A planned “Harry Potter ecumenical service” at a Catholic parish in western Germany has sparked sharp debate among Catholics, with critics warning that the event risks undermining the sacred character of a church and introducing themes incompatible with Christian worship.
The service is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Herne, which belongs to the Archdiocese of Paderborn. Promotional materials for the event invite participants to gather for an evening “among candles, light and darkness,” using imagery and language drawn from the popular fantasy series. Attendees are encouraged to wear themed costumes, while the church itself is described as a “Great Hall,” a reference to the fictional Hogwarts school.
Opposition to the event has been led by Christkönigtum, a conservative Catholic organization that has launched a public campaign calling for the service to be canceled. The group argues that incorporating what it describes as “magical and occult motifs” into a church setting constitutes a profanation of a space dedicated to divine worship.
“Our motivation is clear,” said Kevin Mis of Christkönigtum in a written statement, according to EWTN News. “We do not tolerate God’s houses being profaned by zeitgeist-driven, in this case explicitly occult and magical, events. This ‘ecumenical Harry Potter service’ must not take place.”
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According to Christkönigtum, more than 700 emails have been sent to church authorities through the group’s website. The Archdiocese of Paderborn has confirmed receiving over 500 messages and has contacted the parish regarding the controversy. Archbishop Udo Markus Bentz and senior diocesan officials have been informed, and an official diocesan statement is expected.
In response to the criticism, the Archdiocese of Paderborn has defended the event as a pastoral effort aimed at reaching people in an increasingly secular culture. Archdiocesan spokeswoman Isabella Struck said that elements of contemporary culture can sometimes serve as entry points to the Christian message.
“Familiar images and stories from contemporary culture can help to open up initial approaches to the Christian faith and build bridges to the holy Scriptures,” Struck said, according to EWTN News. She explained that pastoral workers are drawing on motifs from the Harry Potter series because it is “an integral part of the lives of many young people — and adults too — for an ecumenical service of the word.”
Struck emphasized that the books themselves are not being treated as sources of faith. “Literary works such as Harry Potter are not sources of faith,” she said, adding that “the measure, center, and goal” of the service remain the word of God.
She also insisted that the event would not compromise the reverence due to the church building. “The sacred character of the service and the dignity of the church interior remain fully preserved,” Struck said. At the same time, she acknowledged that concerns raised by the faithful are being taken seriously and will be considered as planning continues.
The parish organizers themselves have not responded publicly to press inquiries. As discussion continues, the planned service has become a flashpoint in a broader conversation within the Church about evangelization, cultural engagement, and the proper use of sacred space.
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