The Pope and Harry Potter

[TheEnforcer]

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05071301.html

Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels - Signed Letters from Cardinal Ratzinger Now Online

RIMSTING, Germany, July 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com has obtained and made available online copies of two letters sent by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was recently elected Pope, to a German critic of the Harry Potter novels. In March 2003, a month after the English press throughout the world falsely proclaimed that Pope John Paul II approved of Harry Potter, the man who was to become his successor sent a letter to a Gabriele Kuby outlining his agreement with her opposition to J.K. Rowling's offerings. (See below for links to scanned copies of the letters signed by Cardinal Ratzinger.)

As the sixth issue of Rowling's Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - is about to be released, the news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger expressed serious reservations about the novels is now finally being revealed to the English-speaking world still under the impression the Vatican approves the Potter novels.

In a letter dated March 7, 2003 Cardinal Ratzinger thanked Kuby for her "instructive" book Harry Potter - gut oder böse (Harry Potter- good or evil?), in which Kuby says the Potter books corrupt the hearts of the young, preventing them from developing a properly ordered sense of good and evil, thus harming their relationship with God while that relationship is still in its infancy.

"It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly," wrote Cardinal Ratzinger.

The letter also encouraged Kuby to send her book on Potter to the Vatican prelate who quipped about Potter during a press briefing which led to the false press about the Vatican support of Potter. At a Vatican press conference to present a study document on the New Age in April 2003, one of the presenters - Fr. Peter Fleedwood - made a positive comment on the Harry Potter books in response to a question from a reporter. Headlines such as "Pope Approves Potter" (Toronto Star), "Pope Sticks Up for Potter Books" (BBC), "Harry Potter Is Ok With The Pontiff" (Chicago Sun Times) and "Vatican: Harry Potter's OK with us" (CNN Asia) littered the mainstream media.

In a second letter sent to Kuby on May 27, 2003, Cardinal Ratzinger "gladly" gave his permission to Kuby to make public "my judgement about Harry Potter."

The most prominent Potter critic in North America, Catholic novelist and painter Michael O'Brien commented to LifeSiteNews.com on the "judgement" of now-Pope Benedict saying, "This discernment on the part of Benedict XVI reveals the Holy Father's depth and wide ranging gifts of spiritual discernment." O'Brien, author of a book dealing with fantasy literature for children added, "it is consistent with many of the statements he's been making since his election to the Chair of Peter, indeed for the past 20 years - a probing accurate read of the massing spiritual warfare that is moving to a new level of struggle in western civilization. He is a man in whom a prodigious intellect is integrated with great spiritual gifts. He is the father of the universal church and we would do well to listen to him."


English translations of the two letters by Cardinal Ratzinger follow:

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Vatican City
March 7, 2003


Esteemed and dear Ms. Kuby!

Many thanks for your kind letter of February 20th and the informative book which you sent me in the same mail. It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly.

I would like to suggest that you write to Mr. Peter Fleedwood, (Pontifical Council of Culture, Piazza S. Calisto 16, I00153 Rome) directly and to send him your book.

Sincere Greetings and Blessings,

+ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger


=======================

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Vatican City
May 27, 2003

Esteemed and dear Ms. Kuby,


Somehow your letter got buried in the large pile of name-day , birthday and Easter mail. Finally this pile is taken care of, so that I can gladly allow you to refer to my judgment about Harry Potter.


Sincere Greetings and Blessings,

+ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger


Links to the scanned copies of the two signed letters by Cardinal Ratzinger (in German) - In PDF format:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005_docs/ratzingerlet...
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005_docs/ratzingerper...

See LifeSite's Harry Potter resource section at:
http://www.lifesite.net/features/harrypotter/

[MorganGrayson]

[Trev]

He's the new guy so it doesn't matter what he thinks as they went out under the old rule and didn’t get slated, I knew he was going to be trouble though

[Steady]

Interesting...though I have to agree with Trev.

[Bhelliom]

everyone knew he was going to be trouble :P

but good thing harry potter gets a pass with a grandfather clause somewhere :P

[Newton]

Despite the massive coverage for this off the cuff remark, the world media scarcely gave any coverage to a more official statement from Rome on the Potter series. In early December 2001, Rome's official exorcist, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, warned parents against the Harry Potter book series. The priest, who is also the president of the International Association of Exorcists, said Satan is behind the works. In an interview with the Italian ANSA news agency, Rev. Amorth said "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."

