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SEPTEMBER 5, 2006 at 8:29 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: CBC via YubaNet via Moreover
Additional controversy seems to be popping up once again in reference to the Harry Potter books and the Vatican. This time, chief exorcist, Rev. Gabriele Amorth states
that fictional character Harry Potter is the “king of darkness, the devil” in an interview with Vatican Radio last week.
Rev. Amorth goes on to compare the Potter characters to Stalin and Hitler, and says:
You can tell by their behavior and their actions, from the horrors they committed and the atrocities that were committed on their orders. That's why we need to defend society from demons.
You may remember that last year in another interview on Vatican Radio, Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, an expert on New Age and former official at the Pontifical Council for Culture said that:
...I remain firmly convinced that the Harry Potter novels are very well written. They are written on the classical plot of good versus evil in the standard way that the old myths were written. The characters are built up around that: the goodies and the baddies so to speak, and I can't see that that's a bad thing for children, when goodness, and the people on the side of goodness are portrayed as the ones who will eventually win. Harry's enemies resort to all sorts of evil things, and they are the ones who loose in the end. I don't see what's wrong with that, and I can't see that does any harm to children.
It would seem that personnel from the Vatican cannot agree on Harry Potter.
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Auror
Points: 2682
hplovergurl says:
Oh wow. I think he really needs to read the books before he calls Harry "the devil." I think it's crazy when people start bashing childrens books because they have things to do with witchcraft. Geeze.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 8:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 289
Jynessa says:
Oh Em Gee! That's SO not fair. I wonder if the Pope's Excersist or whatever it was has even read a single word of Harry Potter? Whatever... controversy my butt.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 8:26 PM EST
Witch
Points: 531
ronNhermione4evr says:
That is crazy! People who think Harry Potter is evil has not really read the books probably (Like my neihbore) BUt hello Harry is good and Voldermort is evil nad Harry will win just like good tirumps over evil!
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 8:37 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 45
All Was Well. says:
That's insane. Harry Potter may talk about "wizards" and "witchraft" and such, but it's a work of fiction. Hitler and Stalin were real people who caused real pain and suffering. And what is this "You can tell by their behavior and their actions, from the horrors they committed and the atrocities that were committed on their orders." business. I don't know about you, but I don't know of any horrors commited by Harry Potter. Probably because he's not a real person.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 8:47 PM EST
Half-Blood Princess
Points: 2875
Katie Bloom says:
That was a pretty interesting debate. No matter what, Harry is not evil at all! I'm glad to be back!
HarryAssistant
Harry's Return
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 8:47 PM EST
Magical Music Professor
Points: 4840
MagicalMusicDreamer says:
This is riduculous as far as I am concerned. He is a little late on his comments anyway, since so many millions of books have already been sold and read.
Harry fights Evil as anyone who has read the books knows.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 9:23 PM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
Oh please..
not this ..... there is nothing evil about harry potter
it's just those people trying to gain attention
:)
peace
love
happiness
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 9:54 PM EST
Ron's Love Advisor
Points: 5895
~Sarah~ says:
Really though, sometimes it just looks as though the pope is trying to make controversy. But I't kind of funny in a way. Makes us all sound like rebel demon children/multiple spawns of satan *laughs* I'm getting tired of all the Harry potter=evil articles, it's so old. But now I jsut get a kick out of them.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 10:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 507
lady_moon says:
Ok.......... Now this is why my religion has a bad name. These crazy people who just don't like to recgognize real talent. They say it is wrong to write a good story just because it has magic in in. But I really like this Fleetwood guy. He knows that the story is ok. And for the rest of the Vatican crazies: do us all a favor, and read the book. Harry is not a satan worshiper or the devil and the people who read the book are not going to spend eternity in flame. Just try to wrap your big heads around that.
Posted Sep 7, 2006 at 10:44 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 539
Emma's true fan and lover says:
Hmmmm, quite contrversial indeed.
I seem to agree to what hermy-ninny 712 said.
You see, back in the days when witches roamed the earth, or so they say that they roamed the earth, the church tried really hard to eliminate these evil doers. There were all sorts of exorcists and miracle makers who showed the Christian community that in the fight of good vs evil, good prevails no matter what. Even saying the word witch was forbidden as it resulted in immediate burning at the stake of the accused.
