The Catholic Register - Readers Speak Out

Pitfalls of Potter

Recently, I had been encouraging families to subscribe to The Catholic Register in order to have a good example of the Catholic press in their homes. Your colourful covers, your helpful articles, your thoughtful editorials, your Catholic news and your many photographs made it a good source of Catholicity for young and old.

Now, they and I are feeling embarrassed, puzzled and betrayed that you would include an article that promotes the New Age content and occultic leanings of Harry Potter (“Harry Potter’s Christian perspective,” July 22-29). Our Catholic young people need, rather, support in withstanding the massive and manipulative marketing of such offensive material.

Please be more discerning of the spirits behind the fads and trends of our time.

Fr. Terrence McKenna
Senior Catholic Airport
Chaplain
Toronto, Ont.

Watch for demons

I am writing to express my concern regarding your July 22-29 article (Harry Potter’s Christian perspective”) on Fr. Michael Bernier promoting the Harry Potter movies. By reporting only Bernier’s promotion of the movies without mentioning the potential danger of the Harry Potter movies, my impression is that the author of the article is promoting the movies. I sincerely hope that it does not reflect the stance of Catholic Register editors.

I personally have watched all the Harry Potter movies that have been released. I do not doubt the fact that the Harry Potter movies have some resemblances of Christian struggles between good and evil, and it is true that the series really captures the heart of many young people. However, I would appreciate if The Catholic Register could at the same time remind readers of the potential danger of the movies.

For example, interviewing priests who have first hand experience in deliverance ministry will give readers an understanding of how much a soul suffers emotionally, physically or spiritually when influenced by demons. One way we may subject ourselves to the influence of demons is to open the door ourselves (e.g. playing with sorcery or occult practices, etc.). However, the good news is that they can be delivered in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alternatively a summary report on books from Fr. Gabriele Amorth, who has been the chief exorcist in Rome for many years, will also help. Fr. Amorth once commented about the Harry Potter series that, in the real world, there is no differentiation between black and white magic.

Petrus Chan
Richmond Hill, Ont.

Bible reinterpreted

It is a shame that Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J., has fallen for the modern day reinterpretation of the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18:20-21-32), effectively dismissing thousands of years of scholarly explanation and belief (“Even one person can work wonders,” July 22-29). The view that God’s destruction of Sodom had nothing to do with homosexuality, rather it was “an injustice and the abuse of hospitality…” is propaganda promoted by some people with homosexual tendencies.

For example, in a pamphlet entitled The Bible and Homosexuality available from the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches, several biblical verses are reinterpreted to reflect validation of their lifestyle and change the condemnation of homosexual activity to that of a condemnation of inhospitality or rape.

In answer to the inhospitality accusation, the strangers were actually shown hospitality by Lot. The townsmen wanted to have intercourse with them. In effect they wanted to use the strangers as objects for their sexual satisfaction.

God loves His people no matter their sins, but He does not love or condone the sin, no matter how much we wish to try to make it so.

Susan Kennedy
Ajax, Ont.

Politically incorrect

At the end of his book review (“Benedict’s personal search for the face of Christ,” Aug. 5-12), Noel Cooper asks, “Why does Pope Benedict frequently characterize scholarly opinions he disagrees with as liberal?”

Moreover, he wonders why every Vatican document uses gender-exclusive language (for example, “God speaks intimately, as one man to another”).

Perhaps the Pope and the Vatican do not buy into the notion that “man and/or mankind” is meant exclusively for men. As to being characterized “liberal,” is this not the political correct terminology any more for those who are not “traditional”?

Ricardo Di Cecca
Burlington, Ont.