A priest in the Czech Republic has reportedly apologised after stamping on pumpkins near his church that had been carved by local children for Halloween.
Photos on the Facebook page for the village of Kurdejov, in South Moravia, showed a line of pumpkins smashed to pieces.
In an open letter to the village's mayor, published on the local Facebook group, Father Jaromir Smejkal reportedly said he did not know the pumpkins had been carved by children.
"On leaving the parsonage on Sunday evening, I saw numerous symbols of the satanic holiday 'Halloween'...placed in front of our sacred grounds," he reportedly wrote.
"I acted according to my faith and duty to be a father and protector of entrusted children and removed the symbols."
Father Smejkal is understood to be a parish priest at the Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist, in Kurdejov.
Czech news outlet Breclavsky Denik, which first reported the story, said Father Smejkal said he did not believe the people who placed the pumpkins in front of the church "wanted to express contempt for what is holy to us Catholics".
"That they acted in ignorance, so I don't blame anyone," he reportedly added.
The pumpkins had reportedly been carved by children as part of a local festival.
Some of the children were said to be in tears after being told their pumpkins had been destroyed, the BBC reported.
