Book People Archive

Globe: Harry Potter bks 'disapparated' by Catholic school's pastor



[NOTE: I learned a new word, 'disapparate'. I looked it up in 
TheFreeDictionary.com and it is not in the dictionary but it appear in 
the Wikipedia entry for: Magic (Harry Potter), "Apparation is a magical 
form of teleportation 
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/teleportation>, by which a 
witch or wizard can disappear ("disapparate") from one location and 
instantly reappear ("apparate") in another. ..."
Guess I need to catch up on my reading.    jf]
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/10/25/man_from_ministry_bans_potter/

October 25, 2007 | Boston Globe

Man from ministry bans Potter

By Tania deLuzuriaga, Globe Staff

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."

(snip)
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