Christians and HP Revisited

[serenadust]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Amy" <gallo at w...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > I am SO glad someone brought this up!  We are Catholic 
> homeschoolers 
> > and belong to a local homeschool group - very informal, just a 
few 
> of 
> > us moms getting together to talk and such.  Anyway, at our last 
> > meeting the discussion turned into "Can you believe there are 
> > actually parents out there who let their kids watch/read Harry 
> > Potter?!"  I couldn't keep my mouth shut on that one!  I told 
them 
> we 
> > were huge fans of HP books/movies and, oh brother, that did it!
> > 
> > Some of the moms said things like "Oh, sorry, we didn't mean to 
> > offend you.  It's your choice what to read or not to read."  
BUT, 
> one 
> > of the moms just wouldn't hear of it.  I attempted to tell her 
of 
> > the "messages" of the books, good vs. evil, sacrifice for your 
> > friends, love, family, anti-prejudice, etc., etc., and was only 
> told 
> > in return that I can justify anything evil to make it look good, 
> > including pornography !!!!??  Sorry, but I don't think reading 
HP 
> > equates to that!  I got a lecture, if you will, about how 
reading 
> > such things is a waste of time and I should be reading my 
children 
> > about the saints, the Bible, etc.  Okay, I can't argue with 
that, 
> > because I love the saints and the Bible - and yes, I love the 
Lord -
>  
> > but HP is just so FUN!  And that part I suppose they don't 
> > understand.  Sad, isn't it?
> > 
> > Oh, and I also mentioned that the Vatican spokesman sanctioned 
the 
> HP 
> > books as OK, and was told in return that they don't acknowledge 
> that 
> > report.  Fine.  BE that way, then. Ugh.
> > 
> > They also have no problem with LOTR and Narnia, etc.  Even as I 
> write 
> > this, I can feel my blood pressure going up because it drives me 
> > crazy!  This has literally been bugging me for a month! 
> > 
> > I guess the thing that makes me the most upset is the 
connotation 
> > that by having HP in my home that I am not a true Christian and 
> will 
> > lead my children down demonic paths to destruction!  No fair.  
Only 
> > God knows the heart.  I would never allow anything in my home to 
> > jeopardize my faith or my children's, which I hold dear.  
> > 
> > Whew - glad I got that off my chest.  It's good to know I'm not 
the 
> > only one dealing with such things!  Long live Harry!


Oh Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about this sort of thing going on.  You 
don't mention where you live, but these women obviously are 
practicing outside the mainstream of Catholicism.  I'm also RC and 
have 2 children in Catholic schools, one in elementary/middle, and 
one in high school. What's more, these aren't your regular, garden-
variety Catholic schools; they're both founded and run by nuns (a 
rare occurance, these days). Both kids had teachers read HP books to 
their classes and one wonderful first grade teacher even organized a 
Harry Potter day for all the first and second graders, with 
costumes, wands, broomsticks, and prizes. I wish I had a picture of 
the habit-wearing nun with a lightning-bolt scar on her forehead.  
Priceless!   There was not one single parental complaint, and 
believe me the parents at this school are not shy about expressing 
their opinions (given the hefty tuition)!
In addition, as a library volunteer, I've seen loads of kids 
checking out the HP books and have even donated some to help shorten 
the waiting period for them.

My only suggestion for you is to discuss this with someone in the 
education department of your diocesse, or a well-educated priest.  I 
doubt seriously that these women's attitudes will be endorsed.  It 
never ceases to amaze me how the sanctimonious, holier-than-thou 
types are so eager to sit in judgement of others when they 
themselves are out of step with modern Catholic thinking.

It's not as though we need any more bad PR, eh?

Jo Serenadust, fuming