"Looks to me as though Mr. Pell has crossed the valley to set up his tent in satans camp."

That is one (if you don't mind my saying rather extreme) possible way of looking at it. Alternatively it might be an ill considered view that he has expressed on one topic.

"The Roman Catholic head in Sydney, Cardinal Pell, was writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday 23rd September 2007, that Harry Potter gets his vote. I thought it was a dumb statement and the Cardinal traitorous to Christ."

I believe the Cardinal is a fairly intelligent man. However I agree it isn't the most insightful of comments.

"Where is the scriptural insight anymore?"

I'd suggest he generally displays it. Examples include his publically vilified stances on abortion and homosexuality.

"A battle between good and evil even in a witchcraft concept as we see in the Harry Potter books and films is still offering witchcraft as a big, bright, shiny lolley to the subconscious mind of youngsters."

The trap is that it is okay because it is clearly fiction. Harry Potter has good pr. If another evil was substituted perhaps it might help clarify for the Pells of the world. You might appreciate the observation that that is like saying that fornication is wrong but okay to enjoy it portrayed as an obvious fiction in literature or movie.

"The RC church used to be much hotter once before on demonlogy."
Some priests still do exorcisms...

"Perhaps in their mad rush to gather all other world religions into the great RC One World Church of the bibles last days ..."

Perhaps you missed God's command to be undivided and this underlies your distaste for ecumenism? Perhaps you should stay away from JWs or those they have influenced and their attempt to paint the RC Church as Babylon.

"Perhaps the Cardinal should pop over the the pentcostals for a while to refresh his memory on demons, deliverance and not leading children into witchcraft avenues that lead to the fallen powers."

Couldn't agree more but then wouldn't you worry about gathering all religions together...

Perhaps you should all settle down with some nice cold lemonade and a copy of Harry Potter.

Chill, people. You're discussing witchcraft as if it's actually a serious issue worthy of concern.

It's not often I can say that Pell's showing the way on common sense, but this time, it appears to be the case.

Funnily enough, our local Catholic priest came into my business and bought a couple of Harry Potter DVDs the other day. I took it upon myself to warn him about the dangers of spreading witchcraft, and he assured me that the most dangerous thing he thought kids could do if they acted out the HP witchcraft was poke someone in the eye with a toy wand.

Yes, I think the Catholics are a bit ahead of the rest of the Christians on this one.

If the Catholic Church supports Potter then the Pope should stop writing books that knock Potter around on Germany's best seller charts. That isn't good for marketting Potter. ( :

http://web.archive.org/web/20050421030221/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7572500/

I did some googling. There doesn't appear to be an official Catholic stance on the HP issue. Some like Pell give the thumbs up and some like the priest in this article are rather disparaging:

http://www.cathtelecom.com/news/201/17.php

Wow. While people were pursuing the witchcraft angle some very good pr for homosexual tolerance went in the back door.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071021/ap_en_ot/books_potter_dumbledore

Is there any media publication with enough tongue in the cheek humour to do a headline like "Pell promotes gay tolerance". I doubt that Pelly would like that.