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Credit: Warner Bros. Everyone’s favorite spellbinding and enchanting “Harry Potter” book series has just been banned at a Catholic school in Nashville, Tennessee after a reverend from the school claimed the books could be used to conjure “evil spirits.”
“These books present magic as both good and evil, which is not true, but in fact a clever deception,” said Rev. Reehil (a pastor at Saint Edwards Catholic School parish) in an email to parents of students from the religious school about the “Harry Potter” book series. “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,” the email continues.
In the email, Reehil reveals he consulted with several exorcists in both the U.S. and Rome, and all parties recommended removing the books from the school. The pastor first began investigating the book series after an inquiry from a parent.
After news of the school banning the enchanting book series broke, Rebecca Hammel, the superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville spoke on the reverend’s decision. Hammel told CBS News that even though the Catholic Church does not have an official position on the book and movie series, “each pastor has canonical authority to make such decisions for his parish school…He’s well within his authority to act in that manner.”
Students and parents from the school have not been reached out to for comment on the removal of the famed book series from the school. However, this isn’t the first time the book and movie series has faced backlash from religious communities and churches.
Since the book series’ release in 1997, it has been repeatedly banned from schools around the world, mostly because parents have alleged the wizarding book series has promoted black magic and satanic values in students.
Source: CBS News