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.

[mlizzy]

And to the poster who alleged a lack of good parenting skills on the part of any parent who produces an offspring that can be swayed by this stuff I say: The Devil is much more powerful than you are, best to keep your kids out of his reach!

I've been thinking about this comment of yours for the last couple of days, and I think maybe this is why some become so irate over the anti-Potter declarations. They feel their kids can buck this stuff off. And as some parents will use the excuse that known Catholic bloggers such as Mark O'Shea, Jimmy Akin, and Amy Welborn have come out as pro-Potter (I have not read their dissertations on the subject, but I have read Chelsea Zimmermans' posts -- a Catholic blogger whose work I have previously agreed with 100%), they nonetheless skip over Fr. Euteneuer, Fr. Amorth, and Reverend Pedro Mendoza, all official Church exorcists who have come out quite clearly as to their disapproval.

“I think a book like this does a lot of damage,” the priest told us. “At its core it is about sorcery. I am sure that is not the best use of a child’s mind.” --Reverend Pedro Mendoza, Director of Exorcists in the Archdiocese of Mexico City

“I’m very set against Harry Potter,” he said. “It’s pumping into our children’s minds the language and imagery of the occult. It’s extremely spiritually dangerous.” --Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer, official Church exorcist whose book on Exorcism has now been pulled, "coincidentally" after he was relieved of his duties as HLI president, but I'm fairly certain it had nothing to do with his warnings against Potter

"You start off with Harry Potter, who comes across as a likeable wizard, but you end up with the Devil. There is no doubt that the signature of the Prince of Darkness is clearly within these books." "By reading Harry Potter a young child will be drawn into magic and from there it is a simple step to Satanism and the Devil." --Rev. Gabriele Amorth, Vatican's chief exorcist

Now in the battle with Satan, who should one listen to? Those that fight him quite literally, or those that do not. As a comparison, if a parent had a child with an operable brain tumor, would they seek the expertise of the best known brain surgeon for removal of the tumor, or would they call up their general practitioner who happens to be a surgeon (but not in the area of the brain)?

[steve86]

It bothers me that sorcery/mystical/magical themes are evident in so many of the books our girls bring home from elementary school (and I am positive the girls are not selecting these books preferentially -- they generally are on the required or recommended reading lists). I hear them reading aloud and there are constant magical references, seemingly innocuous on the surface but so prevalent that the reader's orientation to the mystic has got to be subtly altered, maybe not so subtle over time. In a couple of cases, the girls have rejected books and expressed that the content was at odds with our family values (not in those words, but clear as to meaning). This is all occurring in a very conservative public school district. So far, fortunately, the girls have expressed no interest whatsoever in the heavy hitters of children's' occult literature like HP and I am grateful for that.

Mystical literature can have quite the insidious allure for adults as well. For example, I myself found Carlos Castaneda's books fascinating way back then. Apparently my immunity to sorcery was strong in that case because I took up neither peyote nor solo hikes in the remoteness of Sonora! However, if someone had come along and offered me a few hallucinogenic mushroom buttons things might have been different, might be even now! This is the danger of being groomed for this stuff. Keep your soul out of view of the devil! All he needs is a quick, furtive glance!

[steve86]

No CC/sorcery tales from the readership?

[BibChr]

Click on title.

See source.

Click away.

[mlizzy]

This is the danger of being groomed for this stuff. Keep your soul out of view of the devil! All he needs is a quick, furtive glance!

You nailed it Steve. Very good commentary. Fr. Corapi said the person who first offered him crack cocaine told him that he'd hate him for the rest of his life, or something to that effect, yet, Fr. still took the crack, and his life story is something else.

Fr. Corapi, which you probably know, wrote the foreward to Euteneuer's book, Exorcism and the Church Militant (after hours on the phone this morning searching, we found a few copies, even though it appears the book is no long available/banned?), and Fr. Corapi's words in it are very good.

Yes, the devil is everywhere. "All he needs is a quick, furtive glance!" is correct ...

[steve86]

I will have to try to get a hold of the book. Not very familiar with these priests or their writings — most of what I feel about the issue comes to me intuitively (Grace of Discernment?).

[mlizzy]

Grace of Discernment. *smiles* That's very good, and because so many are hook, line, and sinker for HP, that must be true.

If you'd like a copy of Euteneuer's book Exorcism and the Church Militant, and can't find one (they seem to be scarce as hen's teeth), FReepmail me (I currently have four left) and I'll send you a copy.

[mlizzy]

No CC/sorcery tales from the readership?

