Did anybody else's newpapers print a story on the new Pope's views on the Harry Potter books?

I think this is one of those hoax stories that make the rounds of the internet every once in a while... I seem to recall it from a few years ago w/ JPII...

R

It is true... http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/0...tter.pope.reut/ I saw this the other day...Heaven forbid kids are reading and becoming educated citizens. We wouldn't want the world to be able to read and learn and critically think. And the messages in Harry Potter, such as that on diversity. We certainly don't want children to learn to accept others who are different as equals. Do we?

Maybe he's suggesting that if children want to read wildly improbable stories about magic, there's several Bible chapters he can recommend...

LXN

Harry Potter is evil, gay marriage is evil - what's his position on priests who rape children?

"But Grandpa, you said that about all the toys . . ."

Missionary I would think!

[ July 14, 2005, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: swiminbuff ]

I've never read Harry Potter...wouldn't know him from Col. Sherman Potter. But it's fiction. It never ceases to amaze me when these religious leaders 'warn' about how dangerous these fictional characters can be. When I was a kid, I loved the Looney Tunes...Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, et al. But I knew that every time the Coyote went over the cliff, or was blown up, it wasn't real. Neither me nor my brother had much difficulty with the concept of fiction. Even non-cartoons like Lassie...I was able to understand the story, but again, was able to tell it's fiction. I just don't see the big deal. What a great start for our new pope.

[ July 14, 2005, 10:45 PM: Message edited by: so fla ref ]

It ALSO states:

"A Vatican official was not immediately able to comment on the remarks attributed to the pope, who is currently on holiday in the Alps. Reuters was unable to reach Kuby by telephone.

The sixth book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," is due to be published on July 16, with millions of copies already shipped to stores around the world.

After Benedict was named pope in April, his own writings shot to the top of the German book charts and dislodged the most recent book in the Potter series from number one.

The Vatican had previously appeared to approve of the books, saying they helped children to understand the difference between good and evil."

If you look at the websites carrying this stuff, they are all feeding off one another...

Further KUBE is to the Church what Benny Hinn is to American Evangelicals.

I think my original guess might still be correct, and wil await clarification by someone who is actually INFORMED, before rushing to judgement.


R

They need to stop worrying about Harry Potter and try to figure out how to keep their Priestly hands off little boys genitals...IMHO. eek!

Thank you!! I couldn't agree more.

You are correct. The Vatican did not disapprove of the Harry Potter series. In fact, the Vatican praised the series for several reasons, some of which you stated above. Funny how everyone jumped on the anti-pope bandwagon here without knowing the facts.

[ July 15, 2005, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Isn't this just considered a job perk?!

In Defense of the Clergy of the RCC

The RCC has been constantly disparaged and Libeled for the actions of its priests; both here on this BB and in the general public. No one is more disgusted and horrified than I am , both by the actions of some priests who have abused their power, and by the actions of a church that was arrogant enough in its own power and self righteousness to believe it was above the law as it covered up the scandals of decades. I am still outraged by the response of the international Church in the Vatican, who see this as a minor PR problem mainly promulgated by the American press. The arrogance may only be understandable in light of the view of the worlds oldest institution as the 'Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God' (The term ‘Pope’ is in fact an informal title that applies to the leaders of several religions.) What the public and the press confuse are two separate subjects, the abuse of children by clergy, and the clergy’s immoral and illegal institutional cover up of the scandals .

While it is true that there have been numerous incidents of abuse within the church, the RCC is hardly alone in that regard. Several totally independent studies by the University of Chicago, the American Council of Churches, Georgetown University, Stanford, McGill University, and by the Canadian Government (7 separate studies, 4 national, 3 Provincial), and the Attorney generals Offices of the States of NY, California, and Masachusetts, have shown that the per capita rate of abuse and suspected abuse was actually LOWER in the RCC than in almost all other denominations. The numbers of abused children were larger in the RCC simply because of the size of the organization and its numbers of followers. Further, that Celibacy played no distinctive diferential when compared to married Clergy. Several other churches and Religions actually had significantly higher rates of abuse; including - but not limited to – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Independent Churches – in particular Southern Evangelicals in the US, Buddhism, Islam, Christen Scientists, and others. Almost all other traditional Protestant denominations had similar or equivalent per capita levels of child sexual abuse. Strangely there were certain Churches and Religions which had significantly lower reports of abuse or suspected abuse; those were the Bruderhof Communities, Church of God (Seventh Day), Free Church of Scotland, and the Methodist Churches.

