Vatican: Harry Potter's OK with us

Reuters via CNN ^

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Harry Potter fans, relax. The Vatican says the kid is all right.

The question of whether J.K. Rowling's books and the films on the boy wizard have a positive influence came up at a news conference Monday where the Vatican presented a document on "New Age" spirituality, which contain elements of the occult.

[HumanaeVitae]

A term of my own concotion. There have been some nasty back and forth flames between Catholics and evangelicals etc here before...

[jd777]

Reuters is the worst. Yesterday's sensational headline was "IRAQ declares Shuttle disaster god's vengence". Fine. But further down it only quoted a car mechanic and a random "government employee". They find a person to state their thesis and then "go global" with it.

[nmh]

REfusing to see victims of Priest molestation is acceptable, I'm not surprised Harry Potter is okay with him too. Goes together.

[nmh]

REfusing to see victims of Priest molestation is acceptable, I'm not surprised Harry Potter is okay with him too. Goes together. Oh forgot, when lawsuits happen the "church" files for bankrupsy to avoid paying damages. Yeah, I'm not suprirsed ... when it comes to kids ... and what's best for them.

[Karsus]

What is wrong with Harry Potter?

[Constitution Day]

What does the Vatican think of Scooby Doo?

Ruh roh!

[tessalu]

The Catholic Church no longer has any credibility, and it is not surprising to see them flocking with Harry Potter.

[js1138]

Are angels now imaginary?

Tinkerbell was. At least until all the kids in the audience said they believed.

[Karsus]

What is wrong with Harry Potter?

[js1138]

Trying to head of a swarm of furious corrective fairies...

Sometimes you don't read your own post until you hit the button, then you see it, think about ways to unpost it, but it's too late.

[Campion]

The Catholic Church no longer has any credibility, and it is not surprising to see them flocking with Harry Potter.

Yeah, an offhand comment by a priest at a news conference certainly defines the direction of the whole Catholic Church for the next millenium.

</sarcasm>

[Brytani]

I'm an adult Harry Potter fan and can't wait for the next book to come out. I also enjoyed both movies that have been made.

The battle between good and evil are not the only "lesson" in Harry Potter, there is also lessons in friendship, standing up for what is right, supporting ones friends, learning to say you're sorry for hurting a friend etc.

If you get a chance, pick up one of the books in paperback and make up your own mind about them. That really is the only way you can decide on this subject.

[OHelix]

And I doubt you even know what a lay brother is.

You are probably right. I have an assumed meaning, but you likely understand distictions that I do not.

One might consider deceptive innuendo a pretty telling defense with regard to your bigoted attitude.

There is no inteded deceit from me. Just because I make a point that could reflect negatively on someone or something (even the Catholic Church) does not make me a bigot. I (personally) am convinced that much of Catholic tradition is pagan worship "in Jesus' name". I do not believe this because I was predisposed against the Catholic Church and sought it out, but because of my own observations, and study of scripture. I will gladly admit I could be mistaken, but that is what I sincerely perceive. I mention that only so that there is no reason to think I am "hiding" something.

PER TELLING: Labeling someone as a "BIGOT" is a diversionary tactic in debate. It is an attempt to predispose the listener against the accused "BIGOT" by suggesting his views are predisposed against the one calling him a "BIGOT" and therefore should be dismissed without consideration. I do NOT respect the use of this type of tactic. And (unless the person really does HATE the accuser) it is a form of slander. I would assume you did not wish to slander me, but careless use of words...

[js1138]

Harry Potter has good witches and wizards (as well as bad). Except for the occasional spell, it's pretty much a typical story about a British orphan going to boarding school, pursued, of course by an evil overlord.

[js1138]

...much of Catholic tradition is pagan worship "in Jesus' name".

So is Christmas.

[Campion]

I (personally) am convinced that much of Catholic tradition is pagan worship "in Jesus' name".

You just called a billion people pagans. You think it's a "diversionary tactic" if those people consider that to be nothing more than bigotry on your part, and "slander" when they say it.

How's this. I am a Christian, whether you think so or not. I am extremely offended when people call me a pagan. I am even more offended when they do so claiming to do so in the name of my Savior.

If you don't want to be "slandered," try not slandering other people.

[Karsus]

The Catholic Church isn't the only Church that 'reads things' into the Bible. Look at all the Southern Church's that INSIST that Jesus turned water into grape juice.

[OHelix]

Minutes later, across the Reuters wire:

VATICAN ENDORSES PEPSI: "COCA-COLA DRINKERS ARE SINNERS" - SAYS UNNAMED SOURCE CLOSE TO SITUATION

Unless this actually happened, this is fictitious hyperbole. I'm not saying fictitious hyperbole is good or bad, but THIS IS FICTITIOUS HYPERBOLE.

I merely stated the facts that demonstrate your ignorance and bigotry.

Exactly what fact did you state to demonstrate my ignorance and bigotry? (I'll grant you the bit about the lay brother as demonstrating my ignorance.)

[Campion]

Unless this actually happened, this is fictitious hyperbole.

That wasn't my post you're quoting.

Exactly what fact did you state to demonstrate my ignorance and bigotry?

The fact that the obelisk is where it is, not because it is an artifact of pagan worship, or to commemorate pagan gods, but to commemorate the Christian martyrs who died at its base ... killed, by the way, by pagans.

In case you're not just being obtuse, my point is that the obelisk is practically the opposite of what you want to think it is -- it celebrates Christianity's victory over paganism, not the reverse.

[L,TOWM]

I read the first one and decided that Harry Potter was not permitted in the House of L,TOWM. My main reason is the lack of consequences for young Harry when he repeatedly violated Hogwart rules. He should have ex spelled (forgive the small pun) from Hogwarts three times in the first book, but instead, gets rewarded for his rule violations.

All in all, a very Clintonian message; "If you're a good enough _______, you can get away with bad behavior."