.
Dear Auntie Ella,
My teenage son Victor has started to take an interest in grave-robbing, and has formed a fine collection of body parts. He tells me that he is just one spleen and three bones short
of making a complete monster, which he proposes to animate the next day we have a thunderstorm. As a pious Catholic who attends Mass every Christmas, should I feel
concerned?
Auntie Ella writes: This is perfectly normal activity for a Catholic teenager. However, I should check that the wiring in your house is safe, as we don't want him to start a fire, do we?
The monster offers to help in the garden.
Dear Auntie Ella,
My daughter Catherine sleeps in a coffin during the day time, and goes out only at night "for a drink", as she puts it. Also she keeps
dozens of
bats in her bedroom.
I am worried that this pattern of behaviour
is causing her to neglect her studies, and she may fail to get into Oxford University. As a faithful Catholic, what should I do?
Auntie Ella writes: Do not worry. If she can't make it into Oxford, she might try Roehampton.
An anxious moment waiting for A level results.
Dear Auntie Ella,
My daughter has been reading Crux and taking advice from its agony aunt. Is this wise?
Auntie Ella writes: Er, well....
