Is Harry Potter against the Catholic Church?

Introduction: Is Harry Potter against the Catholic Church? The answer is no. ABSOLUTELY NOT!! And I will tell you why in this post...
 So we all had to write a research paper for Comp. class so I decided to write mine on why Harry Potter is NOT against the Catholic faith and/or church. Now it is not my final draft yet so if you have any comments please feel free to give them (: So here it is, sorry for the length I will try to revise it later. Also if you would like to do additional reading on this topic there are more resources in my works cited.

In Defense of Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a tale of a young boy who undergoes great tribulations and happens to be a member of the magical species, known as wizards. Harry Potter is not an anti-Catholic piece of literature. One of the biggest arguments against Harry Potter is that it is largely centered around magic, but people need to know that the magic is purely fictional and is used by J.K. Rowling (the author) to create a more interesting and paranormal world to entrance readers. The characters in Harry Potter are not only positive role models that children can look up to, but they are also funny and loveable, so readers not only admire them but they also truly love them. Harry Potter shows children right from wrong and good from evil in a fun and intriguing way. The Harry Potter books truly reflect the Catholic Church and contain morals and teachings that correspond with the Catholic worldview.

One of the biggest criticism of the Harry Potter series is the use of magic, the teaching of magic, and the spells. In answer to this, a Catholic author, Nancy Brown, says: “The Bible and the Catechism reject real sorcery and forbid us from trying to call on demons, but again, that's not what Harry Potter is -- Harry Potter is a fictional story” This is the basis for all arguments in favor of Harry Potter. Brown also says, “It's just like how attending a child's magic show does not put one in danger of being involved in ‘real’ sorcery” (Brown). This is also true. I do not think very many parents refuse to allow their children to attend a magic show, because it might encourage them to call upon demons. 

A related argument against Harry Potter is that it promotes occult magic, which is obviously untrue to anyone who has read the books. The students at Hogwarts also take a class called Defense Against the Dark Arts, which teaches children to use magic to defend themselves and others. Brown said, “Of course, many people worry about the practicing of the dark arts. Hang on, why would witches and wizards need to practice defense against the dark arts? If everything they do, as critics claim, were a dark art, there'd be no need” (Brown). This helps to prove that the books do not acclaim ‘dark magic’. Furthermore, in chapter seventeen, the first book, one of the villains says, “There is no good and evil –only power and those too weak to use it” (Rowling, 291), which is in fact the exact Satanist ‘credo’. Harry immediately tells the villain he is wrong. Harry’s view is also shared by the other good characters. So, readers must ask themselves why would J.K. Rowling have the hero of the books say that the Satanist credo is wrong, if she was a Satanist or if she wanted to promote Satanist values? Another reason the magic in Harry Potter is not evil is that it is not used by humans, because wizards are in fact a different race. Regina Doman, an expert on this topic, says “If it’s not wrong for Tolkien’s Elves to use their own magic, neither is it ‘wrong’ for a member of the wizarding ‘species’ like Harry” (Doman). People also argue that the books contain real Satanist spells. This is incorrect. The spells are Latin/Latin-sounding words; because J.K. Rowling studies Latin and uses it to improve her writing. Some people are also against the wands, the argument against this is that the only thing that makes the wands work is the ‘wand cores’, which are magical substances that do not exist in the real world. For example, one type of wand core is a unicorn hair. Brown says that the magic in Harry Potter can be contrasted to “a talent some have, and others don't. This talent is inborn, or it isn't; you can't become magical just by wanting to.” The magic in Harry Potter is used and only can be used by a person of a magical species; it is also not occult magic but fantasy magic.

A positive attribute of the Harry Potter books has positive role models for children. One of these role models is the best friend of the main character, Ron Weasley. While Ron has his faults with smaller offenses, he really does have Christian morals. In the first book, chapter sixteen, Ron sacrifices himself for his friends, so they can go on and defeat the book’s villain (Rowling, 283). Once again in the last Harry Potter book, chapter twenty-three, Ron again sacrifices himself for Hermione. Hermione is being tortured for information and Ron begs the torturer to let him take her place (Rowling, 463). Another less important character, Kingsley Shackelbolt, says in the seventh book, chapter twenty-two, “Every life is worth the same and worth saving.” (Rowling, 440). Not only is this a pro-life message it also relates to the racial prejudices that some wizards have against humans. One of the most important sacrifices in the story is when Harry ‘s parents die for him (Bell, 21). Even though Harry’s mother could have been spared if she had let Voldemort kill her son, she stood her ground and forced him to kill her first before he tried to kill Harry. Following their example, Harry to is willing to die for the ones he loves. In the last book, Harry realizes the only way Voldemort could ever be defeated was if Harry himself sacrificed himself for his friends. Before Harry goes to die for his friends, he goes through turmoil and fear, similar to Christ’s agony in the garden, on a much less severe level. Harry’s sacrifice shows him as a ‘Christ-like’ character. Despite his faults, Harry does attempt to respect authority and be polite to adults, although he does fail at this sometimes, but this just shows that he is a person and teenager who is struggling to do the right thing.  Harry does attempt to tell the truth in most situations. In the fifth book, Harry’s peers and even the wizard government, refuse to believe Harry’s story of the evil Lord Voldemort returning to power. Even though Harry is threatened and punished by a corrupt teacher he still insists on telling the truth. Harry’s peers and even friends will not believe him, but throughout, the series he will not bend the truth to reduce his ridicule and harassment from his friends, classmates, the government, or even the teacher who punishes him for telling his ‘lies’. Some of Harry’s faults could be attributed to the fact that he lacked a father or even a father figure for most of the books. Therefore, Harry is usually left unguided and seeks console and advice from other male adults, who attempt to fill in for his late father. Doman says “It’s actually shocking to realize how much the books underline Harry’s innate need for a strong father figure as a moral compass in his life. That alone makes them a valuable resource.” (Doman).

