In the ongoing Catholic wars over Harry Potter (“He leads kids to the occult” v. “It’s simple literary entertainment”), a new member of the anti-Harry crowd is Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the official exorcist of Rome, according to a report at contactmusic.com.
He is quoted as saying yesterday:
“You start with Harry Potter, who comes across as a likeable wizard, but you end up with the Devil.
“There is no doubt that the signature of the Prince of Darkness is clearly within these books.
“By reading Harry Potter a young child will be drawn into magic and from there it is a simple step to Satanism and the Devil.”
I have no independent confirmation of these remarks so take it with a grain of salt until you see it independently reported elsewhere.
They don’t give a source for the comment being made yesterday – 2/28/06, but it isn’t new. He’s been quoted in the past several years against Potter in articles that mention that he is chief exorcist of Rome, having accomplished 30,000 exorcisms (although this article says 3,000), so maybe they are just recycling the older quotes.
Hah! I can say that Harry Potter led me away from the satanic life I was leading, all because of my JRR Tolkien fetish, which then led me to a downward spiral of Dungeons and Dragons, weird costumes, S&M, and finally serious drugs and slavery. The perverted works of that guy Jack Lewis, with his warped visions of the rest of solar system, and dancing bears, was also a huge negative influence.
JK showed me the light!
I’ve seen Father Amorth’s condemnation of HP before as well.
If you’re familiar with the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) and its connection with Satanist Aleister Crowley, you might find the fact that Lon Milo DuQuette (O.T.O. Grand Master) comparared Potter to Crowley interesting.
http://www.corlucis.org/lon_duquette.html
I may be wrong but it is my understanding that official exorcists (all priests are exorcists by virtue of Holy orders) were forbidden from identifying themselves. I know there are a few books that claim to be the diaries of exorcists, but for this reason I have always doubted their authenticity. Every time I have come across a priest who I thought was an exorcist he avoided the question.
RPF, Father Amorth is the real deal. He is over 80 years old, has done over 3,000 exorcisims, and written a couple of books. I believe he used to teach exorcists in Rome at one of the Pontifical Universities as well, but I could be mistaken.
Another side to Fr. Amorth:
About the Author: Gabriel Amorth, SSP, was born in Modena, Italy in 1925. After having received a degree in Jurisprudence he entered the Society of St. Paul where he has won fame as an exorcist, but his true specialization has always been in the field of Mariology. The author of four books on the Madonna, he was for many years the editor of the Italian monthly magazine Madre di Dio (Mother of God). The promoter of many Marian initiatives, among them the consecration of Italy to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1959, he is a member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy and the Salesian Marian Academy.
Exorcism and devotion to the Blessed Virgin go hand in hand. Not for nothing is she depicted with her foot on the head of the snake.
He has the following books on Amazon…
An Exorcist Tells His Story
In this powerful book, the renowned exorcist of Rome tells of his many experiences in his ministry as an exorcist doing battle with Satan to relieve the great suffering of people in the grip of evil. The importance of the ministry to “expel demons” is clearly seen in the Gospels, from the actions of the Apostles, and from Church history. Fr. Amorth allows the reader to witness the activities of the exorcist, to experience what an exorcist sees and does. He also reveals how little modern science, psychology, and medicine can do to help those under Satan’s influence, and that only the power of Christ can release them from this kind of mental, spiritual or physical suffering.
An Exorcist Tells His Story has been a European best-seller that has gone through numerous printings and editions. No other book today so thoroughly and concisely discusses the topic of exorcism.
(and An Exorcist: More Stories)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898707102/ref=wl_it_dp/104-1402290-5950343?_encoding=UTF8&colid=MPIZMETTH8GP&coliid=I38A87WIFPZPTJ&v=glance&n=283155
Very interesting interview with Fr. Amorth:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1260364/posts