"Grim Grinning Ghosts" and the Resurrection of the Body

Any other Catholics out there enjoy a good “haunted house” attraction? Of course I don’t lean toward anything occult, but I enjoy some spooky fun pointed at the supernatural (and that includes morally appropriate Halloween celebrations). Being a Disney fan, my favorite thing to do when I enter Disney World is to stop by the Haunted Mansion. You could say I am a “die hard” Haunted Mansion fan!

In the past, I have wondered how one of my favorite hobbies mixes with my more important religious beliefs and practices. Several devout Catholics have assured me that, as long as the “Haunted Mansion” is mere entertainment for me, that it didn’t have to conflict with my faith. Nonetheless, having a bumper sticker proclaiming “My other Car is a Doom Buggy” on the same vehicle with a “Jesus I trust in You” license plate seems like a head-turning combination (did I mention my “Feminists for Life” bumper sticker?).

Anyway, back to my point, if Walt Disney really intended “The Haunted Mansion” to be a serious reflection of the Supernatural, it would be in stark contrast to the way Jesus Christ taught us to view the world beyond the grave.

Take Madame Leota and the Séance circle. For those readers who are unfamiliar, Madame Leota is a character who functions (in the Disney world of make-believe) as a psychic medium who establishes contact between the guests and the spirits “from regions beyond” (Surrell, 74-75). It’s one thing to feature a fake séance in a family friendly ride, but some people actually use psychic mediums, Ouija boards, witchcraft, among other things, in real life.

We are not to be superstitious, which means to try and order our lives around forces such as “luck” or “curses” instead of trusting in the providence of a loving God (YouCat, page 195). When it comes to our deceased loved ones we are to remember that all of God’s children belong to the communion of saints. We are called to pray for the dearly departed who are detained in Purgatory, and we can call upon our loved ones who are in Heaven to intercede for us with Jesus (YouCat, page 91-92). There is no need for us to rely on mediums to stay connected to those who have died, for in Jesus Christ our bonds of love are not defeated by the grave (don’t forget Easter Sunday!). Furthermore, using mediums and Ouija boards can be dangerous, and it can pave the way for demonic spirits to wreak havoc in your life! Don’t open that door.

The 999 “happy haunts” of Disney’s The Haunted Mansion, while they are an enjoyable attraction, do not reflect the afterlife Jesus Christ has won for us in his sacrifice, nor is it one that we should aspire to; “We have 999 happy haunts [in the haunted Mansion]…but there’s room for a thousand. Any volunteers?” (Surrell, 66) This is especially apparent with Constance, the “Black Widow Bride”, who is featured in the Mansion’s attic after the Ballroom scene. Over the course of a decade, Constance married, and subsequently murdered, 5 different husbands, gaining in wealth and social status with each marriage. Even in death, Constance is a creepy figure, repeating her vows “Till death do us part… [Gleaming ax appears in her hands]” (Surrell, 82-84). All the characters of the Haunted Mansion are attached to a physical place, even though they are disembodied spirits. The presence of Constance in particular implies an attachment to material things which persists beyond the grave. Jesus Christ, by contrast, wants our ultimate desire to be for God alone. He wants us to keep our treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6: 19-20). Besides, the emphasis of the Haunted Mansion is to poke fun at decay and terror, whereas Jesus Christ, if we place our faith, hope and love in Him, promises us a resurrection of our bodies and eternal happiness with Him in Heaven.

In closing, I want to make it clear that I don’t think that Disney’s Haunted Mansion is inherently evil, or that is a sin to go inside (as long as it doesn’t lead you to acts that violate the 10 Commandments). For me, no visit to the Magic Kingdom is complete without a visit to the Haunted Mansion, taking Jesus with me (I sure hope He gets a good laugh out of it). What I am saying is that we indulge in death-deprecating humor, it’s helpful to remember what we as Catholics actually believe to be true through Divine. After all, no one knows the “spirit world” better that God; we can trust Him.

Works Cited

The Catholic Study Bible: The New Americal Bible, Revised Edition. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.

Pope Benedict XVI. Youcat English: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. Trans. Michael J. Miller. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius, 2011. Print.

Surrell, Jason. The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. New York: Disney Editions, 2009. Print. Updated 40th Anniversary edition