They don't even add something new to their news cycle; I've been on duty today, and ended up turing on CNN because it's the only news station aboard ship that isn't part of Armed Forces Network. (Nothing against AFN, but I get tired of their commercials after a few months.)
My point: CNN just loops, and it's kinda annoying. It's as if all the things they show are of equal importance-- I can understand beating some topics to death: the London Bombings are important; saying the same thing over and over simply puts out important information. However, showing the same human intrest story on the guy who posts photos from the US that say "we are not afraid!"-- although it's cool, yes-- do we REALLY need to see this every hour or so? Couldn't you spend the time you took on that looking into the (poorly supported) report that the Pope hates Harry Potter?
Explaining the last complaint: No, the Pope hasn't condemed Potter. There are two signed letters from Cardnal Ratzinger's office to a german lady author who sent him a copy of her book, which claims that Harry Potter books could pull spiritually unformed folks away from the Faith. The letter is translated and quoted as saying "It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly." So, don't let your kids read the books unless you're sure that they're well enough developed to understand the moral problems involved. (Anybody who thinks that kids with no spiritual development being interested in magic isn't a problem needs to meet some of my Wiccan friends.)
Another point: he's Pope. Not God. What he thinks and though IS important, but it's not binding. The Pope can speak in a binding way-- it's called "ex cathedra," I think-- but it's rare, and he basically would stand up and say "I am speaking ex cathedra. X, Y, Z, but not A, B, or C, and this does not aply beyond Q unless R and S. That is all." The things that the Pope said before he was Pope are not even CLOSE to this.
This link has links to scanned versions of the letters, but I don't endorse the article that is above the links because they make some rather large assumptions about the way that the Cardnal's personal views carry over into the Pope's authority......
Full text of BOTH letters that the author received:
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Vatican City
March 7, 2003
Esteemed and dear Ms. Kuby! Many thanks for your kind letter of February 20th and the informative book which you sent me in the same mail. It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly. I would like to suggest that you write to Mr. Peter Fleetwood, (Pontifical Council of Culture, Piazza S. Calisto 16, I00153 Rome) directly and to send him your book. Sincere Greetings and Blessings,
+ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
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Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Vatican City
May 27, 2003
Esteemed and dear Ms. Kuby, Somehow your letter got buried in the large pile of name-day , birthday and Easter mail. Finally this pile is taken care of, so that I can gladly allow you to refer to my judgment about Harry Potter. Sincere Greetings and Blessings,
+ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
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