Posted on 07/13/2005 12:49:13 AM PDT by dsc
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/ratzingerletter.pdf http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005_docs/ratzingerpermission.pdf
jhw
The classic misinterpration for the sake of BS. Mirrors aren't vehicles of magic in HP, some mirrors are enchanted, as are some quills and brooms of various types and keys and doors. They aren't ever used in HP in any way that ever resembles any of the various real world occult rituals that use mirrors.
My religion is Christianity. And there was nothing foul mouthed in my post. Insulting yes, but I find the very presence of condemning Christians to be the ultimate insult and they really make me mad, but foul no. I went well out of my way to rebel against my Marine Corps upbringing and not use any of the language my parents taught me in aggressive moments.
"Sigh. IF the Harry Potter books were real, then yes, it would be occult because in the real world, magic is occult. In fantasy, which is what the books are, that isn't necessarily true."
It is amazing to me how many people don't see how what we read, even in fantasy, becomes a part of our worldview without us even realizing it.
Good point. There isn't any evidence in the Bible that the star was sent by God. Especially since the "Magi" were unwittingly on a path to get Jesus killed. The star could have been sent by Satan.
That's sad... I've known a lot of geeks who think that all Christians think their hobbies evil. I've found it's a better witness to be going to opening night of "Star Wars" with them, and also living my Christianity out daily, than to stand on the street corner and thrown Scripture at them.
But I've been called not-Christian by some Christian folk who think that fantasy or science fiction are inherently evil. That imagination is evil, maybe.
I think that says enough all by itself - nothing need be added.
You might be right, stuff in Harry Potter does match my world view. Like maybe standing up to evil, even when it's hopeless. Never betraying your friends, but being willing to stand up to them when they're wrong. Working hard to achieve your goals. Putting aside differences so you can work with people.
I like that worldview.
This is rather foolish. Ratzinger didn't come out against all fantasy literature in his two 2-sentence notes to Gabriele Koby. He didn't even come out against all Harry Potter. Essentially, he sent a couple of polite notes to a lady who sent him her book--- and en passant, he doesn't even say that he's read Koby's book!
Please. Joseph Ratzinger is known to be deeply read in the literature of seven European languages. I very much doubt that he's taking a naive Mrs. Grundy approach here.
I think we all know what mischief the headline-writers are up to here. What I'd like to know is what Koby had to say.
"I like that worldview."
If you want to influence people with subtlety, you give them a great deal of palatable material with just a little camouflaged germ laid in between the lines.
Better yet if it's an assumption lying two or three levels below something that appears perfectly fine.
Yes, I think you've hit it. Ratzinger rejects this particular fantasy world....probably because it's too close to an occult world.
"The Trouble With Harry" EXCELLENT article, thanks for posting.
It is also worth reading for anyone who wonders what is the difference between prayer and magic. For instance, Elijah prays to God to send fire as a sign of his authority and sovereignty. Is this like magic? No, because the power does not come from the individual and is not granted to make the individual superior. The power is only granted according to God's will, to suit His purposes, never our own.
I'm a Christian and I don't have any problem with having an occasional beer.
There are lots of Christians who disagree with me on this subject.
I might disagree with their assesment, but it doesn't bother me that their beliefs differ from mine. I'd happily debate the topic with them if asked. I'm very secure in my beliefs and my convictions. Hence, their opposing convictions don't upset me in the least.
So I have to wonder: why are so of you HP defenders so angry and nasty? I can't quite figure it out.
Oh, come on. This is a polite, two-sentence note Ratzinger dashed off two years ago to a lady who sent him a book. Ratzinger was not the Pope; there's no indication he read either the Harry Potter books OR Ms. Koby's book; and if he wanted to make an issue of it, he would have done so before more, and a good deal more effectively.
As for predatory gay priests: there are criminal prosecutions for those who slimed their vows and their vocations, and started going after the young stuff. I hope all those guilty of crimes will go to prison, and pronto. And that's not just wacko priests, but wacko Boy Scout leaders, wacko guidance counselors and wacko athletic coaches. OK? Let us pray.
I think it's like those records that supposedly played backwards gave Satanic messages. You can find evil in almost anything if you go looking. But that doesn't mean the author put it there.
Your "assumption lying two or three levels below" is so well camouflaged that nobody who's actually read the books can see it.
should read "so many of you"
We're not angry and nasty. We're fed up with the same silliness coming out every time there's a new book. At least this time nobody's quoting "Onion" articles.
Unfortunately it's the condemners who have the loudest voices and get all the press. That is the better witnessing, it's what brought me back into the fold, knowing someone who had integrated the two halves of their life into one whole and understood the BS that comes from he condemners and managed to reject it without crisis is what taught me there was no real conflict.
I think their primary problem is a lack of self confidence. They aren't assured enough of themselves to be able to say "I don't enjoy that because I don't enjoy it", they have to have a reason for it and it needs to be a big reason, an unasailable reason, so they reach for the Bible grab a couple passages and then say "I don't enjoy that because it's evil".
See my #88.
There are other fantasy worlds depicted by a host of authors that Ratzinger does not pick on. He picks on this one.
He sees a difference. I think he rejects this particular fantasy world because it is TOO close to what an occult world would look like....which is why he says it BLURS the lines between (geweltshaung?) the worldview level good & evil.
That's my take on interpreting what he's saying. It's hard to get to specific without knowing specifically what he has problems with.
Also, witchcraft would explain why us geeks, who have no social skills, rule the planet.
I'm angry and nasty about it because I've seen the havoc that gets wrought by these people first hand. People driven from the Faith by the condemners who know nothing of what they speak. I consider these people to everything they claim things like Harry Potter are: enemies of Faith weakening the Faith of the young and impressionable. They force impressionable youths to chose between that which they enjoy and that which their parent taught them under false pretenses with inaccurate "evidence" and put an ignorant face on Christianity for all see. That is truly the devil's work.
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