Hasn't read the book


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 U.K. 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.

via The Windsor Star.

Posted: Wed - November 28, 2007 at 10:59 AM          

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