Harry Potter is Dangerous for Both You and Your Children

Mary Immaculate Queen ^ | 12-16-01 | Fr. Casimir Puskorius, CMRI,

[mlizzy]

Adapted from a Sermon of Fr. Casimir Puskorius, CMRI, 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2001

On the First Sunday of Lent every year, we read in the Gospel of the devil tempting Our Lord. First he tries to tempt Him to gluttony, and Our Lord resists. Of course, Our Lord, because He is God, cannot be inclined to sin. But the devil, not knowing that, first tries to tempt Him to gluttony, and then to pride and power and materialism. He says to Our Lord, “Why don’t you throw yourself off this high elevation? God will save you.” Our Lord refuses. Then the devil pulls out his trump card. He shows Our Lord all the glory of the world and says, “I will give all this to you, if you will just bow down and worship me.” Of course, Our Lord refuses again. What the devil was saying here, in a sense, was “I’ll give you magic to do something that is not morally right, but it’s something you would enjoy.”

It should be evident to us, my dear parishioners, that the devil is after each one of us, tempting us in similar manner to sin and to pride. These temptations take different forms, so we must be on our guard. The devil is trying to tempt us away from serving God, from obeying God’s commandments. He is so crafty, so subtle, that often you don’t even know, unless you are very careful, how he is insinuating himself.

I believe it my duty to talk to you today about a series of books and its accompanying movie because I believe that they contain an insinuation of pride and ungodliness. I think you know what I am talking about: the Harry Potter series. I will speak both about the books and the movie, because if one reads the books, he will want to see the movie, and vice versa. I believe there are some real problems here, real spiritual danger — possibly grave spiritual danger. I will explain why. Believe me, I have refrained from saying anything about this for a long time. When the books first came out, I began to gather information on them. I wanted to analyze them to see whether or not they were good for children to be reading, and to write an article for The Reign of Mary. I haven’t said anything up to this time because I wanted to study the matter, rather than say yes or no before I knew what I was talking about.

Let me also preface this explanation by saying that I speak now from the consciousness that one day I will have to answer to God for how I accomplished my duty to instruct you in matters of faith and morals. I certainly believe that there are matters of faith and morals involved in this particular matter.

The first problem I would like to point out are the words that are so casually used in the books and in the movie, words that are so casually used that children may start using them — yet these words are matter of mortal sin. Specifically, I am referring to such words as: sorcery, witchcraft, casting spells, communicating with the dead (necromancy). The Catholic Church very clearly tells us that these are mortal sins, and they must not be presented as though they are something permissible to try. I believe it is the devil trying to insinuate himself through the medium of human beings, trying to draw us away from Christ. These are not your usual Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Remember that children do not have the same critical ability that adults have. They read fantasy much differently than we do: they read it in a believing way.

Continue reading here.

[Tax-chick]

My Tom (14, 84% Slytherin on the “What Hogwart’s House Are You?” quiz) was handed one of those tracts in the Walmart parking lot this afternoon. Merry Christmas!

[netmilsmom]

Who exactly IS Michael O’Brien?

Does he work for the Vatican? Does he have the position to override the authority of a Monsignor of the Pontifical Council of Culture?

Pope Benedict deferred to that monsignor’s opinion. If it’s good enough for the Pope, then it’s good enough for me.

Why not take the word of the Vatican?

[netmilsmom]

>>My Tom (14, 84% Slytherin on the “What Hogwart’s House Are You?” quiz) was handed one of those tracts in the Walmart parking lot this afternoon.<<

*snicker*
I bet, being related to you, the person got an earful. Of laughter if nothing else!

Never in my life would I ever think that I would see a Catholic FReeper on the side of the maker of those tracts.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

There’s no way that any kid with the sense God gave a fruitbat can mistake Harry’s world for reality. I read the books thru “Order of the Phoenix” - lost interest after that - and have seen the first 3 movies.

I first read the first Potter book when my then-pre-teen daughter wanted to read it - I saw no problem with it and let her read it.

[Tax-chick]

I’m sure he would have if he’d opened it, but he was taking Frank to the van while I paid for the groceries and had his hands full. At least he didn’t say, “Thank you,” to the distributor, though. I’m a Hufflepuff, so I would have!

[mlizzy]

[Pretend this is 1968, when film was used over digital.] If you had a job with Eastman Kodak company, and the head of Kodak defers someone to you to ask your opinion on some film, and you do so, does your opinion matter more than the wonderful photographer we have here on Free Republic for instance [sorry, forgot his screen name], who has more years behind a camera (and gorgeous images to boot) than any ten staff members at Eastman Kodak Company put together. Who would you listen to? Who would Kodak listen to for that matter?

Michael D. O'Brien is probably the most well known for Fr. Elijah, although he's written many excellent books (my husband has read them all to date). He is a Roman Catholic author, artist, and frequent essayist and lecturer on faith and culture, living in Combermere, Ontario, Canada. His Web site is here. Take a look at his artwork in the sidebar; it is awesome! (Image on this page is one of O'Brien's.)

