Letters

Harry Potter (letter)

Christine Slagter

Contents - Apr 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain!' - Peter Westmore Melbourne 'Sexuality Directives' put parents first - Anthony Cappello News: The Church Around the World Documents: John Paul II on the Catholic Faith in our region - Pope John Paul II Events: Carnivale Christi 2002 - Young Catholics restoring Sydney's Christian culture - Helen Ransom Adelaide Thomas More Centre address: The key elements of Catholic Action today - Archbishop Philip Wilson Melbourne TMC: The rights and responsibilities of laity in the Catholic Church - Archbishop Denis Hart The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars - Hal G.P. Colebatch A fresh way for children to learn the faith - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Anne Delsorte Australian version of Maltese Marian shrine of Ta' Pinu 'Victims of Abortion' founder appeals to Catholic priests - Anne Lastman Letters: Gem of a priest (letter) - Patrick Nathan Letters: Vocations (letter) - Erin Carli Letters: Ambassador (letter) - Tom King Letters: Reforming the reform (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Evangelisation (letter) - Mavis Power Letters: Telling the truth (letter) - Teresa Martin Letters: Vocations Pilgrimage (letter) - Martine Watkinson Letters: Harry Potter (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Bare churches (letter) - Ned Haliburton Letters: Croatian appeal (letter) - Fr Zeljko Rakosec SJ Letters: Mutilated hymns (letter) - Eric G. Miller Letters: Generous response (letter) - Grace O'Hara Letters: EWTN (letter) - J. Clarke Letters: Purgatory (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Books: 'The Church In The Dark Ages' by Henri Daniel-Rops - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: The Clash Of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion and Morality in Crisis - David R. Oakley (reviewer) Books: Bound To Forgive: The Pilgrimage to Reconciliation of a Beirut Hostage - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Engaged to be Married - A Giftbook for Engaged Couples - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: For Youth and the Poor - De La Salle Brothers in Australia, PNG and NZ 1906-2000 - Michael Bohan (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Father forgive them ...: Our Lord's example for Christian living - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

I refer to the review of Hogwarts or Hogwash? (February AD2000) "The Harry Potter phenomenon: how should parents respond?" I was disappointed that the Catholic Church's teaching was not reinforced.

The review states: "The gist of the book's emphasis is that while the issue of the occult and witchcraft is something to be concerned about, the real threat of the Harry Potter books lies in the world view they convey."

However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns us that "all practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion" (2117).

No matter how well written or entertaining the books are, they can lead children into the occult. The Harry Potter books have reportedly inspired countless children to seek other books about witchcraft and the occult. Michael O'Brien, the author of A Landscape With Dragons, writes: "There is a war going on for the minds and hearts of our children. So far we are losing this war."

The Adelaide Advertiser (15 February) has reported that, as a direct result of the popularity of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, Adelaide University was offering a certificate in Sorcery, Witchcraft, Shamanism and Healing in which students will study seances, witchcraft, exorcisms, ritual magic and African witchdoctors. The program administrator said: "Stories like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings provide different kinds of realities, different ways of thinking about the world and different ways of thinking about what kind of powers we could possibly have."

As Catholics, we not only have the Bible to turn to for the word of God but the Church's teachings to guide us. People have said to me: "If Harry Potter is so bad, why doesn't the Pope say something?" My answer is that he has said something by giving us the Catechism to guide us in these confusing times.

CHRISTINE SLAGTER
Wynn Vale, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 3 (April 2002), p. 14