Harrisburg church apologizes for grade school Halloween float displaying Auschwitz gates phrase

NY Post ^ | 11/01/2025 | Chris Harris

[DFG]

A Pennsylvania diocese has apologized for a shocking grade school Halloween parade float that displayed a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg formally apologized Friday for the offensive float’s appearance during Thursday evening’s Halloween parade.

Bishop Timothy Senior said he was “shocked and appalled to learn” the float entered by the St. Joseph Catholic School in Hanover, which resembled the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate, included the words “Arbeit Macht Frei.”

The German phrase — translating to “Work Makes You Free” — was prominently displayed at World War II-era concentration camps across Europe, including the front gate at Auschwitz, where more than 1 million people were executed.

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum notes the phrase was used to mock the largely Jewish populations the Nazis sentenced to back-breaking forced labor.

Senior said the float’s approved design did not contain the gate imagery, but recognized “it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included.”

The float caused quite a stir in local Facebook groups, according to the Patriot-News.

[DFG]

[Rummyfan]

WHAT THE F*** IS THE MATTER WITH PEOPLE?!

[Jonty30]

I don’t have a problem with Auschwitz doors being part of a halloween display, as Halloween is a time to show death. It also makes it easier to absorb and understand what went on.

[MCF]

The lack of historical knowledge.

[BipolarBob]

How do you say “Work makes you tired” in German?

[Thank You Rush]

Apparently the same thing with people who can’t speak without using foul language - disguised or otherwise...

[mass55th]

"I don’t have a problem with Auschwitz doors being part of a halloween display..."

I don't either, especially since Auschwitz and other camps were scenes of horror and death. Those words on the gate were lies. The only thing that made you free behind those gates was being gassed, shot, or worked and starved to death.

[BipolarBob]

Lol.

[airborne]

PA PING!

[quilterdebbie]

Seriously!

[Dr. Sivana]

I don’t have a problem with Auschwitz doors being part of a halloween display, as Halloween is a time to show death.

Still too soon. Living members of relatives who died there. If you went as "The Alamo" or "Little Big Horn", it might work, but might not have been seem proper shortly after the event. Even now, if you go as an Aztec carrying a dripping heart, and a knife and fork, some people might not find that clever or thoughtful.

[Jonty30]

We can’t bend the knee to the offended. That’s how you end up with the cultureless society that liberals have created in the West.

Don’t do anything that might offend somebody, so we end up with the grayest culture in the history of humanity.

[scrabblehack]

Was it like Catch 22 — as soon as anyone got close they would raise the bar?

[mass55th]

Nobody ever got close to the bar.

[lightman]

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

[lightman]

[ptsal]

Bknk

[MurrietaMadman]

It was halloween; these days looked upon as a satanic celebration. Satan of biblical fame, you know, the father of lies.

I can't answer your question but this story should fit in the same category you're exploring about people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOSWShgI_c

[EinNYC]

I can't answer your question but this story should fit in the same category you're exploring about people.

Why did you post that crap?

[MurrietaMadman]

You sound offended. Are you?