Now, I guess about a century or two later, the Harry Potter books have showed the world another side of wizardry and the wonderful world of magic, and suddenly, it's cool and very popular to be called a witch( from the Harry Potter world atleast). Children dress up as wizards and witches at the book premieres and the fans of Harry Potter have more or less either directly or not, have debunked the past where witches were bad and by this, I guess, some from the Vatican feel offended. I guess they tried very hard back then to make a point, which has by now, been more or less forgotten. It's quite similar to what happens in Dan Brown's 'Demons & Angels'.
Just my hypothesis.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 12:25 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
Lerah99 says:
This is unbelievable. You would think the Catholic Church would have more important things to do. I wonder what is the job description of "Chief Exorcist"? Does he have to approve all the exorcisims performed or does he just step in when the exorcisim goes wrong.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 1:08 AM EST
Student
Points: 235
Pottergirl87 says:
People can say what they want. How does he know if he never read the book and if he has then shame on him. If you dont like them then dont read them. People will do what they want. This is America.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 3:51 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
ILuvHarryDiggoryKrum says:
I agree withthe second person...That is obserd and really silly...its just a book!!
Get over it
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 12:18 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 364
kappy says:
Sometimes a book is just a book and people need to remember that. Not everything has a double meaning. Sometimes books are meant to be read for fun and enjoyment.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 12:29 PM EST
Prince Charming
Points: 8429
Knight and Shining Armor says:
Harry Potter is the “king of darkness, the devil” in an interview with Vatican Radio last week. It's not the King of darkness.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 1:35 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2142
Red and Black says:
Well, isn't religion funny?
*pictures Harry with devil horns and being flanked by Hitler and Stalin*
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 1:37 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 38
firebolt840 says:
I think thats a bunch of bull..they probably havent even read the books.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 3:03 PM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
Same old, same old, neverending debate on is Harry Potter good or bad. My suggestion: read the book, then just see for yourselves.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 3:41 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1064
Ginny511 says:
I tottaly respect them and there belifes......but no one can just change there minds so quictly it's kinda hipacrictle!
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 5:10 PM EST
Student
Points: 292
Heartless says:
Don't worry, not many catholics listen to some of the stupid things the church comes out with. I'm catholic and so is my family, and we're all fans of HP.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 5:48 PM EST
The Ultimate Broomstick
Points: 4826
Firebolt88 says:
Wow, I was standing right outside the Vatican Radio building on my trip to Italy, which I just came back from. If I read this earlier, I would've stormed in!! Or maybe not, hehehehe...
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 6:42 PM EST
Lady of Hufflepuff
(Moderator)
Points: 10343
Lady Lee says:
What! Harry Potter is not the devil in disguise! Harry Potter teaches many a good quality. Friendship, love, loyalty. If this is what they consider to be evil, then what about other things that incite things inappropriate for me to mention here. They're crazy.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 7:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1781
Professor Lou says:
This just kills me! I like what Monsignor Fleetwood said. I am a Christian, not Catholic, but Southern Baptist, & I agree with what he said. Now the other guy...well, what he said didn't make a lick o'sense. I mean, how can you compare Harry Potter to Hitler & Stallin, that is unless you're talking about Voldemort, & he IS the BAD guy in the series!
I may get to Heaven & God may tell me that I was wrong to read these books, but I haven't felt any conviction yet. While I do believe that the actual practice of witchcraft is wrong, I guess I just see these books for more than that. I get the "fictional" good vs bad. I know that as a mortal being I have no supernatural powers & I worship only Jehovah God, but how do the heros in Harry Potter represent evil? I mean, we have even seen where Dumbledore had the suits of armor enchanted at Christmas time to sing carols, & the books mentioned specifically some carols that are Christian carols, singing about the birth of Christ!
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 7:25 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
Uh, that statement probablly did not win very many to the Catholic cause.....really an unwise thing to say.
And makes me think, while I do believe in demons, and angels for that matter, that this guy is a little odd in the head.
Not a good thing considering what his "job" is.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 8:46 PM EST
Mrs. Roonil Wazlib
Points: 2492
weasleyskeepingme says:
Are you kidding me??? Just when I start to think that people cannot get any stupider when it comes to Harry Potter, things like this come up. I am kind of shocked that the Vatican employs such uneducated people. You'd think that because they are trained to read and analyse the bible, they'd be able to understand other literature as well. Apparently not.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 9:17 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1174
Fleur Delacour* says:
I'm a christian, and i like Harry Potter because i know it is fake, so, i feel it is not a big deal, so, i love Harry Potter, i think the books and movies are amazing.
Posted Sep 8, 2006 at 10:39 PM EST
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