Before the start of the new school year, pastor Reehil of St. Edward Catholic School in Nashville, Tennessee notified staff via email of the blasphemous influence J.K. Rowling’s well-known ‘Harry Potter’ book collection could have on students, asking for it to be removed from the school library.  

With exorcists and superintendent Rebecca Hammel to testify, Reehil writes “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.”  

Parents of students questioned the priest’s ability to “discern fact from fiction” and argued that the decision was made unfairly. The dilemma has caused a stir of posts on social media, most of them mocking the choice.  

In a later announcement, superintendent Rebecca Hammel explains that students will still be able to read the books during school at their own risk, but simply cannot check them out of the library. Staff prefers that students stay away from the collection completely because of it’s consequences. 

Author J.K. Rowling has yet to speak on the issue.