|
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
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1492
*PotterPrincess* says:
Well, I must say that I certainly don't agree with that. But I see how they can think that it is bad seeing as it says that sorcery is bad in the bible, but we all know it's just fictional and nothing to do with reality. JKR has said that its all from her imagination. Nothing of the story relates to real people or real situations, not even the characters are real. I don't see how it can be harmful to just have a little fun. People watch movies all the time and people don't just start to believe everything they see in movie, why should a book be any different? I gone on and made a really long post, and that probably no one is going to read, which is the bestest part. :D. Anyway, Harry Potter is fine. there's nothing bad about it. :D
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:30 PM EST
Points: 360
ladybug says:
Our minister of the church loves the Harry Potter series...there's just some people who are so obsessed with "god" that if there's anything dealing with evil they'll totaly bum it out! But nobody cares what he thinks...or atlest not on this topic, so long live the potter series.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:31 PM EST
Eternal Princess
Points: 3783
Hogwarts_hottie says:
Well, it is also up to the parents to become more involved in thier childrens lives. As the world become more and more complicated so does raising children.
I do think that Harry Potter is great for children! It is a wonderful adventure that entrances you and is great for your imagination. I taught my brother to read using Harry Potter! I am sure that the people who speak out against Harry Potter are in favor of Lord of the Rings, that is what happened to me. Harry is evil becasue he uses magic... so do other fantasy stories.
It is a great series that teaches the value of family, friendship, and loyalty. It also does address the ideas of good and evil and how people can get caught in the middle.
HARRY POTTER IS NOT EVIL
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:32 PM EST
Student
Points: 229
silva_gabby says:
Here we go again!!!!!!
Harry Potter is evil... blah...blah....blah....
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:38 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2572
Roswelladdict says:
Ok, as a Catholic and as a teacher I say "what"?
It is comments like this that make it very difficult for me to affirm things that the vatican says. While I do not agree with the Vatican's "chief exorcist" I do happen to agree with the Monsignor Fleetwood, who sees these as a perfect way to help children see that in the battle of good vs. evil, good wins.
As a teacher, I see these books as a way that JK Rowling has personally made "reading" a fashionable thing to do in a world filled with technology (not that technology is a bad thing it is just that technology does not encourage critical thinking skills the way reading does.)
Besides last time I checked the Catholic church rarely allows exorcisms any more. It is only after Satan himself has reared his ugly head and said he is there that the church will investigate. So I have to question this guys motivation for his statement.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:41 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1720
hpforever138 says:
ew, I don't even know what to say about this. I hate how Harry Potter is being judged when it has got millions of people reading. I think I can speak for everyone on this site that if it wasn't for HP our lives would completely different. Harry Potter has done so much for me and no one is going to tell me that the books are the 'devil' or that they are satanic and sending out evil messages. It mostly definitely isn't and JKR is a saint!
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:49 PM EST
Witch
Points: 639
Harry(the 4th champion) says:
I'm in moral shock!!!!!! Who in the F***ing world would call Harry Potter the devil!!!!!! I don't mean to be rude but that guy is completly CRAZY!!!!!!
I am seriously mad right now!
But hey, he is exorcist. What was he suppose to say.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 10:58 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 480
Geowitch says:
Well people will read into a story what they want. Look at the bible or the Koran themselves as examples. They are open to interpretations and interpretations can take on the character of the reader.....
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:04 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1255
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Ugh, I am SO sick of all this "Harry Potter is the devil" stuff. There are many other books, movies, and even music that are a lot "darker" to call it than Harry, with devil worshipping and stuff that's so much worse and a lot more graphic and violent. Jo's even said that no one's ever gone up to her and said that they're joined a cult specifically because of her books. And look how much good she's done, turning so many children onto reading. It's ridiculous, these criticisms. I'd say leave it be. Most people have absolutely no problem with Harry. I don't have a problem with their opinions, but the way they approach it is bad.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:08 PM EST
Witch
Points: 893
Divadancer4life says:
I nguess everybody is welcome to there own opinion but i disagree HP has encouraged thousands of children and adults to read!
