The Archdiocesan Wizards

This week's Pilate has a story about a typical priest in the Archdiocese of Boston.  The priest, Fr. Michael Bernier, pictured below in his lumberjack shirt, described himself as a "Pottermaniac" in a talk he gave about - of all things - the Blessed Virgin and our Triune God.

Father Pottermaniac told the kiddos harmless magic is not sorcery but a quest on a journey towards god:

"On the surface level it does sound suspect and does raise red flags," he said. However, he said the magic in Harry Potter is not sorcery. And he noted that the original title of the first book was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." The title was changed to "Sorcerer's Stone" for the book's release in the United States.

"I happen to be one of the people who believes that there's a great deal of Christian imagery and symbolism in the books. And I think it answers, at least in parts, a longing that we have for Christ," he said.

Father Pottermaniac also told the kiddos that Pope Benedict has never raised an objection to Harry Potter.

However, the Pope had the following to say:

"It is good that you explain the facts of Harry Potter, because this is a subtle seduction, which has deeply unnoticed and direct effects in undermining the soul of Christianity before it can really grow properly."

The Pilate ran the photo and story without the actual quote from the Pope - just in case you're ding-dong enough to see the picture of the Plaid-shirted Priest Pottermania standing in front of his trinket collection pooh-poohing magic as harmful and a cuckoo subtle seduction bell doesn't go off in your head loud enough to do your own research.

The Chancery Committees put in charge of wondering why sane people are no longer sitting in the pews are organizing a youth ministry field trip to Borders.

Father Bernier said that Harry Potter is "a symbol of all of us as sons and daughters of God -- humanity pursuing its spiritual perfection in Christ."

All Aboard!