RC board pulls book by atheist

[SevenSeasJim]

Intolerance at it's finest.

Religion is running scared!

RC board pulls book by atheist

November 22, 2007

Kristin Rushowy

The Toronto Star

Halton's Catholic school board has pulled The Golden Compass fantasy book -- soon to be a Hollywood blockbuster starring Nicole Kidman -- off school library shelves because of a complaint.

Two other books in the trilogy by British author Philip Pullman have also been removed as a precaution, and principals have been ordered not to distribute December Scholastic book flyers because The Golden Compass is available to order.

"(The complaint) came out of interviews that Philip Pullman had done, where he stated that he is an atheist and that he supports that," said Scott Millard, the board's manager of library services.

"Since we are an educational institution, we want to be able to evaluate the material; we want to make sure we have the best material for students."

Following a recent Star story about the series, an internal memo was sent to elementary principals that said "the book is apparently written by an atheist where the characters and text are anti-God, anti-Catholic and anti-religion."

Millard said if students want the books, they can ask librarians for them but the series won't be on display until a committee review is complete.

The Golden Compass is the first of the His Dark Materials trilogy of books and have been likened to the Harry Potter series.

In the U.S., the Catholic League has accused the books of bashing Christianity and promoting atheism to children. The league is urging parents to boycott the movie, opening Dec. 7.

Catholic schools in Toronto and York Region have the books on their shelves and report no complaints.

The public library in Burlington, in Halton Region, lists The Golden Compass as suggested reading for grades 5 and 6.

The award-winning tome was voted the best children's book in the past 70 years by readers across the globe.

It was first published in 1995. Complaints are surfacing now because of the buzz surrounding the movie, Rick MacDonald, the Halton board's superintendent of curriculum services, said.

The Nov. 1 article in The Star prompted several e-mails from principals wondering if the book is appropriate for schools. Pullman has made controversial statements, telling The Washington Post in 2001 he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."

In 2003, he said that compared to the Harry Potter series, his books had been "flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."

The board is unsure how many copies of the Pullman books are in circulation at its 37 elementary schools as they were not purchased centrally and are not a part of the curriculum.

"We have a policy and procedure whereby individual, parents, staff, students or community members can apply to have material reviewed. That's what happened in this case," MacDonald said.

The complaint was received about a week and a half ago, and it is standard procedure to remove books from the shelves during the review. Any move to ban the book would be taken to trustees.

Millard said he's still trying to find additional members for the review committee, but has sent copies to those already on the committee.

Richard Brock, who heads the Halton elementary branch of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, said the board is within its rights to restrict distribution of the Scholastic flyer. "With elementary students, you're always going to bend in the direction of caution anyway," he said.

[jonyak]

maybe we should pull all of the bibles out of every school or anywhere else, as they are promoting christianity to children.

who's to decide which one is right.

we live in a really messy world right now.

[Kanada Kev]

The award-winning tome was voted the best children's book in the past 70 years by readers across the globe.

Un-fucking-believable. And THOSE schools continue to get funding from our government.

Banning books is bullshit.

[SevenSeasJim]

The award-winning tome was voted the best children's book in the past 70 years by readers across the globe.

Un-fucking-believable. And THOSE schools continue to get funding from our government.

Banning books is bullshit.

For me religion is bullshit.

[Hal Johnson]

I guess it IS a catholic school. I mean, the whole reason parents put their kids in these schools is to learn about a religion that is REAL to them. In a way, it seems reasonable to me.

[SevenSeasJim]

So they shouldn't learn about other things that some people don't like? Seams reasonable.

BTW I know several people who put their kids into a catholic school only because they had all day kindergarten.

Edited November 22, 2007 by Guest

[Hal Johnson]

Cant really argue with ya, my feelings are that its kinda dumb, especially that its only cuz the guy writing the books is an atheist. My point is that the idea of a religious school is mind-boggling to me in the first place, so any strange ways they have of governing themselves isnt surprising to me in the least. And given that they are a catholic school that truly feels catholocism is the way, why the fuck should they have atheist propaganda in their libraries?

[jonyak]

this begs the question, is it really right to force our children into certain ways of beleiving?

I mean they are young and impressionable, so why is it legal to force a certain religious beleif on them at a young age when they cannot make there own choices what to beleive. it seems wrong to me.

[allison]

I mean they are young and impressionable, so why is it legal to force a certain religious beleif on them at a young age when they cannot make there own choices what to beleive. it seems wrong to me.

All parents "force" lifestyle decisions on their kids..we just choose to believe some are innocuous and some are not.

[Hal Johnson]

David Cross had it figured out. Make your children Amish.

[Kanada Kev]

And given that they are a catholic school that truly feels catholocism is the way, why the fuck should they have atheist propaganda in their libraries?

The thing that's a joke is that it's been in the libraries there for 10years already!!! It's just because a movie is coming out that some people have gotten upset (guess they never read).

I love it when a group of people can feel that a piece of work is great for many years. Then, because of a statement somebody makes, or something the author says, it becomes the work of the devil.

[MarcO]

And given that they are a catholic school that truly feels catholocism is the way, why the fuck should they have atheist propaganda in their libraries?

Fair enough, then let them fund their own schools. They can pay for every book, every desk, every pencil, write every paycheque themfuckingselves.

And I say that as a product of the Catholic Separate School Board!

Take away the bucks and let these perverts twist in the wind. Maybe Jesus will pony up some funds for 'em to keep the kids feeling nice and guilty about everything.

[DevO]

As far as I can tell the book doesn't even touch on subjects of atheism, christianity or religion. Theres probably tons of books in those libraries written by atheists! Total bullshit.

[Kanada Kev]

[color:purple]If it ain't Catholic, it's Crap!

Better get out all of those books written by Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, etc. etc. etc.

Fuck 'em all.

God is LOVE

WWJD?

WTF?

I'll bet John Tory would be all for it though

[jonyak]

I don't think we should be funding catholic schools at all... its hypocritical, we should fund muslim schools and every other religious school as well. Why do catholic schools get special treatment?

[Kanada Kev]

Fund NO religious schools.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

you just get ding'd when you take the fun out of funding

[color:#cccccc](no idea what that's supposed to mean)

[phishtaper]

Halton's Catholic school board has pulled The Golden Compass fantasy book -- soon to be a Hollywood blockbuster starring Nicole Kidman -- off school library shelves because of a complaint.

I'd have complained too

[Kanada Kev]

Maybe they just don't want any kids fantasizing about Nicole Kidman and abusing their bodies.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

they should ban your avatar too then

[Kanada Kev]

That hippo is simply practicing the old move "Priest-spanking-altar-boy" move that he learned in the rectory basement

[Kanada Kev]

If he had been allowed to watch the Hollywood version of the atheist-authored book The Golden Compass, he'd be spanking this:

Then, he'd definitely be a Satanic Hippo fighting all of God's angels and causing unbelievable horror on our earth.

[color:purple]

THIS is why we MUST ban books by atheists, get it?

Edited November 22, 2007 by Guest

[Davey Boy 2.0]

right

so take a deep breath, touch the tips of your fingers against the fingertips on your opposite hand, take another deep breath, don't take your eyes off your fingers and repeat after me, "mel-low"

[phishtaper]

That hippo is simply practicing the old move "Priest-spanking-altar-boy" move that he learned in the rectory basement

ah, good memories ...

[Kanada Kev]

right

so take a deep breath, touch the tips of your fingers against the fingertips on your opposite hand, take another deep breath, don't take your eyes off your fingers and repeat after me, "mel-low"