A Tennessee school has removed the Harry Potter series from its library due to fears the books can teach children to conjure evil spirits.
St Edward Catholic School in Nashville no longer stocks the books after local pastor Dan Reehil complained, the Tennessean reports.
"These books present magic as both good and evil, which is not true, but in fact a clever deception," Reehill said in an email to the school.
"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."
Reehill said he consulted several exorcists on the decision and they had also recommended the books be removed.
Local school superintendent Rebecca Hammel confirmed the books had been removed, although she wasn't aware of any other books being removed for similar reasons.
"Each pastor has canonical authority to make such decisions for his parish school," Hammel told the Tennessean. "He's well within his authority to act in that manner."
She said the local schools don't aim to censor what children read, aside from ensuring that the material provided is age-appropriate for the classroom.
Overall she wants parents to keep an eye on what their children are consuming.
"Should parents deem that this or any other media to be appropriate we would hope that they would just guide their sons and daughters to understand the content through the lens of our faith."
Newshub.
