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
No, he's right in his critique of that list. It's not true and anyone who's read the books will laugh at it. It doesn't help your cause to use silly arguments.
There's no such thing as "our" children. There's "your" children and "his" children or "her" children. You can make a decision for yours, but not this conglomerate of beings called "our" children. That's the liberal way.
May not take it to the Supreme Court, they've been screwing up recently. Inculturation may not be a matter for the courts anyhow.
Yes, I remember the Davy Crockett story, and the point of it, from last year's hurricane threads. I forget who was on what side. I agree that generally, the feds do not have the power to give hurricane relief. Payment to soldiers for services rendered is another matter entirely, unrelated to wealth redistribution, social engineering, and not, I believe, exceeding the Constitution.
The best point of seen on FR in days. "Our children" implies Hillary's village.
So you never stood in line to get the new chapter of Charles Dickens latest?
Well, thank you, Sam!
I'm willing to concede that if some parents have a problem with Potter, then it's their duty to keep it away from their kids. But they should not assume that parents who allow their kids to read it are neglecting them.
Better than that. When Dickens was being serialized, there would be crowds waiting on the docks to shout out to the ships coming in "Did Little Nell die?"
Sure. But not in the Judeo-Christian sense.
Then I guess we're at an impasse.
*** Sure. But not in the Judeo-Christian sense.***
Then what's your problem with the concept of a spiritual reality or power?
"I was forced to watch the movie version of the first book during a flight from Boston to LA a few years ago."
Forced to watch? Explain this to me. My understanding and experience about movies on planes, is that you have to PAY for the headphones in order to hear the movie as well. Who would force you to pay for the headphones? Or do you read lips?
....absolutely.....she would really get upset about Mickey Mouse's "Fantasia" wouldn't she?....For crying out loud...people need to use their head.
What Christians call God is what I call an alien intelligence with the ability to manipulate reality through scientific methods we do not understand yet.
It's not spiritual power or magic, but rather a form of science we do not understand (yet).
Sadly yes. They tend to pull posts that mention personal information. That's why they pulled the one where I praised you for your courage in posting that touching testimonial last week on the thread about men with erectile dysfunction.
(I can't wait to see how long it takes for this one to get pulled. I'm guessing 5 minutes tops.)
Boy you fight dirty.
Not in first class.
Forced to watch? Explain this to me.
It's late. I'm trying to sleep. The movie screen in right in my face, and the lady next to me is apparently half deaf which is why her headphones sound louder than my surround sound entertainment system.
How long do you think till it's pulled? I'm taking bets!
of seen = I've seen.
Yeah, I'm getting tired of the argument. I think it's silly and they think it's series. We can't convince each other. I haven't read the recent books, but read the first few with my daughter when she was in high school. Neither of us ever think about occult stuff, and we're not witches either. I guess we all think arguing is fun, though, since we frequent this website.
No, I waited for the next installment of the serial.
Correlli's sales -- both domestic and international -- were greater than Dickens. One of my undergrad professors was the recognized authority on Correlli. I can dig up his articles from MLA if you want.
Hey, I just noticed that you're a Wolverine. I was born and raised in the "enchanted mitten" state before moving west. Do you know how Michigan came to be known as the Wolverine State? Ask the Ohioans. They know how filthy we fight. ;P
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