A Catholic parish in western Germany has sparked controversy after announcing the celebration of a so-called “Harry Potter ecumenical service” inside a consecrated church, an event scheduled for next February 28 at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the city of Herne. The initiative, publicly promoted by the parish itself, has drawn criticism for using a Catholic temple for an event inspired by a fiction saga with magical elements.
According to The Catholic Herald , the event has been presented as an ecumenical service in which Catholics and Protestants participate by drawing on the symbolism and imagery of J. K. Rowling’s literary series. The event is scheduled for 5:00 PM and will take place both in the lobby and in the nave of the temple, a space dedicated to worship and consecrated for sacred use.
The invitation poster disseminated by the parish explicitly uses the language and symbols of the Harry Potter universe. It invites “fans and newcomers to Hogwarts” to participate in an evening “between candles, light and darkness,” where “hope takes shape.” The text also announces elements such as “butterbeer,” the colors of the Hogwarts houses, and the possibility of attending in “magical clothing,” although it clarifies that “muggle” attire is also permitted.
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