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Vatican Charmed by Potter

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 15, 2009 4:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Though rarely a fan of wizards and witches, the Vatican has declared the latest Harry Potter film a positive tale of “friendship, altruism, loyalty" that achieves the "correct balance" in depicting teen romance, reports the Guardian. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, opening today, makes clear that good must overcome evil "and that sometimes this requires costs and sacrifice," said a review in the Holy See's newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

Just four years ago Cardinal Ratzinger—soon to become the pope—condemned the Potter saga as a "subtle seduction" that "distorts Christianity in the soul," reports the Baltimore Sun.

Daniel Radcliffe talks about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on the NBC Today show.
Daniel Radcliffe talks about "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on the NBC "Today" show.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Daniel Radcliffe has a good laugh during an interview on NBC's Today show.
Daniel Radcliffe has a good laugh during an interview on NBC's "Today" show.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Ziegfeld Theate in New York.
Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at the Ziegfeld Theate in New York.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Silverbow7
Jul 19, 2009 1:06 AM CDT
Wait till they find out Potter is gay.
reasonator
Jul 16, 2009 2:41 AM CDT
Is the positive review also an example of good overcoming evil?
nathanielfoster
Jul 15, 2009 12:17 PM CDT
What's the difference? Both wizards and the clergy wear funny hats and claim they have magical powers.
 

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