A school pastor at St. Edward Catholic School in Nashville Tennessee has reported that the school has chosen to remove the world famous, critically acclaimed children's book series, Harry Potter, from it's book shelves. The decision to remove the books from the school came after the school found that the contents of the books presented the idea of magic as having positive aspects.
"These books present magic as both good and evil, which is not true, but in fact a clever deception,” pastor Reehil wrote in an email, according to The Tennessean. “The curses and spells used in the books are actual curses and spells; which when read by a human being risk conjuring evil spirits into the presence of the person reading the text”.
Reehil went on to claim that he has had discussions about the issue with multiple religious figures, as well as exorcists in both the United States and Rome about the issue.
Rebecca Hammel, the superintendent of the Catholic School Board in the Diocese of Nashville, sent out an email to parents in the area claiming that the Harry Potter books were never part of the board's curriculum. She included that their is no ban on the books, and students will also be allowed to read the books at the school if they bring in their own personal copies, but the books will no longer be available in the school's library. Hammel also said that Father Reehil decided the books were not appropriate for “a variety of reasons,” and said the decision was made for the religious “well-being” of students.
Rick Musacchio, director of communications for the Nashville Catholic Diocese, reported that Reehill's role as pastor of a diocesan school gives him a "range of canonical roles" which he can personally address. In other words, his decisions do not necessarily have to be approved or explicitly supported by the Diocese, within reason. Musacchio also confirmed the e-mail from Reehil, originally obtained by The Tennessean, was authentic.
On the Hour called St. Edward's Catholic School, but was unable to reach anyone to comment.
The book series authored by British writer J.K. Rowling, which was first published in 1997, has been a source of controversy around the world for the last 22 years. In 2006 the series reached the top of the American Library Association's list of most-challenged books of the 21st century.
Written by: Devon Clare Banfield
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