Why are there so many diverse opinions on Harry Potter?

[haillady]

I have heard that the chief exorcist in Rome recommends not reading watching or having anything to do with the Harry Potter craze. I heard a priest on the radio say that we shouldn’t have children or adults partake of this stuff. Then I heard a priest say that this is okay stuff. Why can’t we get a straight answer? Why all the confusion? It seems that from movie reviews to book reviews on this and many other genres we have so many conflicting voices. When will all this madness stop?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The reason there are so many diverse opinions on Harry Potter within the Catholic community is that this is something good Catholics are free to disagree about. Some Catholics believe that the books are not appropriate for reading because they include magic; some Catholics believe that J. K. Rowling has created Christian fantasy in the style of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Both of these views are within the spectrum of permitted opinion on the issue. The best advice I can give you is to read the books for yourself and make up your own mind on the matter.

Sometimes Catholics think that there can be only one permitted opinion on all issues of doctrine and morals. This is a misconception. In many areas of Christian life, the Church is silent and trusts Catholics to use their own prudential judgment. The Harry Potter novels is one such issue in which Catholics are free to sort through the various opinions on the matter, read the books for themselves, and come to their own carefully-considered decision.

Recommended reading:

Does the Pope say I cannot read/watch the Harry Potter series?
Does Catholicism have too many do’s and don’ts?