'Harry Potter' books banned from school library due to "actual" curses, spells

September 2, 2019

Harry Potter fans celebrated the date that marked their return to Hogwarts yesterday, but it looks like not everyone has a reason to rejoice. The book series has been removed from a Catholic school library in Nashville after claims that they contained “actual curses and spells.”

This is getting Riddikulus.

Read more: Taco Bell is saying adios to nine popular items, revamping menu

According to The Tennessean, St. Edward Catholic School library removed the books after their pastor Reverend Dan Reehill state the books were a “clever deception.”

“These books present magic as both good and evil, which is not true, but in fact a clever deception,” Reverend Reehil wrote to parents in an email. “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.”

Reehil came to this decision after reportedly consulting several exorcists in the U.S. and Rome who recommended removing the books.

Rebecca Hammel, the superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, confirmed that the email was sent.

“Each pastor has canonical authority to make such decisions for his parish school,” Hammel said. “He’s well within his authority to act in that manner.”

She adds, “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. We really don’t get into censorship in such selections other than making sure that what we put in our school libraries is age-appropriate materials for our classrooms.”

Hammel also believes the Harry Potter series can still be found in other school libraries throughout the diocese.