The exorcist, with his decades of experience in directly combating evil, explained that J.K. Rowling's books contain innumerable positive references to magic, "the satanic art". He noted that the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact, the distinction "does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil." Rev. Amorth also criticized the disordered morality presented in Rowling's works, noting that they suggest that rules can be contravened and lying is justified when they work to one's benefit.

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/feb/03020703.html

Pope .. step away from the holy crack pipe ..

Is the victorious Resurrection of Christ over death and the devil what realizes human Salvation, making a worshiper a newly created member of Christ, ontologically sharing His uncreated Life? Or does Salvation simply come from a juridical and propitiatory Crucifixion of Christ?

[Bhelliom]

step back... hold on a second.... there is an official Vatican exorcist? and there's an entire ASSOCIATION of them?

Is the victorious Resurrection of Christ over death and the devil what realizes human Salvation, making a worshiper a newly created member of Christ, ontologically sharing His uncreated Life? Or does Salvation simply come from a juridical and propitiatory Crucifixion of Christ?

oh... and can you translate that? into perhaps english?

[Peaches]

What do you expect from a 70+ year old virgin? :P

[Vick]

Ban Religion!

How many fewer wars and deaths would there be with NO RELIGION

at the very least keep your superstitions to yourself and try not to inflict them upon any one else

[Bhelliom]

rather harsh thing to say about something that has been the basis for societies morals and laws for several thousand years... even pre christian pagan religions were responsible for creating some sort of order and respect towards each others neighbors.

but yeah... I also definitely don't believe in Jihad or forcing religion on others

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by Newton@Jul 13 2005, 01:55 PM
"Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."

The exorcist, with his decades of experience in directly combating evil, explained that J.K. Rowling's books contain innumerable positive references to magic, "the satanic art". He noted that the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact, the distinction "does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil."

so, if Jesus turns water into wine, it's a miracle, but if a 12 year old boy changes his cousin into a pig, it's the work of the devil?

fine line between magic and miracle worker I guess.....

[MorganGrayson]

This is the second time I've looked at this thread in the hopes of coming up with an intelligent comment. I couldn't the first time, hence the use of the smilies. I didn't want to post my first reaction, but I will now.

Oh, for fuck's sake....


Can't they go find some homeless to shelter, or hungry to feed or sick to comfort????

[Trev]

Originally posted by MorganGrayson@Jul 13 2005, 11:25 PM
Can't they go find some homeless to shelter, or hungry to feed or sick to comfort????

As a Catholic boy, I would call them props, only because it increases PR and brings in the $$$ when the donation plate* is passed around.




* It was a plate when I was a boy, but each row gets a nice leather pouch to fill at my local church these days. I called it God's wallet and received more than a few harsh looks <_<

[TheEnforcer]

Hahahaha.. love the replies in thsi thread...

[Dravyk]

Originally posted by SykkBoy@Jul 13 2005, 02:21 PM
so, if Jesus turns water into wine, it's a miracle, but if a 12 year old boy changes his cousin into a pig, it's the work of the devil?

fine line between magic and miracle worker I guess.....

Precisely, Sykk.

Why does the Catholic Church give a rat's ass about such a subject at all??? Because the only mysticism they give credence to is their own!!

In a nutshell, when it comes down to it, they don't want any competition.

Ironicly, by having this attitude, they put Jesus Christ and Harry Potter on the same level. And they don't even see that they are doing it.

The Church is it's own worse enemy. And you'd think after two millenium they'd have their act down by now.



... I suddenly have this compulsion to seek an audience with the Pope and pull a quarter out of his ear.

[Defiant]

Originally posted by SykkBoy@Jul 13 2005, 03:21 PM
so, if Jesus turns water into wine, it's a miracle, but if a 12 year old boy changes his cousin into a pig, it's the work of the devil?

Turning their cousins into pigs isn't what the Catholic priests want 12 year old boys to be doing

[Dravyk]

Too easy. Must resist. Someone else say it.

[Jeremy]

Originally posted by TheEnforcer@Jul 13 2005, 10:38 AM
Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels

Talk about a non-story.

Was the very next story "Bears Shit In Woods - Exclusive"???

What do people expect from someone who's devoted their life to a particular cause with a particular view of the world (whether or not you agree with it) and who now "leads" that cause?

I can see the jacket quotes now:

"It's magic!!" - Benedict X

"I only stayed around so I could finish it" - JPII