'Harry' is evil, some clergy say

Pastor Spencer adds: "How one can read the Bible, believe what God has said, and promote Harry Potter is beyond me. . . . Many who would never think of sacrificing their children physically are sacrificing them spiritually with Satanism and spiritism found in Harry Potter books."

Many local ministers, however, don't believe the fictional world and its characters promote pagan beliefs and practices. They insist you can enjoy this fictional sorcery and still be spiritual.

"It's just a story, fellas," said the Rev. Neal Humphrey of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fruit Heights. "These movies and books are not teaching witchcraft to our kids — they're fantasy only."

He says the stories have basic values. He adds that the books have gotten a lot of kids excited about reading when nothing else would, and after years of their existence there hasn't been any proven increase in the practice of witchcraft or the belief in it.

"It shows empowered kids solving problems," the Rev. Humphrey said. "It's not spiritually subversive."

He also believes the magic is just an allegory in the series.

Richard Wolf, an elder in the North Salt Lake congregation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, said his church doesn't have a specific stand against most movies or books, including the Potter series. However, based on various articles written in the "Watchtower," he said ample information exists for members to make their own decisions. They need only ponder and pray about what God would consider appropriate entertainment.

For example, Jehovah's Witnesses have made a strong stand against spiritism and trying to contact the dead.

"Those involved in spiritism put themselves at grave risk," a Watchtower article states.

Bishop George Niederauer, of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, said he has a friend in California who is very upset at the witchcraft accent to the Potter series.

"Sometimes it's how strictly you interpret it," he said.

Bishop Niederauer sees it as fantasy only.

"It's entertainment and not threatening," he said.

The Rev. Art Ritter of Salt Lake's First Congregational Church said he hasn't seen any of the movies, but his children have read the books. He believes as long as parents discuss it with their kids, there's no harm in this kind of entertainment.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made no official comments regarding the Potter books or movies. Spokesman Dale Bills said the LDS Church rarely makes comments on commercial productions.