What did you say?!
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
Now, I have to go to bed because I'm catching a plane first thing tomorrow so I can spend the weekend with my family and a friend of ours named Harry Potter. Sorry I won't have a chance to continue this debate.
Okay. And I deny what you mean by "I have to go to bed"! You don't really have to go to bed. No one is forcing you to go to bed. You could technically stay up all night and argue with me. In fact, you can't even use the word sleep!
Get back here, Jen!
Have a safe trip. It's been fun sparring with you. I hope to engage you in conversation again sometime about our mutual love of the work of JRRT. Peace!
Points 1 & 2 neutralize the value of point 3 (a, b & c)
Thanks! I'm glad you showed a more civil tone in our debate than some of your... earlier posts; I have trouble respecting an intellectual opponent who resorts to such. Shall see you upon my return.
Ok, how about "If I am to be awake enough to drive to the airport at 5 am tomorrow, I had better get myself to bed now and hope I get some rest". No "have to", no "sleep".
***Now, I have to go to bed because I'm catching a plane first thing tomorrow ****
Words come to mind...
Heat,
Kitchen,
Leaving...
(have a good trip!)
In your eyes, yes. The rest of the parents here tend to think that it's harmless and/or that it reflects a benign form of witchcraft and that it borrows from only the innocuous aspects of the occult.
My point is that to deny the obvious (points 1 & 2) is just intellectually dishonest.
*** In your eyes, yes.***
Them's the only eyes I got! :)
*** My point is that to deny the obvious (points 1 & 2) is just intellectually dishonest.****
I think, for some, to admit it is to loose the argument.
Getting king of quiet around here.
Seems like everyone is Pottered-Out!
LOL! Hey, I told you I was "up to no good" on this thread.
I have trouble respecting an intellectual opponent who resorts to such.
Aw come on, nobody said it was Marquis of Queensbury Rules. How was I supposed to know.
Shall see you upon my return.
Good! I look forward to it! You're a most worthy opponent.
Ok, how about "If I am to be awake enough to drive to the airport at 5 am tomorrow, I had better get myself to bed now and hope I get some rest". No "have to", no "sleep".
Yes, yes. Run along then.
We've worn them out, Petro my friend.
Quick, say something outrageous. Maybe that'll get 'em back.
"Harry Potter is the Whore of Babylon!"
How's that for a start?
I think, for some, to admit it is to loose the argument.
You're probably right about that, but I'll be hanged if I'm going to be the one to say it.
I remember my Mom telling me to stay away from Ouija boards. She knew very well that kids played with them at slumber parties and that I could get away with it too. I don't think she thought I was in danger of becoming possessed or anything, but she just gave me some reasonable advice to steer clear of that stuff. I obeyed her. And I'm glad I did. That stuff creeps me out. Maybe the HP books are totally harmless. The other girls at the slumber parties who played with the Ouija boards turned out okay. But still, I'm glad I stayed away from the stuff.
What did you say?!
I am more concerned about what the pope thinks about preists molesting boys.
Harry potter is good fun and to think otherwise is sheer madness.
Get a god damn grip.
I give up.
Don't jump. Lives worth living.
Dr Kurt E. Koch an expert on the Occult writes: Conan Doyle also possessed photography negatives of nature spirits (Occult ABC p. 84)No he posessed photography negatives of illustrations a couple of young girls traced from Princess Mary's Gift Book
And people here are claiming it's children who can't tell fantasy from reality
Umm. Yes, there was. His name is Eru, "The One".
True, there is no organized religion in Tolkien's world. However, Tolkien himself wrote that his work was "fundamentally religious and Catholic..." in nature, in which, "...the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." --see "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien," the letter dated 12/2/53 to Robert Murray, S.J.
Good luck to you on your book. I hope it's a good one. I find most Fantasy fiction too silly to take seriously. My love of that genre pretty much begins and ends with Tolkien. May you prove me wrong!
"I object to people using prayers to insult other people. "Oh Lord, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector!"
What a filthy thing to think.
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