Montreal Gazette

Lego a tool of Satan, priest says

Company has made monsters, zombies

- MATTHEW DAY THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH

WARSAW — A Polish priest has warned parents to be on their guard against Lego, warning the plastic blocks are a tool of Satan and can “destroy” children’s souls.

In a presentati­on aimed at parents, Rev. Slawomir Kostrzewa said the popular Danish toy company had taken a lurch to the dark side with its series of Monster Fighters and Zombie mini-figures, and that they “were about darkness and the world of death.”

“Friendly fellows have been replaced by dark monsters,” he said. “These toys can have a negative effect on children. They can destroy their souls and lead them to the dark side.” Lego’s Monster Fighters series features Lord Vampyre, a fanged Dracula-like character, who battles the likes of Doctor Rodney Rathbone and Major Quinton Steele as they try to prevent him from “cloaking the world in darkness.”

The priest, from Wolsztyn, Poland, also cited research by the University of Canterbury in New Zealand that found the facial expression­s of Lego figures had become angrier over the years, and that this compounded their evil potential.

“Facial expression­s may lead to confusion between good and evil,” Kostrzewa said.

His claims were dismissed by at least one expert.

“These are just blocks,” said Monika Filipowska, a psychologi­st interviewe­d by the Super Express newspaper. “Linking them to Satan is just wrong, and all that will happen is that children will be afraid of them now.”

Lego was unavailabl­e for comment.

 ?? LEGO.WIKIA.COM ?? A Polish priest is offended by Lego’s new Lord Vampyre.
LEGO.WIKIA.COM A Polish priest is offended by Lego’s new Lord Vampyre.

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