Church Exorcist and Pro Life Priest Warns Against Harry Potter

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Mickey said:
Don’t you see? There is no **REAL **debate. One side defends this odd series about witch children. And the other side warns to steer clear of this occultic rubbish. I have talked to many clergy (and read their comments) coming out against the Potterite series. But not too many defending it.

You’ve chosen your side.
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So how does this magic vary from the magic in Chronicles of Narnia or Middle Earth? According to Father Amorth, a respected clergy, all magic is evil, and works cannot distinguish between good and bad magic, yet Lewis and Tolkien do without coming under attack.

Also, the Bishop speaking before a Council of Exorcists warned that it is the isolation from the faith, not Harry Potter, that is leading children to the Occult. Care to comment?
 
Mickey said:
Don’t you see? There is no **REAL **debate. One side defends this odd series about witch children. And the other side warns to steer clear of this occultic rubbish. I have talked to many clergy (and read their comments) coming out against the Potterite series. But not too many defending it.

You’ve chosen your side.
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Mickey,
Yes, I can’t help but defend something being treated unfairly. Particularly a children’s story that literally points out that we are living not for this life but the next, warns about the dangers of materialism and attachment to this world, hazarding one’s soul through the pursuit of evil, and who’s ultimate lesson is:

Luke 17, 33
Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe.

Luke 9, 25
What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole world and forfeit or lose his very self?

But then again, alas as Portrait so eloquently puts it, I am guilty of having a “radically defective conscience” for believing the above to be christian values…
 
Mumbles140 said:
So how does this magic vary from the magic in Chronicles of Narnia or Middle Earth?
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I am not familiar enough with Narnia or Tolkein to make a comparison. Do these series also introduce witch children going witch school being taught witchcraft by witches?
 
Mickey said:
I am not familiar enough with Narnia or Tolkein to make a comparison. Do these series also introduce witch children going witch school being taught witchcraft by witches?
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No, but children without magical abilities are taught magic, given potions, read spells out of spell books, and are rewarded for their incantations. Is that enough for you to make a classification?

Also, are you then choosing to ignore (which is clearly your right since he is fallible) the opinion of Fr. Amorth that all magic, whether good or bad, bears the signature of the Devil? It appears to be so since your example above is very specific, but I wanted to be clear on the matter.

Also, Portrait, please respond to the Lucy Pevensie issue.
 
styrgwillidar said:
Mickey,
Yes, I can’t help but defend something being treated unfairly. Particularly a children’s story that literally points out that we are living not for this life but the next, warns about the dangers of materialism and attachment to this world, hazarding one’s soul through the pursuit of evil, and who’s ultimate lesson is:
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I am sorry you have also decided to defend the sensationalization of witchcraft. I am compelled to side with my conscience as well as many clergy on this issue— instead of your particular views.
 
I see this thread is still going strong.😛

I think the dangers of HP lie in the fact that it’s success co-incides with an increase in wicca/new age. When CS Lewis and Tolkien wrote, witches were not viewed in such a benign light…
In this cultural milieu it is a short step from reading HP to googling “spells” e.t.c.

For an observant Christian HP may not represent the beginnings of a descent into superstition and sorcery. However ,most people are not imbued with a strong moral code to guide them.

This is probably why exorcists and good catholic apologists feel compelled to offer a word of warning.

Anyway I’m not allowing my child to read it… even if I wholeheartedly admit I am basing this judgment solely on the advice of Fr.Euteneur, Pat Madrid and the other sage voices who advise against it 😃

I don’t have time to read it and make an informed decision on my own. Someone’s got to look after the poor and suffering:p (I wish I did)
Peace
 
John_of_Woking said:
I think the dangers of HP lie in the fact that it’s success co-incides with an increase in wicca/new age. When CS Lewis and Tolkien wrote, witches were not viewed in such a benign light…
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Two things.
  1. There are at least 50 million people who’ve read the HP books or seen the movies. Please provide the corelating numbers to the increase in wicca while at the same time showing the supporting evidence that it’s because of HP.
  2. By your second statement are you suggesting that if Narnia and LOTR were newly published works that they would present the same debate?
Anyway I’m not allowing my child to read it… even if I wholeheartedly admit I am basing this judgment solely on the advice of Fr.Euteneur, Pat Madrid and the other sage voices who advise against it
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I appreciate your honesty in this as opposed to some who make blind judgments and refuse to see them as such.
 
Mumbles140 said:
Is your objection to Potter mainly about the schooling on magic, the use of magic, or the use of magic by children?
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My objection has been stated clearly many times. I believe it de-sensitizes children to witchcraft. It sensationalizes the black arts because the background of the plots revolve around witch children attending witch school being trained in witchcraft by adult witches.
 