Now that we have focused on individual positive role models we can discuss the good and bad characters in general. One talent J.K. Rowling has that is very relevant to her writing is the way she makes the bad characters irritating and revolting, while the good characters are funny and loveable. Also, the good characters fight against the temptation of dark and evil magic. The resistance of dark magic resembles how Catholics must resist sin and falling into temptation. Brown put it his way: “Defense Against the Dark Arts class (DADA) teaches to resist this temptation – “The dark-arts lessons represent fighting to resist sin and temptation in our lives” (Brown).

Although many people say that because Pope Benedict XVI has spoken publicly against the books, saying that they are ‘evil’, all good Catholics should not read them, because he was the head of the

Saint Pope John Paul II

church. This statement is not valid because Pope Benedict did not actually say this, but Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict’s name, before he was pope) was against the books. Some people may say that it does not matter either way because he was still a church official, but I would like to disagree because there are other clergymen who think Harry Potter is enjoyable and morally correct. Also, as far as I know, Pope Benedict/Cardinal Ratzinger has never read the books. In addition to this, an author, Claire White, writes that a representative of Pope John Paul II and the Vatican said this on behalf of the pope, about Harry Potter “They help children to tell the difference between good and evil.” and incidentally this was said by Saint and Pope John Paul II (White). People must consider that we should follow the example of saints because they have achieved our ultimate goal: to reach heaven.

The Harry Potter books have Catholic morals and themes that are shown in a fun and intriguing way, presented by J.K. Rowling One way the Harry Potter books show Catholic themes is in the last Harry Potter book, Harry offers himself up for his friends, because he knows that the only way the villain, Lord Voldemort, can be defeated is if Harry himself dies for his friends. This shows how Harry resembles Christ. In Harry Potter, there are also two direct quotes from the Bible. The first is on one of the main character’s relatives’ grave and it is the bible verse “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also Matthew 6:21”, which can be found in the book Deathly Hallows, chapter sixteen, “Godric’s Hallows”. In the same chapter, readers are told that Harry’s parents’ graves also have a bible verse inscribed on them. This verse is: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death Corinthians 1 15:26” (Rowling, 328). Not only is this verse on the main character’s parents’ gravestone it is also a major theme in the last book, especially as Harry himself eventually faces death and must die for his friends. Other Catholic symbols are that in most of the books Harry is saved by objects that, exemplify Christ such as a phoenix and a stag, which both symbolize Christ (Doman). One of the most prominent Catholic themes is that of Harry’s mother dying for him. In the Harry Potter books, Harry is continually saved, because his mother, Lily, died for him. Harry is constantly saved from the villains, because of the magical protection of his mother’s sacrifice. Brown, says that “The Blood of the Lamb, the Eucharist, the Blood of Christ saves us. A story where blood saves should seem very familiar to us. Christ's blood saves us. Lily's blood saved Harry” (Brown). The families in Harry Potter are also shown in a good and loving way. For instance, in the

books Harry’s favorite people and family is the Weasleys, who are a large family of seven, who are rather poor. In the books, the Weasleys are portrayed as extremely kind, loving, and attractive. The books also make it very clear what is evil and what is not by using common symbols for good and evil. For instance, snakes and dragons are always portrayed as being associated with evil or danger (Doman). There is also racial prejudice within the wizarding community that is stated as wrong by the heroes and heroines. Doman says, “Perhaps the jaded and beauty-starved and morally-adrift children of the world are devouring Harry Potter because the books are full of truth, goodness, and beauty” (Doman).

The magical world of Harry Potter teaches children how to decipher good from evil and gives them the characters they love, who are also wonderful role models; it is not a story that acclaims occult magic. J.K. Rowling uses magic, not to corrupt youth, but to present a more appealing series to youth. By using this mechanism, J.K. Rowling attracts millions of readers worldwide, who do not find simply just another series, but a series that is filled with Catholics principles, teachings, and symbols. A valuable thing the series has to offer is the good characters, who readers fall in love with and want to be like, without even realizing that those characters are someone they should look up to and try to exemplify. One of the most important reasons Harry Potter is not evil and against the Church is that it has good morals that somewhat reflect the Catholic Church. It is amazing that J.K. Rowling entertains her readers, while she teaches them Christian morals. That is what makes them such a wonderful source of entertainment for people of all ages and not an anti-Catholic series.

Works Cited

Bell, Luke. Baptizing Harry Potter: a Christian Reading of J.K. Rowling. Hidden Spring,

2010.

Brown, Nancy Carpentier. “Can Catholics Read 'Harry'?” Our Sunday Visitor, Our

Sunday Visitor Catholic Publishing Company, 8 July 2007, www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/ByIssue/Article/TabId/735/ArtMID/13636/ArticleID/1571/Can-Catholics-read-Harry.aspx.

Brown, Nancy Carpentier. “Parents: Do Your 'Harry' Duty and Read with Kids.” Our Sunday Visitor, Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Publishing Company, 15 July 2007, www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/ByIssue/Article/TabId/735/ArtMID/13636/ArticleID/7654/Parents-Do-your-Harry-duty-and-read-with-kids.aspx.

Doman, Regina. “Is Harry Potter for Catholics?” Catholic Exchange, Catholic Exchange, 5 Aug. 2005, catholicexchange.com/is-harry-potter-for-catholics.

White, Claire E. “J.K. Rowling and the Extraordinary Life Part 2.” The Internet Writing Journal, Writers Write, Aug. 2005, www.writerswrite.com/journal/aug05/j-k-rowling-and-the-extraordinary-life-part-2-8052.