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
If we start banning all books by drug-addicts, the library shelves will start to really thin out. Throw out all books by alcoholics and we're left with practically nothing.
"If we start banning all books by drug-addicts, the library shelves will start to really thin out. Throw out all books by alcoholics and we're left with practically nothing."
What in the world made you bring up the subject of banning books out of the clear blue sky?
Go on, make him go there! His comment about "impeaching" Big Ben comment deserves a good can of whoop-a@@.
"And there's nothing more tedious and torturous than being trapped inside the world of some author's failed or deficient imagination."
That's true. Sometimes, though, it is not the author's imagination or writing skills that are deficient, but his moral sense.
"We were an experiment, but he clearly has no more interest in us at this point."
I used to think that, till He got right up in my face. Guess He gave up on my ever getting it on my own.
Being overworked. And stuck at the office late. With a lack of sleep. And a bad habit of being a smarta**. All the while hoping to start a good fight on FR so that I'll have something to amuse myself with for the next 10 minutes.
Oh, and a profound and snobbish dislike of those stupid Harry Potter books. Coupled with a deep respect for a great thinker like the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.
Basically, you should pay no attention to my comments. I think I'll sign off now.
BTW, by default I'm on your side on this issue. I'm against anyone who argues in favor of HP -- for whatever reason.
Good point. It's even more horrifying when both are deficient! Think of the Marquis de Sade.
I'm settlin' down to watch you two argue on what makes a children's book good: Tastes Great! More Filling!
Oh yeah? Well, I know Timmy's mom. She was a friend of mine. And she's one evil bitch.
LOL! My personal favorite is "The Sound and the Fury" but I understand that some parents take issue with Caddy's promiscuity. Oh and also the ambiguous references to incest.
My three year old was just trying to fly off the couch like Superman. Somebody might consider that bad, too, I suppose. Sometimes I think these people who complain about Harry Potter books are such --- muggles. lol.
For children's books (and even for adult books), they are wonderfully well-written and well-crafted. In fact, I think that J.K Rowlings has really reshaped the whole young adult book market. When I was growing up, the most popular children's books were the Baby Sitter's Club series. (Talk about bad children's literature). Instead of only having that type of garbage to read, today's eight and nine year olds get to read books with well-developed characters and suspenseful plotlines.. all because of the Harry Potter phenomenon.
I must say there are mythological references, but any decent fantasy book has had some mythological research put into it.
How old are you?
Oh aren't you cute... Sometimes I think people who wait in line at bookstores until midnight to get the new Harry Pothead book are such --- half literate fools. lol.
Aha! I also think it silly for peple to wait in long lines for books or movies. Patience. On a similar subject, there is a used book sale every year in my area. People have slept in line waiting for two days just to get a cheap book. Got decent books just waiting on the day of the sale like everyone else.
Alright. We can have a conversation. ;D
I guess you never read any classics. You must never have read any books by Robert Louis Stevenson or even Louisa May Alcott.
I guess kids now just read pabulum, so the Potter books compare more or less equally to what passes for juvenile literature today.
I grew up reading actual literature, so I see the Potter books differently - as shallow, two dimensional comic book style tripe with not a hint of any morality, upliftment, real mystery, empathetic characters, believable three dimensional (or even two) characters, or anything else that makes real literature literature.
To say that the Potter books have well developed characters is like saying that Britney Spears intelligence has an impact on world affairs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.