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A Catholic priest has apparently issued an urgent warning about the dangers of "summoning a demon" by performing the weird Charlie Charlie Challenge.

In an open letter to pupils at a well-known Catholic school, Father Stephen McCarthy appears to have told told pupils there was no way of knowing what would happen if they decided to invite a Mexican ghoul into their home.

The letter was shared on Twitter by a pupil at the Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia, America.

The letter said: "There is a dangerous game going around on social media which openly encourages impressionable young people to summon demons.

"I want to remind you all there is no such thing as 'innocently playing with demons'.

"Please be sure to NOT participate and and encourage others to avoid participation as well.

"The problem with opening yourself up to demonic activity is that it opens a window of possibilities which is not easily closed."

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It went on to advise anyone looking to enjoy communing with "spiritual entities" should consider taking part in a Catholic mass.

The Charlie Charlie Challenge erupted on social media yesterday.

The dubious rite involves placing two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of a cross, before writing the words yes and no inside the four squares formed by the pencils.

Brave (or gullible) participants must then repeat the words "Charlie, Charlie are you here".

(Image: Google)

If the pencil moves and points to yes, Charlie is in the house and you can draw upon his demonic life experience to ask him for guidance in the form of yes/no questions.

The letter has not been verified by Fr McCarthy or anyone at Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School.

We have contacted the school for comment.

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