Your ping didn't come up on my side. Maybe the others on the thread did not receive it either. I've pinged people via the "all" before, and they've said they didn't recall seeing the ping. So I'm not sure if it works "all" the time. Here's a scene from Potter. Click the image to view the trailer.

[steve86]

Yes, "all" doesn't do much; it's just a way of avoiding directing the reply to any one person more than anything. I won't even watch the trailer for something like this. Prefer to be naively ignorant but safe, I guess. Plus they all look creepy in the outtake, IMO.

Thank you for the generous offer of the book -- I'll scout around nearer to home first. My trailer park (pun) is having a book sale so if I get extremely lucky I'll find one there.

[mlizzy]

Oh, I didn’t realize that about the “all.” Learn something new every day. Yes, the trailer actually *is* pretty creepy. Most all the images are dark or spooky. Nothing really upbeat/happy. It’s a clue; it’s a clue, to those wanting to learn about HP. :)

[steve86]

Interesting Italian movie clip about Padre Pio and an exorcism (I guess). Funny, I wasn’t searching for anything like this — was looking at motorbike videos or something and this appeared in “related”. Weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9908nRjq28&feature=related

[steve86]

Italian to English translation
In 1964 he was brought from a village in Bergamo a young man obsessed with the Capuchin convent of S. Severo (Foggia). There he lived with Father Placido S. Marco in Lamis, universally esteemed by the people for his holiness. He was presented the obsessive, so that free from the devil. The girl he saw Father Placido, began to scream, to curse, to curse and groped to attack. After a moment’s hesitation, the brother of Father Placido advised him to continue the obsessive young and relatives who accompanied her to St. Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio to intervene. And so they did. When the girl was in front of Padre Pio, he repeated the same scenes with violence made before Father Placido. Padre Pio, at that time was not in forces to undertake the exorcism, he just give her a blessing.

A few days later, some monks, authorized by the Archbishop of Manfredonia, they wanted to do the exorcisms to rid obsessed by the devil, but were unable to move forward, because that mocked them, saying that he pretended to throw him out after eating and drinking, rather than have prayed and did penance.

Padre Pio knew that things were made so, he remained sad and thoughtful. In the night then he was attacked with fury by the devil, which dealt a tremendous blow on the spine. He fell awkwardly to the ground, wounded to the eyebrow and soon saw his face all swollen. In the fall uttered a cry which was heard by the brothers, who promptly noticed, they found him in that state. They asked him what had happened and he merely said that he had fallen. Then they dressed the wounds and laid him on the bed. In those conditions, however, the morning could not get off to church for the celebration of Holy Mass. On the other hand, the obsessed people that waited in the church was screaming that Padre Pio would not come, because the night had tanned my skin for the old monk. Indeed, at a certain time he appeared in the upper church of the convent, which announced that Padre Pio would not have fallen for the Mass because unwell. There was great confusion and disappointment among the people.

That same morning, the superior of the convent of S. Severo, P. Alberto D’Apolito, came to St. John and learned the facts that had happened. Who went from Padre Pio, asked him if it was true what people was saying. Padre Pio, he merely said: “It’s possible.” Then the Father D’Apolito expressed his displeasure in having to divert recommended by S. S. Severo John Young that obsessed. And Padre Pio: “I have done a nice gift.”

But the match between Padre Pio and the devil for that girl possessed was not closed, and prayed to Padre Pio is mortified and after a few days left to the better, went to church for the S. Mass. This time, however, obsessed as he saw it he gave a scream high and then fell to the ground unconscious. The devil finally was gone and the young in peace and tranquility could hear the Mass of Padre Pio healed and then return to his home. Padre Pio, as usual, had won, but this time he had paid dearly!

[mlizzy]

Interesting Italian movie clip about Padre Pio and an exorcism (I guess). Funny, I wasn’t searching for anything like this — was looking at motorbike videos or something and this appeared in “related”. Weird.

"Funny" indeed! In 1964, I was 14 years old. Yet another saint that was living during my childhood. I just picked up a beautiful Padre Pio scapular when I was purchasing Fr. E's book, and I will be wearing it to a Tridentine Mass we have in the area, where many (even men!) wear "visible" scapulars along with most women wearing mantillas. St. John Vianney ("coincidentally" the name of the parish we'll be attending the TLM at) was another saint that was physically harassed by Satan.

BTW, my husband took part in an exorcism when he was quite young, in his teens, and his mother, upon hearing about it, quickly put an end to it. She was afraid the devil might enter his soul or trouble him, but yes, the movie clip you saw was a depiction of an exorcism. Thanks for posting!

