Residents of a New Orleans town are calling for the removal of a Halloween display that shows a blood-stained Satan holding the severed head of Jesus.
Vic Miorana, a resident of Bucktown, is facing criticism from other residents who find the display to be “blasphemy” against Christians, according to Nola News. Miorana’s display also contains flashing lights, a tombstone that reads, “Hillary’s emails” and haunted organ music. A crucified nun and priest are also part of Miorana’s display.
“It’s horrible to our religion. It’s blasphemy. It’s not right,” Rachel Flanagan, a mother and resident of Bucktown, told the outlet. “Any other religion would have a problem with this.”
Despite the criticism, Miorana has defended his right to showcase his Halloween display.
“It’s over the principle. I have my rights and I refuse to back down. I love to scare people,” Miorana told the outlet, adding he has worked in haunted houses and wants to own his own haunted house in the future. “This is what scares people.”
Bucktown Halloween display called blasphemous; some neighbors want it taken down https://t.co/BzcjkTct1h
— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) September 21, 2023
Another resident, Kelley Turan, whose father lives next door, called the display “Satanic looking.”
“It’s evil looking. It’s Satanic looking,” Turan said. “It’s fine what you want to do inside your house but to put all of this stuff outside, it’s repulsive.”
Miorana, who was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic school, said he is not a Satanist.
“Religious churches and things scare people. They make you uncomfortable and they pull a different reaction,” Miorana added. “It’s nothing you don’t see in a scary movie, video games or a haunted house.”
Despite receiving negative feedback from residents — and even his girlfriend of four years who ended their relationship over the Halloween display — Miorana has received positive feedback from others.
Neighbor Paul Leto said he didn’t “see why people find it offensive” and questioned why people “keep coming back through the neighborhood” if they find it so offensive.
“Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, whether it’s political or whether it’s your freedom of expression to create things like these declarations,” Miorana told the outlet. “It’s all protected.”
IJR reached out to Miorana for a comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.