Nashville Catholic School Bans HARRY POTTER Books for Fear That the Spells Are Real and Could Conjure Evil Spirits

In some weird and wild news, the beloved Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling chronicling the life of a young boy who discovers he is a wizard and is then shipped off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he is immersed in the wizarding world in which he is destined to save, all the while becoming a man and making friends that turn into family. It’s truly one of my favorite book series ever. I love it dearly and revisit it often thanks to my kids, and I love how much it sparked a love of literature for so many people over the past 22 years.

But no sparks will be ignited anywhere near the St. Edward Catholic School in Nashville, if school officials have anything to say about it. The school’s Rev. Dan Reehil wrote an email, which was obtained by a local paper, The Tennessean (via Variety), and here’s what it said:

“These books present magic as both good and evil, which is not true. 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 texts.”

He went on to object to Harry and his friends’ behavior in the books, stating they:

“promote a Machiavellian approach to achieving the ends they desire.”

So the books have been pulled from this school’s libraries. A representative from the school made a statement saying that the choice to read the books ultimately lies with the parents of the kids. Yeah, thanks for that. I will never get book censorship. Books are windows to all the other ways of life, and I would hate to board any of them up, especially a book series that I believe to be about bravery, family, friendship, love, and the power of good.

I hope the kids of that school get to read Harry Potter at their public libraries or at home. They gotta fight for their right to Potter. Right?