|
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.
Reader Comments (341)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-341
Muggle Executioner
Points: 5173
ThunderofHisSky says:
Personnel from the Vatican can sometimes be close-minded.... like we always say, Harry Potter is a fight against good and evil. The only thing that seems to make it devil-ish is the magic which is continued to be misunderstood until today!
Posted Sep 21, 2006 at 9:50 PM EST
Witch
Points: 883
Bossy Boots says:
Man, I tell ya, if I hear one more hopped-up Jesus freak tell me that Harry Potter is the devil, let's just say I can't be accountable for my actions. Who are they to pass judgement? Are they God? NO. They were put on this earth to help others find salvation, not point fingers to stir up controversy and make themselves look and feel better. Anyways, I liked what Monsignor Peter Fleetwood said. He hit the nail directly on the head: it's fiction. It's a form of entertainment. And, hell, it gets kids to read. I don't see too many children with their noses stuck in Bibles. No offense, I'm religious myself, but I don't make a point of going around and pointing fingers at things that I don't even know much about. Have these "holy men" even read a page of Harry Potter? I bet you almost anything they haven't.
Posted Sep 22, 2006 at 1:43 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 408
randomnessthoughts says:
What?! That's a big extreme is it not? I wonder have they actually read the books...
Posted Sep 23, 2006 at 8:17 AM EST
Witch
Points: 633
snakeeyes says:
A book is a book is a book. I mean, I respect his beliefs and opinions, but I hardly think that HP is going to incite millions of children to commit heinous crimes at the devil's bidding. It's just imagination, and you can't take these sorts of things too seriously otherwise there'd be nothing to smile about in the entire world.
Posted Sep 24, 2006 at 3:07 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 328
whynotcuse says:
That is unfair i bet you that he never even read the books! I wish that people would not judge a book by it's cover! I mean I am Catholic but I am probably just the biggest fan ever! Sorry but I think that was extreamly rude!
Posted Sep 25, 2006 at 5:00 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1169
Mademoiselle Weasley says:
The Pope's exorcist is speaking out?
Groan. There are way bigger issues in the world for the Vatican to focus on.
Posted Sep 27, 2006 at 11:52 PM EST
Guardian of the Realms
Points: 5601
A&Agang says:
What is the problem with the Vaticans? Have they even read the book? The entire book? Because if they did, then they'll see that the book teaches not only children but adults as well about the choices that we make and their consequences.
Its a great book. One of the best in the world. They NEED to lighten up.
Posted Sep 28, 2006 at 10:22 PM EST
Ravenclaw Mastermind
Points: 9743
Isilwen Ciryatan says:
Why do some at the Vatican still believe the HP books to be "evil"? Well at least some still believe the books to be good.
Posted Oct 1, 2006 at 10:20 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Wow!That's interesting to know,but I don't believe it.It's totally way off.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 10:53 PM EST
Slugmeister
Points: 3732
Prawg says:
Yes. And we all know that EVERYTHING that man in the fancy dress says is true. Right?
You know, one of my lecturers actually knows the guy? And she's completely mental, so...
Posted Oct 13, 2006 at 6:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 821
Leeloomina says:
That is strange... But he was comparing the "baddies" to Stalin and Hitler, right?
Posted Jan 9, 2007 at 1:49 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1005
HP_obsessor says:
Wow. Harry Potter? The Devil? No way...no way...
Posted Mar 28, 2007 at 9:07 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 57
bmelove says:
Wow, people can really be ignorant.
How could Harry ever be compared to Hitler & Stalin?
Just nonsense.
Posted May 31, 2007 at 11:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 22
sirius girl says:
Good thing that the Vatican is looking out for us when there are actually important things to be praying about. Give me a break, these books are amazing and if they opened their eyes they might be able to READ one.
Posted Jun 1, 2007 at 1:29 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2424
bonniewrightrulz says:
Wow!That really is rubbish from whoever said the H.P books are evil.Do one thing MR REV GABRIELE AMORTH: go to a book store and actually try buying the book and reading it before commenting on the best book series of all time!I hate it when people who have no idea about the books go on criticizing HP.And comparing Harry to Hitler and Stalin??Oh please!!
Posted Jun 18, 2008 at 1:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 621
GarryDotter89 says:
How silly. Yeah, the books instruct how to be demonic. i personally have never had a fit after reading the books. What utter rubbish.
Posted Sep 25, 2008 at 9:50 PM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-341
Back to top of page