Posted on 06/27/2002 5:53:24 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
In early December the official exorcist of the Rome diocese, Father Gabriele Amorth, warned parents against the Harry Potter book series. The priest, who is also the president of the International Association of Exorcists, said Satan is behind the works.
In an interview with the Italian ANSA news agency, Father Amorth said, “Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of darkness, the devil.” The exorcist, drawing on his decades of experience in directly combating evil, observed that young people could become involved in Satanic practices because they see the invocation of supernatural powers as a simple and attractive possibility, devoid of moral consequences. He noted that J.K. Rowling’s books contain innumerable positive references to magic, which he insisted must be recognized as “the satanic art.” He noted that the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact such a distinction “does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil.”
In the interview, which was published in papers across Europe, Father Amorth also criticized the disordered morality presented in Rowling’s works, noting that they suggest that rules can be contravened and lying justified when they work to one’s benefit.
The North American coverage of Father Amorth’s warnings significantly downplayed the force of his warnings. The New York Times account of the interview, which was carried in many other media outlets, omitted the strongest language used by the Rome exorcist, and did not include his explanations for the warning. It only quoted Father Amorth as saying, “If children can see the movie with their parents, it’s not all bad.” (The Times report also failed to mention that the movie version significantly cleaned up Harry’s image, making it less troublesome than the books.)
In the same provocative language, Father Amorth also sharply criticized the new approved ritual for exorcism, saying that the language of the rite lacked the force of the old version. And he complained that most bishops allow an exorcism to proceed only when there is demonstrable proof of a diabolic possession. An exorcism should also be recognized as a diagnostic tool, he said, and frequently the ritual helps to determine whether or not an individual is possessed.
Fr. Amorth is the author of An Exorcist Tells His Story
But a serious danger nonetheless and one that should not be minimized, partly because far more children will be exposed to the spiritual dangers of the Potter books than will be exposed to dangerous priests. Also, the danger of the Potter books is less recognized because the danger is more insidious. The books are an admixture of a traditional good versus evil story, a spirit of antinomianism and a glorification of "good" witchcraft.
Fr. Amorth summed up the danger of the books succinctly. He "observed that young people could become involved in Satanic practices because they see the invocation of supernatural powers as a simple and attractive possibility, devoid of moral consequences" and ”he noted that the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact such a distinction 'does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil.'"
Dabbling in the occult can lead to demonic oppression as well as demonic possession.
I don't know if you have any children, but would you care if he was after your child's soul?
The devil seeks the ruin of souls. Since the devil is the father of lies and the great deceiver, he can’t ruin your soul if you are wary, which is what Fr. Amorth’s message is.
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of Battle; Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke Him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen “
Perhaps Fr. Amorth could get an audience with the Pope and try to stop him and the Vatican from anointing Don Bosco as the patron saint of Harry Potter.
NCCB: "Parents concerned about the film's sorcery elements should know that it is unlikely to pose any threat to Catholic beliefs. "Harry Potter" is so obviously innocuous fantasy that its fiction is easily distinguishable from real life."
Fr. Amorth: "young people could become involved in Satanic practices because they see the invocation of supernatural powers as a simple and attractive possibility, devoid of moral consequences."
NCCB: Harry uses his "magical powers" for good to fight evil.
Fr. Amorth: "the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact such a distinction 'does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil.'"
The voice of the NCCB sounds to me like the voice of the spiritually lukewarm. The assertion that "parents concerned about the film's sorcery elements should know that it is unlikely to pose any threat to Catholic beliefs" is absurd since the use of witchcraft for any reason is considered an abomination in Catholic doctrine and a direct contradiction of "Catholic beliefs."
Neither should the writer for the NCCB be so cavalier in dismissing what he considers to be the obvious fantastical nature of the books. The story actually conforms in a significant sense with the Catholic understanding of reality, particularly spiritual reality. The story portrays the world of the Muggles (the real world) as existing alongside the world of witches and wizards (the world of angels and demons). The difference is that the book portrays the supernatural world as consisting of good and evil witches and wizards as opposed to good and evil angels. I believe that the book's correspondence with spiritual reality explains the instinctive appeal of the series to spiritually starved children.
I can't help wondering if Fr. Amorth actually read any of the books -- or just the foamier Evangelical critiques. I wonder, too, whether he's ever read any imaginative literature: does he condemn the whole world of fantasy, fairy tales, folk tales, classical and other mythology, legend, poetry? Perhaps, with Plato, he does; but recall that Chesterton said of Plato: "great and glorious as he remains, he has been the father of all faddists."
Father Amorth also criticized the disordered morality presented in Rowling’s works, noting that they suggest that rules can be contravened and lying justified when they work to one’s benefit.
Does he mean the "disordered morality" by which one risks his life for a greater good? The "disordered morality" by which kindness is better than cruelty? The "disordered morality" by which good triumphs in the end? Everyone I remember in the book who contravened rules and justified lying for their own benefit was clearly despicable scum -- Harry never did.
I'm afraid Fr. Amorth may have performed one too many exorcisms, else where do we get this: Father Amorth also sharply criticized the new approved ritual for exorcism, saying that the language of the rite lacked the force of the old version. And he complained that most bishops allow an exorcism to proceed only when there is demonstrable proof of a diabolic possession. An exorcism should also be recognized as a diagnostic tool, he said, and frequently the ritual helps to determine whether or not an individual is possessed. "Diagnostic" exorcism? Is that even orthodox?
Maybe it's just a case of "to the man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." If I had kids, I would much rather they read Harry Potter than Heather Has Two Mommies or any of the rest of Kumbaya, Gaia-worshipping, multicultural leftwing tripe that makes up way too much of current children's literature.
Oops! Left out Agatha Christie and Father Brown!
Aquinas and I have a strong agreement on this
Absolutely right.
drstevej, Calvin-Whitefield-fan
Ok,I understand.I've been on other forums where this happened as well.I'll check into it.
There is the spiritual level (the one I am most interested in), an emotional level and a psychologically level.
..The occult is not make believe IMHO It is real. This exposes children to the thought that they can control other people with spells and potions. This is not healthy psychologically or spiritually. it is looking other than to God and it teaches children that it is OK to tamper with the wills of others.
The movies also show a disrespect for adults and a bit of rule breaking and disrespect.
I have a saying I used on my kids and now they uses on theirs.."Garbage in garbage out" We should not let things that are not of God into our kids minds
As a Protestant I always look to the word for answers on this topic it tells us this
Phl 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
I have never discussed this with my adult kids , but I found out that all of them refuses to allow their kids to see it (even my 15 year old RC grandaughter could not see it) I am so proud of the discernment my kids have shown..they "got it":>)
That's a "glowing review"?
Did you read the books?
Just out of curiosity, did you let your kids watch The Wizard of Oz? Cinderella? Snow White?
Did you let them read The Chronicles of Narnia? The Brothers Grimm? The Old-Fashioned Fairy Book? Tanglewood Tales?
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