Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels - Signed Letters from Cardinal Ratzinger Now Online

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | July 13, 2005 | LifeSiteNews.com

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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

[PetroniusMaximus]

***Cute picture. Are you the one on the right or the left? Or are you the one playing the flute?***

He's the one bent over with his head in the moss.

[GipperGal]

I'm am howling in laughter right now...

[maryz]

LOL! Great find!

[maryz]

But seriously, you would be surprised at how derivative these books really are.

So was Shakespeare -- and practically everyone else. It's only in modern times that that became a "flaw" -- well, "modern" from the 18th century or so. (See The Battle of the Books.)

[maryz]

I think Little Women is about the worst of LMA's books. Little Men is much better, IMO, as are An Old-Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom.

Did you read the rest of the "Anne" books or just Anne of Green Gables? And L.M. Montgomery wrote lots more, Pat of Silver Bush being one of my favorites, along with the "Emily" books.

[maryz]

I thought the standard fault adduced against the Moabites was that they cared only about their own people, a failing corrected in Ruth.

[maryz]

But Hughes' book, still quite readable,

I guess it's "readable" in the literal sense -- I did manage to get through it, for the curiosity value, but I thought it bordered dangerously close to "unreadable."

[Aquinasfan]

And those same people would laugh at you for taking the spells and potions in Harry Potter seriously.

Do I take Harry Potter's spells seriously? Or have I posted about 500 times that the danger with the Potter books is the normalization of the occult?

[Aquinasfan]

This is a process that began long ago and has been ongoing. For example, Ouija boards are the most popular board game. That means a great many people who call themselves "Christians" are buying these for their children. I find that to be so delusional as to be comical, if not for its grave import.

I agree completely. Ouija boards are often the gateway to cases of demonic oppression and possession. The children's reviews posted to the Ouija board game on Amazon are chilling.

Beyond the very real problems of occultism, there is the fact that the Harry Potter books encourage the idea that the personal is superior to God. That powers can be used against other people for our own goals, and are not subject to a higher authority.

Which is just as important. The essence of moral evil is "my will be done."

[Aquinasfan]

a) the kids are reading;

My pet peeve.

[Corin Stormhands]

Do I take Harry Potter's spells seriously?

I have no idea. Quite frankly, I don't have time to keep up with your hysteria.

[grellis]

So why do you think it's ok to read to your kids about things that the Bible calls an abomination?

This question you have posed is what makes me certain that you have never read the books--any of them. Have you?

I would not allow my children to read a book entitled "How To Be Wiccan" or "Satan Worship for Dummies." My kids are free to read Shakespeare if they so desire. My kids will read Tolkien when the time comes. Many of the greatest works of literature contain devices which would fall under the category of "biblical abomination." Why do you think I read the books before my kids?

[grellis]

I have learned that ideas do in fact have consequences. Ideas matter. That's why it's good we have these discussions.

Yes, ideas matter. As I have said before, however, if one has a strong foundation in their beliefs then one will not be easily swayed by ideas. I do enjoy these discussions but I find it incredibly frustrating to argue the merits and controversial aspects of the books--or of ANY book--with FReepers who are familiar with them only by their dust jackets or by their reviews. It is kind of like having an argument about the best beaches in Michigan with someone who has never stepped foot in the mitten (born in Livonia, raised in Rochester, living in Lansing, trying to oust the Canadian Cheerleader-in-Chief).

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Good Morning, Accygirl.
Just to toss out something neutral since we're on the topic (it seems) of children's literature.

When I was a youngun', I must have taken the same two books out of our elementary school library 15 times. The books were titled "The Children of Noisy Village" and "Happy Times in Noisy Village", by Astrid Lindgren, whom I believe to be Scandinavian.

I would recommend these two books as light fare for anyone encouraging their children to read. Heck, I MIGHT even go to our public library and see if they're there. I could use a return to my childhool.

Does anyone else remember these books with fond memories as I have?

[Woman on Caroline Street]

"Words come to mind...
Heat,
Kitchen,
Leaving...
(have a good trip!)"

Nice, PM, really nice. Yet another good reason to HOME worship.

[grellis]

Yes, the HP books are about witches... Yes, they borrow heavily and enthusiastically from the occult.

If I had more coffee in my system right now, I could probably make this point better:

Turn the witches and wizards from HP into junior marine biologists.

Remove the story from England and place it in a Pacific archipelago.

Replace the wands and other occultish objects with scientific instruments.

What you have left is what you began with: a story of GvE.

I can't remember who the writer or director was, but there was this guy who would only produce animated films. When asked why he would not work on live action projects, he cited the obvious fact: live-action is too limiting. The stroytelling is the same, but with animation the possibilities are endless.

Yikes! I have a yard sale to set up! Have a good weekend!

[maryz]

Apparently here: CatholicInsider.

[PetroniusMaximus]

***Nice, PM, really nice.***

Hey! I was joking.

(and she really is going on a trip)

:)

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** I agree completely. Ouija boards are often the gateway to cases of demonic oppression and possession.****

I can personally confirm this.

In speaking with people involve in the occult as to what was their motivation for becoming involved I have often heard them refer to the use of Ouija boards or other seemingly "harmless" types of magic activities.



***The essence of moral evil is "my will be done."***

It also gives children a taste for "spiritual power". The avenue to satisfy that desire often does not present itself till early adulthood.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Ping to your Ouija reference....

Post 839
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1441735/posts?page=839#839