Have you read the Harry Potter books yet? Perhaps your kids have read them, or are interested in doing so, but you’re unsure about allowing them. Alternatively, you may have heard about these books and require some guidance to determine whether your family should engage with them.

A few of you may not have gone through the books, so my intention is to reveal minimal details of the storyline, while still providing you with some information so you can determine if the books are worth reading within your household.

Here’s an intriguing observation I’ve made regarding Harry Potter and Catholics. A lot of Catholics don’t pay much attention to Harry. Their kids attend school, where their peers discuss Harry Potter novels, and many parents conclude that if Jenny’s mom allows her to read the books, and if Jenny’s mom is cautious about matters, then the Potter series must be acceptable.

Within specific Catholic communities, there have been whispers circulating for years that Harry Potter is harmful.

While Harry Potter often faces critique as an imperfect character, I have not encountered anyone voicing concerns about the antagonist Lord Voldemort lacking total malevolence. Voldemort is frequently characterized as wholly evil, yet writer J.K. Rowling has provided her antagonist with certain redeeming qualities.

For instance, when he possesses the ability to eliminate a vulnerable hero at the conclusion of the fourth book “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” Voldemort offers the boy an opportunity to protect himself.

Worth another look

Moms and dads who learn about the Potter series from reliable Catholics on television and radio steer clear of the books, hope they weren’t in the library, advise other parents to avoid them, and even share alerts online. I understand. I was among those Catholic parents who received such messages, and I, too, opposed the series — even though I hadn’t read them myself.

Eventually, Catholic parents whom I regarded as reflective and judicious expressed favorable opinions about Harry Potter. This prompted me to reconsider the issue. Why would these parents claim the Potter series was acceptable, and even acknowledge that they were sharing them with their kids, if the books were malevolent — as I had assumed?

I perused the books and altered my perspective on their content. I uncovered a realm of Catholic underground advocates who support Harry.

Bible and Catechism

Naturally, the Scriptures and the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church dismiss all forms of divination and witchcraft. The Harry Potter series is a set of imaginative writings that depict magical activities in a fictional context.

The recipes for potions are never presented completely, and the components listed are items that actually don’t exist. The future is not something that can be foretold; the past is not alterable. No one summons a demon for their incantations; they utter words resembling Latin. If someone attempts this at home, there are no results, as one would anticipate.

The enchantment in Harry Potter is imaginary, thus the Bible and the Catechism would not disapprove of it. Harry Potter is a narrative, a creation of an author’s creativity, a contemporary fable. It’s similar to the way being present at a child’s magic performance does not expose anyone to the risk of engaging in “true” witchcraft.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (refer to Nos. 2116-17) addresses divination, and Deuteronomy 18:9-12 prohibits seeking the services of fortune tellers and palmists, among other activities.

The Bible and the Catechism denounce genuine witchcraft and prohibit attempts to summon demons; however, once more, that is not the essence of Harry Potter — Harry Potter is a work of fiction.

Positive depiction

I do not believe that Rowling’s works are flawless. Conversely, I find it remarkable that a children’s tale released in this era includes no smoking or drug use; no references to homosexuality or confusing sexual emotions; no television in schools, films, Internet, computers, or instant messaging; there is scant profanity, minimal kissing, and not even a symbolic single-parent household.

Harry (before becoming an orphan), Ron, Hermione, Draco — indeed, all of the primary youngsters — possess two parents, one father and one mother. In the realm of children’s literature today, this is quite rare.

Certainly, numerous individuals are concerned about the execution of the dark arts. Wait a minute, why would witches and wizards require training in defense against the dark arts? If all their actions, as detractors assert, were considered a dark art, then such training would be unnecessary.

In the realm of Hogwarts, a conflict is occurring, and the virtuous faction must contend with the malevolent side. Much like how soldiers require training to hone their combat abilities, the students at Hogwarts also need to train in order to confront their adversary.

If we consider the dark arts as Rowling envisioned them, representing malevolent applications of magic, and draw a parallel between the dark arts and sin and temptation, then we understand that action must be taken to ward off their influence in our lives.

Do we combat sin? Reject temptation? Are we cultivating the abilities required to surmount the negative or dark inclinations in our existence? Or do we act as though we can navigate our everyday lives, believing that our sins and temptations will disappear without any effort from us?

What lessons are we imparting to our children? Are we equipping them to tackle life’s challenges, or are we pampering them by enabling them to engage in play and socialize without grasping the importance of prioritizing others, of placing obligations above leisure — in other terms, nurturing their character — which holds greater significance than simply fostering a healthy self-esteem?

Hone your skills

An additional aspect of practice: despite Harry’s talent in flying and playing Quidditch, a magical sport akin to soccer or basketball played on broomsticks, he continues to engage in practice and strives to enhance his abilities. Likewise, we must also refine our skills and cultivate them for the tasks we need to undertake to strengthen the kingdom.

The lessons in dark arts symbolize the struggle to combat sin and temptation in our lives. One metaphorical aspect of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “One Ring” in the famous “Lord of the Rings” series is its allure of temptation. Characters battle for the ring and need to determine how to handle it. In C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia,” the children need to discover a way to free Narnia from the clutches of the malevolent White Witch.

Love protects us

The most profound and powerful demonstration of goodness in the Harry Potter series is the selfless love that Lily Potter, Harry’s mother, displayed in safeguarding her young son from Voldemort. She willingly took her own life as a substitute for her only child’s survival, ultimately sacrificing her own existence.

Her affectionate sacrifice serves as a potent charm that averts Harry’s demise during his infancy, and this love further protects him during his confrontations with Voldemort at school. Harry and his friends board the train at King’s Cross Station. Although it is a genuine station name, the selection indicates a message Rowling aims to convey. The “cross of the king” also alters the course of our lives, doesn’t it?

The Blood of the Lamb, the Eucharist, the Blood of Christ redeems us. A tale in which blood rescues ought to feel quite recognizable to us. The blood of Christ redeems us. Lily’s blood rescued Harry.

Lily’s gift of love might have shielded Harry from the cold and unkind atmosphere of his uncle and aunt’s household. After a decade of being overlooked, mistreated, and reprimanded, Harry remains a typical boy, who is neither damaged by his harsh treatment nor resentful about not having a nurturing home.

Ultimately, the “Harry Potter” series is a narrative, and since it mirrors all genuine narratives, certain aspects will resonate authentically. There are realities to be uncovered, and there’s no obstacle for Catholics to find them.

‘Harry Potter’ chronology

September 1998: “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”

June 1999: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

September 1999: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

July 2000: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

June 2003: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”

July 2005: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

July 2007: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”