Miracles of Padre Pio - The 'obsessive Liberata.

[steve86]

Interesting in the clip how Padre Pio was able to directly view the devil, as he was able to view the state of souls. I can't see Satan directly so I stay the hell away from things like Harry Potter which are an obvious draw for _him.

[Jen Shroder]

JEN: >>The book teaches children to participate in spiritual darkness<<

NETMILSMOM: Where? Give us an example. Because magic is a talent in these books. It is not something that is taught. It is used as another’s ability to play an instrument or skill at kicking a football. You either have it or you don’t.

JEN: You want an example? Here. This is a copy of the text I just got from one of my son's best friends...I kicked him out because he bragged about getting my son so high that he was hallucinating, that he talked my other son out of college, and then he attacked people that follow the Bible. This is where your magic gets you:

“So funny Jen. Adults being adults right? Look. There is a world that teaches you everything you need to know. I don’t listen to people who listen to people. I am not God, but your ‘God’ gave us a world that you and everyone else constantly disrespect the true meaning of by continuing the collective destruction of it. I’m not high and mighty. I just acknowledge the whys of what is.. Not just what is. I’m young in age, but I have seen everything anyone else has, and my eyes were always open. It’s weed for now, but it’s just a start to the change I will make. I’m sorry if my self awareness comes across as self righteous, but I think that happens for a reason.”

This man, a product of the Harry Potter generations, rejects Jesus Christ and instead worships the earth and is furious that mankind are such parasites to the planet. I'm a little concerned about the change he is planning. He seems to think he's some kind of shaman.

If you censor the name of Jesus Christ, something else will replace Him in the hearts that are led away from Him, and that's what our public schools via books like Harry Potter churn out. NETMILSMOM:“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7}" JEN: Net, do you really think that's a blanket for us to do whatever we want and then to ask God for peace and expect it? Leading our children to sorcery...do you really have no clue what how God felt about King Saul when he did that? If Saul just repeated that verse, does that obligate God to obey? (that was rhetorical, the answer is no)

[netmilsmom]

>>You want an example?<<

Yes. You haven’t given me one example from those books of teaching children to participate in spiritual darkness. You can’t find one.

>>This man, a product of the Harry Potter generations...<<
That man has bigger problems that have nothing to do with reading children’s books.

My Goddaughter who has read the books since she was 11, has been dating the same young man for six years today and is still a virgin, she doesn’t drink or smoke, she made it to parochial High School AND College on scholarship and is a half a year away from graduating Summa cum laude.

Maybe your son’s best friend should have read some Harry Potter. He may learned some real morals from them.

>>Net, do you really think that’s a blanket for us to do whatever we want and then to ask God for peace and expect it? <<
Please do not call me ‘net’, thank you.
Yes, I put my trust in The Lord. I have a covenant, I refuse to be afraid of trivial things. If any of those books taught my children how to be witches, I would not let them read them. They do not. My daughter brought it to our Pastor who told her that as long she is not reading an instruction manual, it’s perfectly fine.

Good enough for me.

[AppyPappy]

You know Harry Potter isn’t real, right?

[Jen Shroder]

I believe in demons but the idea these books encourage children to participate in spiritual darkness is beyond ludicrous.

Then why do Wiccans rejoice over the books?

And I think these chapter titles are contrived, there are a lot of Biblical phrases turned upside down:

The writing on the Wall

The Dark Mark

The Half-Blood Prince

The Lightning-Struck Tower

Flight of the Prince

The White Tomb

After the Burial

Horcruxes

The Lion and the Serpent

The Ministry of Magic

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

The Hearing

The Lost Prophecy

At the very least these are taking Biblical precepts and trivializing/diminishing them. Planting seeds that I wouldn't want anywhere near my children. I'm already grieving that I allowed my kids in public school thinking I could debrief them...I can't believe one of my own sons originally thought Obama wasn't a bad choice. Thank goodness he also learned in public school that our votes don't count for much and didn't bother. I never thought that would be a plus.

[Jen Shroder]

>>("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)<<

lolololololol love that, good one.

Love of Nietzsche boggles my mind. The man went insane at a young age (20s?) and had to be taken care of for the rest of his life...and he's lauded by atheists?..just keep clapping...

[netmilsmom]

>>You know Harry Potter isn’t real, right?<<

She’s gonna take a while. She’s way back at the beginning of the thread answering a whole bunch of posts long after the interest has waned.

Oh well.