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Valtiel
Guest
I heard only briefly on the evening news that the pope didn’t approve of it, explain this to me please…
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ShockleyHaynes
Guest
I like Silent Hill, too.
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Valtiel
Guest
???
oh Valtiel, you’re the first person to pick up on that…
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Lazerlike42
Guest
I believe that this is probably a reference to something he said when he was Cardinal that was blown out of proportion. If it’s something new, I don’t know anything about it. In any case, some go further than others, but the most balanced statements from “official” Catholic sources (and these are not official positions mind you, just statements from Priests, Cardinals, Bishops, etc.) say that Harry Potter has the potential to be very dangerous, because if someone were to read it and not realize the pure fiction of it, they could easily be drawn to magical practices, withcraft, etc., and to influence by Satan and demons. This is especially true for children (who the books are supposedly for), because children A) don’t always know the line between fiction and reality, and B) don’t realize the importance of Christ, faith, and the danger of things like sorcery and whatnot. Kids might read the books and think they are pretty cool, and start (even if only barely) touching on things like are talked about in the books, or ouiji boards, or stuff like that. This really can be dangerous if kids don’t know what they’re doing. For you or me, there probably wouldn’t be any problems. For kids, there could be if they were not strong enough in emotion and faith, and if their parents didn’t instruct them into the pure fiction of it as well as the pure danger in actually doing that stuff. I agree with it as long as it isn’t stated too strongly.
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Faithful_One
Guest
I thank God Pope B had the conviction to oppose the Harry Potter nonsense.
It reenforces my faith in his discernment on matters involving those who would try to distract and pervert the Christian faith of youth in their formative years.
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Sherlock
Guest
I think many good Catholics have reservations, at least, about the Harry Potter books. One doesn’t have to agree with the fundamentalists’ kind of condemnation, but neither does one have to assume that they’re not without some problematic elements. It’s not really a choice between “they’re utterly depraved” and “they’re perfectly harmless”. That the Pope expressed some concern is interesting and hopefully will inspire Catholic parents to be aware of some of those problematic elements, but there’s no need to go overboard and burn the books.
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Lazerlike42
Guest
The Pope has NOT done this. He DID write a few things about it 2 years ago, but it was not in any capacity as an authority of the Church, it was in personal letters. I thought this was the case; see Jimmy Akins’ blog jimmyakin.org/ It is explained in the post about “LifeSiteNews Calls Kettle Black.”
Serlock pretty accurately stated what most Catholic Priests, BIshops, etc. have said about it.
Serlock pretty accurately stated what most Catholic Priests, BIshops, etc. have said about it.
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Tonks40
Guest
I’m a Harry Potter fan, and a Catholic (trying to get more devout). As an adult, I can see the inherent problems of the storylines “promoting” witchcraft and wizardry, but I would like to think that I can distinguish between fictional story-telling and the real issues of other sects and cults living out this dangerous philosophy. My children are very aware of this distinction, also. They also have a tendency to center on the more potent moral aspects of the books (good vs. evil, family, friendship, triumph through adversity, etc.) and I look at those aspects, too, along with character development and plot.
Until there is a definitive declaration from the Holy See on these books, I will continue to read and enjoy them. (So you know what I’ll be doing this weekend!)
Until there is a definitive declaration from the Holy See on these books, I will continue to read and enjoy them. (So you know what I’ll be doing this weekend!)
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Lazerlike42
Guest
Quite right. I doubt the Vatican will ever say anything about them other than maybe a caution against giving them to kids who don’t understand things. I know a lot of people feel they are poorly written, personally I really think the character development is great. I also love the fact that a great deal of the story is just everyday events, its not always plot intensive, so its almost like going through entire days with the characters, both the common, everyday things, and the more exciting eventful moments.
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Roman_Army
Guest
**Yes, I picked that up too. It was on “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings” on ABC (Wed. 7/13/05). Here’s the link on it: abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=936084
It was a German writer named Gabriele Kuby (a devout Catholic) that wrote a critique book on the Harry Potter series that attributed the comment to him. Apparently he wrote a couple letters to Kuby while he was still a Cardinal praising her book and somewhat condemning the series. He stated:** “It is good that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because these are subtle seductions which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly.”
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maklavan
Guest
This is yet another example of a completley fictitious story being presented as fact by sensationalists or people with an axe to grind. Poor old Pope Benedict;is he to blamed for everything that happens?
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