Papal Attack - Indirect Personal Opinion now Two Years Old

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 128057


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> wrote:

> 
> I agree that it seems unlikely that the Pope would bother with Harry
> Potter as one of his first acts/pronouncements.  Let's face it, in a
> world beset by hunger, prejudice, war, disease, and hatred, Harry
> Potter just ain't all that important.
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> 
> Lupinlore

bboyminn:

I think I know where this comes from, but it's old new.

When the new Pope was still a Cardinal, two years ago, he make a
comment that viewed the book "Harry Potter - Good Or Bad" in a
positive light in  the author belief that there were hidden 'evil'
messages and agendas in the Potter books. 

http://www.thepatronus.com/  (...which refers to...)
http://www.wizardnews.com/story.200504242.html

About that same time, and in all likelihood because the press/media
took the Cardinal's statement as the official position of the church,
a spokesmen of the then Pope released a offical Pope endorsed
statement that the Potter books were OK. (Feburary 2003)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_2722000/2722445.stm

"But the Pope's spokesman said at a press conference: "I don't see any
problem in the Harry Potter series.""

"He added that the Vatican thought JK Rowling lived her life like a
Christian, and that her way of writing reflected that."

http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/001538.html

or seach Google for more related links.

Also, there were recent headlines to the effect 'Pope Ousts Harry
Potter" which in reality means that the Pope's book has move to the
top of some of the Best Seller list, thereby moving Harry Potter off
of the list. I could see some people reading a LOT into the headline,
but failing to read the article at all.

So, this news about the current Pope is really two year old new which
really was his personal opinion about a very biased book about the
Harry Potter books, and not an official opinion on the Harry Potter
books themselves. 

Again, I suspect the Cardinal's personal comment raised enough
controvery that the Church felt a need to issue an official satement
on the matter.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn