Man from ministry bans Potter

[unhappycamper]

Man from ministry bans Potter
By Tania deLuzuriaga, Globe Staff | October 25, 2007

WAKEFIELD - The summer reading feats of Lynne Bimmler's sixth-grade class are proudly chronicled on the St. Joseph's School website.

"The sixth grade reads an average of 7.5 books each with many students in double digits," says a note on the class page. "Of course, Harry Potter was a popular choice."

But last month, students found that their favorite series had "disapparated" from the school library, after St. Joseph's pastor, the Rev. Ron Barker, removed the books, declaring that the themes of witchcraft and sorcery were inappropriate for a Catholic school.

"He said that he thought most children were strong enough to resist the temptation," said one mother who asked that her name not be used because she did not want her family to be singled out. "But he said it's his job to protect the weak and the strong."

The removal at St. Joseph's is the first reported instance that the wildly popular series has been banned in the Bay State, according to the American Library Association. But British author J.K. Rowling's series, which many educators credit with inspiring a generation of children to pick up a book, has been as controversial as it has been popular. Groups in at least 17 other states have tried to ban the books since the first one was published in 1998, prompting the library association last year to name the Harry Potter collection "the most challenged books of the 21st century."

"Most of the controversy is centered around the witchcraft and occult themes," said Deborah Caldwell, who directs the office of intellectual freedom for the association. "But there are others who say the books model disrespect for adults."

Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/10/25/man_from_ministry_bans_potter/

[meegbear]

1. So if a small kid sligshots a rock in the face of a big kid ...

will he ban the Bible, or just the Old Testament?

[babylonsister]

2. How stupid; instead of celebrating that kids are actually reading those

tomes, they're banning them? This country gets dumber by the second, at least parts of it.

[Donnachaidh]

3. Sorcery is inappropriate? Really?

Then I guess the congregation is really only getting a nasty tasting wafer at Mass? And all those other prayer rituals are just congregational members wasting time each day?

Even the name *Mass* conjures up questions -- pun intended.

[Alter Ego]

4. And here was me

thinking they had banned it for Dumbledore being gay and all.

As if the fundies needed another reason to hate Harry Potter. :eyes:

[Az]

5. Its nonsense like this that continues to make Christianity more and more a laughing stock

And of course its a minority of Christians causing this to happen. But because there are no Christians seen jumping up and speaking back or refuting these nutters the nutters wind up representing Christianity to all the world.

[tanyev]

6. "he thought most children were strong enough to resist the temptation"

He just guaranteed that those kids will be more interested in the books than ever.


:rofl:

[Magrittes Pipe]

7. Wow. That Al Jourgensen is a real prick.