Is Harry Potter Dangerous or Not?

Dear Editor:

Regarding Toni Collins' article, “Harry Potter: Agent of Conversion,” I am left doubting that Potter is all that dangerous. Read what Pagans themselves have to say about it. Influenced by Tolkien and Lewis, no less! The writer of the article is similar to an alcoholic, or perhaps St. Augustine. Having dabbled in something which had a horrible effect upon her life, she is taking what MAY be problematic with Potter and making the connection that our innocent children will become witches and warlocks because of such things. It simply isn't true. Pagans become pagans or witches become witches because of so many various factors that it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine how or why it happened. The truth is that we should read books with our kids, explain things to our kids, listen to their concerns and gently show them what is fantasy and what is reality. I think the article was overall a bit too alarmist,

Pax Christi,

Dale Cebula

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

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Dear Ms. Collins,

I grew up in the 70's and 80's. I can relate to dabbling with the occult as a Catholic kid and growing up in a dysfunctional family. I think many of us have and that has been the devil's job, to haunt and entice kids or adults with unstable families or background. Whether it be ouija boards, crystals and/or horoscopes, it draws people who are bored, lonely or confused about life in general. It could have been me or any of my friends I knew instead of yourself in your article. As the saying goes, “If not for the grace of God, there go I.” Instead, I turned more towards God with a vocation. That was ruined at a liberal Catholic College in Cincinnati, Ohio. People must remember that evil comes in subtle ways, not only through the occult. In the messages of “Our Lady, Queen of All Nations,” she was taught or told that in our time and century, the devil would attack us via our minds. It is so true. Computers, television, cell phones, mass production of books, movies and television shows.

Thank you for your witnessing to us all about your past. Sometimes we must witness to parents who have never been in such situations so that they may know these things that have happened to us can happen to anyone's child. We are the St. Pauls of the world. We don't always like to bring up our past, but God in His mercy and goodness has a purpose for all things. God bless you and again thank you for a much needed article.

Your Sister in Christ,

Mrs. Kim Susnik

New Carlisle, Ohio

Dear Editor,

God be praised for answering my prayers! I try to check out your website at lunchtime daily at work. Today's article entitled “Harry Potter: Agent of Conversion” was right on target! God Bless Toni Collins for her sincerity and candor when it comes to the diabolical. I and a friend in the United Hearts Ministry have had many experiences with people under the influence of the demonic. Ms. Collins' description is very much in line with what we've experienced and been taught on the subject of the occult. I have been waiting for a Catholic Exchange article to express the hidden dangers of this Harry Potter series of books.

I am so thankful she shared her personal experiences and ultimate need to be freed from the evil of those actions through the power of the Confessional. Praise God! I am also thankful that she compared and contrasted Tolkien and C.S. Lewis with Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling. There is really no comparison; Tolkien and Lewis show that evil is bad and virtue is good, whereas Rowling shows the opposite — that good is bad and bad is good. I forwarded her article on to many Catholic and Christian friends. Thanks so much for your great service to the community!

God Bless!

Miss Monica Baird

United Hearts Ministry (Catholic lay evangelist ministry to the sexually abused and those in Recovery of any kind)

Helping Priests for Life

Dear Tom,

Thank you for promoting the Child Protection Project to Catholic Exchange viewers. The e-mail worked well and we are seeing a big increase in numbers as a result.

The total for Catholic Exchange's newest effort has brought the total number of activist responses up to 260. The last total quoted was 140, so there were 120 new emails from people interested in the project as a result of your blast e-mail. This is truly wonderful news. Let's continue to turn up the heat on Planned Parenthood!

In Christ,

Chris Morales

Child Protection Project

Priests for Life

Thanks for the update, Chris. That was actually the second Focus emailer we sent out featuring the “Defund Planned Parenthood” initative, so I suspect even more contacts to your office can be attributed to our promotion (i.e., phone calls and emails directly from the mailer, which are not traceable to CE). I've been noticing some additional efforts by other organizations targeting PP, including:

Tom Allen

Editor & President

Catholic Exchange

Progressive Nuns and the Luminous Mysteries

Dear Catholic Exchange:

I got into an argument with a nun last weekend over a biblical matter. I'm going to see her again and wanted to run the matter by you before I seeing her.

The argument started when she voiced her displeasure over the Pope's new Rosary mysteries, the Mysteries of Light. She said the mysteries of the Rosary should reflect on the life of Jesus, and that these do not. The example she gave was the Wedding Feast at Cana. I commented that it was at this wedding feast that Jesus performed his first miracle, and that it marked the start of his ministry. Of course it reflects on Him! The nun, however, insisted that the entire event never happened. Apparently she is taking a Bible study class (the Jerome Bible study, she said) and her teacher claims that proper biblical exegesis proves the Wedding Feast at Cana never happened. I told her she should get a new teacher, and the discussion went downhill from there.

My question is, have you ever heard of this before? Are these the rantings of another misguided, liberal nun or is there some substance to her claims?

Sincerely,

Tim Kidd

Dear Mr. Kidd,

Mark Shea

Senior Content Editor

Catholic Exchange