The words of Fleetwood are not the official words of the Vatican. Did you read the post I sent from O'Brien's book, Chapter 6? If you talked to a hundred different workers from the Vatican, you'd get a bunch of differing opinions. Do you happen to know if Fleetwood even read the books or saw the movies?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Why am I not surprised?

[netmilsmom]

>>If you talked to a hundred different workers from the Vatican, you’d get a bunch of differing opinions. Do you happen to know if Fleetwood even read the books or saw the movies? <<

Oh Holy Lord.
Let’s start again. Mgsr Fleetwood was at the time of the interview with the Pontificate Council of Culture. A link to what that is can be found here
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/cultr/index.htm
We are not talking about a random priest or the janitor, he was appointed by Pope JPII to the Pontificate Council of Culture. Popes don’t put people on councils because they don’t know their stuff.

Cardinal Ratzinger directed the woman with the anti-HP book who wrote to him, to Mgsr Fleetwood who in turn wrote the lady a FOUR page letter stating where her anti-HP book had gone wrong. The Monsignor has read the books. That is very plain and clear if you read the details of his interview.

So again, why not listen to the Vatican?

[netmilsmom]

>>I’m a Hufflepuff, so I would have!<<

I’m Hufflepuff too! Amicitia concero omnis!

[Churchillian99]

As a religious man, I share several of the concerns regarding Harry Potter - the series is agnostic and the hero is rarely if ever punished for minor lapses in character. Unfortunately, the presence of several clear misstatements by Fr. Casismir do much to discredit his opinion. Just as an example saying that “mandrake roots were pieces of human babies” is substantially in disagreement with Webster, and if FR. Casismir is asking us to accept a whole separate definition of every event in the books and movie, (i.e. they said mandrakes what they meant was baby corpses), then the listener or reader better be informed that they are being asked to accept FRC’s re-interpretation on faith (as it were). I think there are concerns with Harry Potter, However, I don’t think that it presents higher risks than most other secular books and movies.

Respectfully Yours,
C99

[Tax-chick]

Not sure I’ve got that translation quite right, but it seems to be, “Niceness makes everything work out.” No wait, I’m an idiot, “Can’t we all get along?” LOL! Have a Guinness and a kitten!

The urge to exclude everyone who disagrees on anything from “the club” is very human, but also a real snooze. Pat hadn’t read any Harry Potter books when he convinced James that he could fly and go him to jump off the stair ledge.

[netmilsmom]

>>Have a Guinness and a kitten!<<

I think that’s the right translation!

[Tax-chick]

This kitten? I didn't get a Slytherin son out of nowhere, you know. (But I blame cosmic rays for Pat.)

[mlizzy]

So again, why not listen to the Vatican?

Because IMO he doesn't know anything about "film."

Fleetwood has already stated this was his "opinion." There is nothing "official" about his statement. I read what he had to say, and I do not agree with his ramblings. And it's not necessary as a Catholic for me to do so. This isn't dogma, nor a belief amongst all Catholics. He only knows his stuff, if you agree with him. Even the Pope is only infallible on issues of faith and morals. Harry Potter would not be included in that mix.

[Ransomed]

Obviously He Who Is Not To Be Named on the r. forum has no idea that some Catholics agree with him on something, else there would be a tract pushing the idea that the Potter books are masterpieces of literature and fantastic Christian speculative fiction.

Freegards

[Tax-chick]

This isn't dogma, nor a belief amongst all Catholics. He only knows his stuff, if you agree with him.

Dear ladies, this sounds like a consensus: each Catholic may decide for himself and his family. What else is there to say?

Now off you go - sense of urgency! as they say in the Coast Guard - to finish your dusting, or the Advent Kitteh will not bring you wine and pretzels on Sunday.

[Ransomed]

He is obviously doomed. I wouldn’t be suprised if he plays D&D and listens to heavy metal with the other kids in the local coven as well.

Freegards

[Tax-chick]

Anoreth and Bill are Gryffindor, and they’re the heavy metal fans. Tom’s more into 80s music, and he can’t really believe that *I was there* for the 1980s!

No family members except their Dad have yet confessed to D&D, but I’m sure Anoreth will try it if the CG cutter is without electricity long enough.

[mlizzy]

the series is agnostic and the hero is rarely if ever punished for minor lapses in character

O'Brien very much talks about this issue as being of top concern. Fr. Casimir Puskorius mentions he "gathered information" on the books. He most likely didn't take the time to read them. Busy priests rarely have the time to read anything not pertaining to their work at hand. Most of his information came from Michael D. O'Brien. In his preface, O'Brien explains how he came to write this book. Link.

[Ransomed]

D&D was huge in the armed forces at one time. Now that electronic gaming is so big, maybe not so much anymore. Which is a shame, in my opinion the exercising of folks imagination has dwindled in the wake of video games.

80’s music?!! If you are talking about 80’s pop, well, I reckon you have more to worry about than Harry Potter. Call the local exorcist already. Does holy water burn him?

Freegards