Further the Canadian National Studies, the study done by the NYS Attorney General, the University of Chicago study, and the Stanford study concluded that a majority of clergy, in most of the major religions, who had been stripped of their positions had simply moved elsewhere. In more than 70% of cases, they either had found new positions within other denominations, or had started their own independent churches.

The vast majority of Clergy of the RCC work long hard hours at a nearly impossible job. Frequently they do the work that no one else wants to do. I have several friends among the clergy. One runs a shelter for the homeless; he is 84 and gets his funding from his Naval Retirement 25 year Pension and his 35+ year Pension from his Diocese. His shelter serves more than 5000 people annually. Another Priest I know has a hospital ministry, he spends 12 hours a day, six days a week with the sick and dying; on the seventh day the Bishop insists he help at the local parish as the price for ‘allowing’ him to stay in the hospital ministry. Another Priest of my acquaintance runs a outreach and rehabilitation center for substance abusers from the street. I know dozens more that labor in silence, and who feel disgrace over the actions of their fellow priests, and the criminal actions of their church.

I happen to also know three separate priests who have been accused of sexual abuse over the years. One was caught red handed by the police and arrested, went to trial, was convicted and went to jail. One was accused, the accusation was reported to the police by the Bishops office, but there was insufficient evidence for trial, the diocesan court still found enough evidence for action and the Priest was allowed to permanently retire to a cloistered monastery in another diocese under the condition that he never again practice holy orders or leave the monastery.

The third case involved me directly. In the mid 1970’s a very close female friend of mine, Susan, accused our local Parish Priest of sexually abusing her. She was very specific about the times, place, and the incidents. The Priest had allegedly called her into the back of the church on three seperate occasions, into the sacristy on a pretext, and then felt her up to the point of putting his fingers into her vagina. Susan reported the incident to her parents. The abuse was reported to the Bishop, who reported it to the Police who did a complete investigation while the Priest was immediately removed from his post.

You have to understand that this was a very young, outgoing, athletic priest who was an incredible resource for our community. He organized athletics programs for boys and girls. He started community groups, and self help support groups. He started a community center, a street outreach center, and a soup kitchen and food bank. He was incredibly dedicated. He was probably one of the finest people I have ever known. He helped thousands of people better their lives.

You see, my friend Susan lied about the entire incident. She was with me the entire time. How can I be so sure? Teenage boys tend to remember specifics about sexual encounters. Susan was afraid she would be found out.

I had to tell my parents. I received probably the worst belting of my life from my father. My back bled for hours, and I had trouble sitting for days. I eventually had to testify for the Priest. Unfortunately the damage had been done. The Priest had been removed from his position, and the entire area was in an uproar. The Priest was transferred to a distant Parish at the far end of the diocese where he tried to rebuild his life. Over the next 35 years he managed to become a hometown institution to his new Parish which grew much larger and eventually was one of the only parishes in the country to OPEN catholic schools during the late 80’s and 90’s.. There was never another single accusation against him. My friends only wish was to continue to be a local parish priest. When the Bishop tried to transfer him to other parishes in need of his help, his parishioners and the parish council raised enough hell so that he was never transferred.

A couple of years ago the American council of Bishops adopted a 0 tolerance policy. No Priest who had ever been accused of abuse would be able to remain a priest. All of them would be immediately separated from holy orders.

Father’s name was published in a statement by the Bishop in every local newspaper along with 7 other priests. The Bishops statement told why they were being dismissed.
All of the priests were stripped of their holy orders, and dismissed in compliance with the 0 tolerance agreement.. They received no separation benefits or insurance. A couple of the priests were nearing retirement, they received no retirement benefits. Without exception all 8 priests had incurred just one single accusation in their entire careers – from which they had been cleared by local police departments as was the policy of that diocese.

The next time you start to cast blanket aspersion, calumny, and defamation on all priests; I would beg you to remember the vast majority of those who work hard at thankless jobs; only to be reviled because of a few disgusting perverts and criminals. While you are at it - please say a prayer for one of my best friends for over 35 years.

If you want to attack the Church as an institution, that is fine, God only knows it could stand to be shaken out of its institutional complacency. Just remember that the institution is largely made up of dedicated servants who are trying to do good.

Sincerely

Rob