A reverend at the Stalham Academy (a religious school) is under fire from churchgoers for a comment at a choir performance suggesting Santa doesn’t exist.

Parents took to Facebook to voice their upset at the comment, but the Rev Margaret McPhee was quick to apologise for her “off-the-cuff remark”. The choir had just finished singing at Stalham Academy’s Monday evening concert at St Mary’s Church, when the curate asked children what they thought Christmas was about. When youngsters called out “Father Christmas”, Mrs McPhee was heard to say that he was make- believe and not real.

I can see where casting doubt onto the existence of a supernatural figure who monitors your behavior with omniscience and punishes you for being bad could land a reverend in trouble. Don’t worry kids, this other supernatural figure who monitors your behavior with omniscience and who will punish you just for not believing in him is totally real.

Among the comments from parents on Facebook was: “Children grow up so fast nowadays, so keeping them believing is precious.” Another said: “Sorry, my child will not attend any more church services, she would not like it if we said there was no God.”

Happy to see her conflating god with Santa Claus. Perhaps the children will learn a very important lesson one day when they’re allowed to conclude Santa doesn’t exist.

It’s (not really) strange though. When people stop believing in Santa, nobody pointedly tries to convince them otherwise with “Belief in Santa produces moral behavior!” or “Where do you get your hope if not from Santa and his presents?” Probably because those reasons suck, and people fail to realize they suck just as much when deployed on god’s behalf.