John_of_Woking said:
I see this thread is still going strong.😛

I think the dangers of HP lie in the fact that it’s success co-incides with an increase in wicca/new age. When CS Lewis and Tolkien wrote, witches were not viewed in such a benign light…In this cultural milieu it is a short step from reading HP to googling “spells” e.t.c.
  • I respectfully disagree. There appears to be more fear based on what people are told are in the books vice what are actually in them. If we are to take the warning of exorcists seriously, and I do. It is the attraction of children to a power in literature leading to their investigation of similar things in the real world. That risk then resides in all works depicting some special power wether it’s ESP presenting occult like powers or LOTR or Narnia or HP.
For an observant Christian HP may not represent the beginnings of a descent into superstition and sorcery. However ,most people are not imbued with a strong moral code to guide them.
  • I actually think most do have a strong moral code, but there will always be those who don’t. With the disintegration of marriage there are many children not being guided to a moral code- which is far more of a problem than HP. No one to help them understand the lesson of any work of literature.
This is probably why exorcists and good catholic apologists feel compelled to offer a word of warning.
  • agree, but again we need to read and understand their actual warning to properly apply it
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Anyway I’m not allowing my child to read it… even if I wholeheartedly admit I am basing this judgment solely on the advice of Fr.Euteneur, Pat Madrid and the other sage voices who advise against it 😃
I don’t have time to read it and make an informed decision on my own. Someone’s got to look after the poor and suffering:p (I wish I did)
  • I can and do completely respect that position. I would not allow my children access to something I was told may be harmful without examining it. Or something they could misinterpret- like The Bible, without guidance. But neither would I attack it.
Peace

and Peace to you as well…
 
mdrummer5 said:
I would also agree… I think the only reason I’m offended by being ignored is the fact that it was done out of ignorance…

Isn’t it ironic? lol
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A little too ironic. Dontcha think?

Sorry for the “rock” reference. :eek: 😛

I somewhat enjoy watching the exchange, though. 🍿 After participating in many of these threads, I start to feel like I’m just parroting all my earlier posts, so it’s nice to see what other people have to say.

Out of curiosity, I just googled CAF for “Harry Potter” and “Joe 5859” and it yielded 349 results! I really have participated in many of these threads! 😊 😃 I guess that’s why I’m more content to watch from the sidelines now.
 
Mickey said:
My objection has been stated clearly many times. I believe it de-sensitizes children to witchcraft. It sensationalizes the black arts because the background of the plots revolve around witch children attending witch school being trained in witchcraft by adult witches.
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Sorry I did not read the other Potter threads, nor can I recall if it has been posted on this one. By use of the term ‘black arts’, I assume you do differentiate between ‘good magic’ and ‘bad magic’, so no point discussing Father Amorth’s conclusion with you then.

Now, you are still very specific about what de-sensitizes children to witch craft. If I may, do you feel comfortable expanding this to children learning magic in general in literature and other media, or is that too broad?

Also, Portrait, please respond to the issue with Lucy Pevensie.
 
Joe_5859 said:
A little too ironic. Dontcha think?

Sorry for the “rock” reference. :eek: 😛

I somewhat enjoy watching the exchange, though. 🍿 After participating in many of these threads, I start to feel like I’m just parroting all my earlier posts, so it’s nice to see what other people have to say.

Out of curiosity, I just googled CAF for “Harry Potter” and “Joe 5859” and it yielded 349 results! I really have participated in many of these threads! 😊 😃 I guess that’s why I’m more content to watch from the sidelines now.
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:rotfl:

I was going to add “don’t ya think?”

My google search showed 300… very sad considering that’s most of my post count lol.

I suppose I’m just a glutton for the mental punishment I’m putting myself through arguing with the illogical.
 
Mickey said:
Explain?
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Certainly. There must be something driving your beliefs against Harry Potter. Now, to my knowledge, the statement you previously made (about desensitizing children to witchcraft, the school, the adults, etc) is not an actual moral code in and of itself. Therefore, your belief must be rooted in some moral codes whose applications trickle down into this situation.

My attempt is to step back and see what falls under this umbrella and what doesn’t. For example, would a school child using a spell book to create magic qualify as desensitizing youth to the Occult? Or is more necessary for that to occur?

Also, Portrait, whenever you return to the thread, be it tomorrow or after the weekend, please address the issue of Lucy Pevensie. I only press because I believe this encases all of the arguments you have used, and your answer to this question is vital to the debate.
 
Mickey said:
What could possibly be wrong with a series of books and movies about a group of child witches attending witch school being taught how to cast spells by witch teachers? :rolleyes:

I see you are still fighting the good fight, my friend. Carry on. 🙂
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Dear Mickey,

Cordial greetings and so very good to see you again in this thread. Hope all is well dear friend.

Thankyou kindly for your words of support and encouragement.

Like your (name removed by moderator)ut thus far - jolly good show.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait:tiphat:

Pax
 
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