Hasn’t read the book
by Jim, 28 November 2007
Comparing the novel The Golden Compass to a porn flick, a spokesperson for the Catholic Civil Rights League wants the book banned by the Windsor Catholic School Board. A school board in Halton, Ontario has already done so. The book’s original title in the UK is Northern Lights, book one of the trilogy His Dark Materials.
“Under the guise of an exciting adventure story, the very clear message being given is that the Catholic church is an evil organization and God and Christianity are a fraud.”
Several school libraries already have copies.
Baksi said his group has asked Bishop Ronald Fabbro’s office to approach school boards in the London Diocese area about removing the book.
“It shouldn’t be in (Catholic) schools in the first place,” he said.
Baski hasn’t read the book or seen the yet-to-be released movie, but added that shouldn’t undermine his opposition.
“I don’t have to see Debbie Does Dallas to know whether it is appropriate or consistent with the faith and values I would like to have in my house for my children,” he said.
Author Philip Pullman, in a two part interview on the CBC’s Writers and Company, said he can’t think of a more effective way to encourage students to read his work.
The book won the Carnegie Medal for children’s fiction in the UK in 1995.
Wednesday 28 November 2007 at 16:39
Under the guise of an exciting adventure story, the very clear message being given is that the Catholic church is an evil organization and God and Christianity are a fraud.
One of the things that drove me to atheism was reading the Narnia books when I was a child. So I don’t think that kids are the literary automata the Catholic Church fears they are (or wants them to be).
Possibly if the Catholic Church taught kids critical thinking they wouldn’t be in such danger of being deceived by coercive fantasy fiction. ;-)
Wednesday 28 November 2007 at 20:18
Off for a pint with a real, modern day, practising catholic in 15 mins - will ask him for the definitive view and report back later.
Wednesday 28 November 2007 at 22:11
[T]he very clear message being given is that the Catholic church is an evil organization and God and Christianity are a fraud.
True.
Wednesday 28 November 2007 at 23:20
Report Back:
My mate has received no instructions to picket the film - in true Father Ted style - and not having even heard of the books is now genuinely interested in going to see them. Pullmans prediction therefore proved, on this sample of one experiment.
PS. Same Catholic mates favourite film - Life of Brian - but mainly for the “Socialist Unity Blog” bits
Thursday 29 November 2007 at 0:46
They’re good books, despite Philip Pullman being a bit of a pompous arse. I suppose it’s in the water in Oxford.