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:08 PM EST
Student
Points: 247
Sir Col Col says:
I love how these people make statments but never back it up with evidence. So Harry Potter is the king of Darkness? Any proof? The kinf of awesomeness, more like.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
Not again! Geesh, when will this ridiculous banter stop?
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:17 PM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2807
Lily*R/Hr 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.
No one who has actually read the HP books could possibly make this accusation...doesn't really dignify an argument ; )
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:25 PM EST
Long Way from Happy
Points: 2952
OEHFICE says:
Oh not this again....Can people just learn to leave Harry Potter alone. NO matter what you say...Harry Potter still rules...yeah, because Hannah, loved Harry Potter!
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:38 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1945
Carrie Weasley says:
This annoys me on some level, but it really makes no difference to me, anyway. I'll believe what I want to believe, thank you very much. And it's not as if anyone's going to copy the actions shown in HP, it would be completely impossible, so what's the harm? Some people take these things a bit too seriously, it's fiction!
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 896
QueenOfAmouraq says:
I agree with the second guy. It's just a story, it's fictional! Nobody in their right mind thinks Harry Potter or magic is real! These people are so stupid! What about fairy tales? There's magic there and nobody's calling them satanic. The people who upbraid Harry Potter like that have absolutely no imagination!
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 861
Fabiana says:
As usual, anyone's comments on a book they clearly have not read and/or understood are really useless. As a catholic (mind you, 90% of catholics would think this is ridiculous), it embarrasses me that someone can present such a poorly developed argument based on something he clearly has not read. As Emerson said on a sister site, he's an exorcist - what did you expect?? Evenso, he's an adult in a high position (albeit a questionable position) and it's quite embarrassing that he is allowed to ramble on so ignorantly.
I was really happy to see Monsignor Fleetwood's great understanding of the books. Thanks for including this quote as well! It's encouraging that SOME people do get it.
fae
Posted Sep 5, 2006 at 11:49 PM EST
Student
Points: 289
Eirene Bellatrix says:
Oh, for crying out loud, people! Not that again! I mean, how ignorant can u be! This is so ridiculous, I won't even begin to comment on this.
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:02 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1152
fire_cookie says:
I just don't understand some people. Oh well, I guess he's entitled to his opinion...even though it doesn't make any sence...
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:11 AM EST
Witch
Points: 983
Weasleyismyking!/R/Hrfrv says:
Yeah, I really don't care about what they say.Harry is a work of fiction, nothing is real. So keep talking all I hear is blah blah.
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:27 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2011
brenpotterfans says:
Again, I don't suppose they have ever or will ever actually read a Harry Potter book. So how can they possibly pass judgement on anything about it.
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:29 AM EST
Squib
Points: 112
coldfire says:
he's gone mental. im a christian. i wonder what would the beloved late pope john paul II would say to this Rev. Amorth
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:38 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 476
MRS_BRENDON_URIE says:
That is absolutly ridiculous i bet he hasnt even read the first page of the books maybe he should read them before condemming them.
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:40 AM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3090
BlackKatL says:
I Agree with my Minister and Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, an expert on New Age and former official at the Pontifical Council for Culture. There is nothing remotely evil in The Harry Potter Series! Like it's been said before there are a LOT of books 100% more darker and evil oriented than HP!!! And no one lifts a finger against them!!!! I sometimes think the problem isn't HP but the envy that many have that a once "normal" person like JKR is now a well known multimillionair!!!!
I think this chief exorcist, Rev. Gabriele Amorth should read the book first, caused I've had problem with other ministers that haven't and they all have a bad opinon on HP. My Mom and My Minister have read them and both agree there is nothing but a beautiful story filled with wonderful fantasy!!!! I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!!
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
Entirely Insane says:
“king of darkness, the devil”
Yes, Harry Potter is evil and where all going to hell for reading and watching (and enjoying) the books and movies! (Well scratch out enjoying on the movies).... YEAH RIGHT!
Everone is entitled to an opionon... but this is just to far...
Rev. Gabriele Amorth had better get a life which dosent involve complaining, teaching, complaning, getting drunk, dancing with the pope and one more thing... umm... oh yeh! COMPLANING!
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:47 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2363
Nataly says:
I surely disagree people just jelous Harry Potter's publicity....
Posted Sep 6, 2006 at 12:48 AM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-341
Back to top of page