Pope B16 and Harry Potter

Lots has been made of B16's condemnation of Harry Potter. But let's actually look at the letter in question:

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Vatican City
March 7, 2003


Esteemed and dear Ms. Kuby!

Many thanks for your kind letter of February 20th and the informative book which you sent me in the same mail. 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.

I would like to suggest that you write to Mr. Peter Fleedwood, (Pontifical Council of Culture, Piazza S. Calisto 16, I00153 Rome) directly and to send him your book.

Sincere Greetings and Blessings,

+ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

The idea is that a book glorifying witchcraft may give kids the wrong idea. Nowhere here is then Cardinal Ratzinger saying that people will loose their soul if they read some children's literature.

But there is an aspect to the Harry Potter series that does glorify witchcraft. If taken merely as fantasy - there is no danger. However if children are not given appropriate guidance I can definitely see there being a problem - a huge problem.

The original witches of Europe were more than willing to do some really bad stuff that we all don't remember... How do you think they got their reputation? Today it's glorified and the bad stuff forgotten - but the end of the path is still the same...

So what's the big deal? Ratzinger, wouldn't yah know it, is actually expressing concern that these books may do some bad in the world. What's the problem? He can't force you stop reading, and he sure can't force your kids to do anything. All he can do is try to enlighten. Which is exactly what he was commending that author on doing in the first place.