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July 13, 2005

A Reconsideration

Maybe I will buy the wee Fiona some Harry Potter books after all:

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.

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.

You know, if the downfall of the Catholic faith is going to be children's fantasy literature, that says more about the weakness of the Church than about the overwhelming evil that is 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."

Indeed. The ability to say "Harry Potter, bad!" is a clear sign of a beautiful gift from God. Sure, it's more like a Clapper consolation prize than, say, a brand new car, but who do you think He is, God?

Oh, wait.

Update: Bill, from INDCJournal, looking to continue his ratings slide among the right-wing, adds the following:

The Pope's condemnation is especially surprising in light of the popularity of the series with Catholic priests, many of whom are known to own a great deal of Harry Potter novels, coloring books, toys, themed candy and children's sleeping bags.

Ouch.