Roman Catholic parish in Germany announces “Harry Potter–style service”

A Roman Catholic Church parish in Germany announced a "Harry Potter" style worship service format. Photo: open sources

On February 16, 2026, it became known that the Paderborn Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church has scheduled a themed ecumenical service in a “Harry Potter” style, which has already triggered a wave of criticism among the faithful, UOJ in Germany reports.

The service is planned for February 28 at the Sacred Heart Church in Herne. The organizers present it as a gathering for “Hogwarts fans and newcomers” – an evening “between candles, light, and darkness,” devoted to the theme of hope. Participants are invited to come in costume, and the format is described as both missionary and ecumenical.

The event has been opposed by the Catholic association Christ the King, which launched an online petition. According to critics, hundreds of protest letters have already been sent to the archdiocese. Opponents call the format “occult” and warn that it is unacceptable to use church space for events tied to magical themes.

The Paderborn Archdiocese, for its part, said the project’s goal is to convey the Christian message in contemporary language amid declining religious literacy. It emphasized that literary images are used only as an auxiliary tool, while the Gospel remains the sole theological point of reference.

The situation is further complicated by last year’s scandal at Paderborn Cathedral, where, as part of a cultural program, a dance performance was staged using dead chickens as props. The incident caused a wide public outcry and ended with a public apology from the organizers.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in a Catholic church in Latvia, the body of a slain deer was displayed during Mass.

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