Should a Catholic Bishop Restrict Catholic School Kid's Reading?

[Lujack]

I don’t think the Bishop has the authority to ban these books. If they are banned by the Pope fine, but if some Catholic schools are okay with them, and some not, that’s wrong and deceptive. It sends the wrong message if some kids can read these books and others not. The Catholic church should be the final authority.

He definitely has the authority, just as the pastor or the principal would have the authority to do the same thing. I don’t think it is a good use of his authority, but he does have the right to do so.

 

[KCT]

Someone, somewhere has to decide which books will be in the library. Should the librarian be the final authority over the bishop?

What parents let their kids read at home is their business. What’s in a private school’s library is up to the school. Did the bishop overrule the principal?

 

[Dtmccameron]

I agree with this. This bishop is sending the message that the Church has banned these books…and that the best way to deal with something we disagree with is to remove it from our midst. I think a better way to deal with these books is to have the teachers use them in their classes…what a perfect opportunity for kids to learn why some of its contents is contrary to the teachings of the Church.

“Okay, kids, today we’re gonna learn why LSD is bad. Here, everyone take a hit…”

“Alright, boys and girls, today. we’re gonna find out why pornography is bad. Jimmy, Eric, you two will be researching Hustler, Amy, Carl, you two get Playboy…”

Exposing a child to evil is Scandal. If the Bishop deems that his flock might be led astray by such books, then it is well and good that he should seek every means to defend their souls. For goodness sakes, poeple, you act like you can’t live without this one novel! It didn’t even exist a few years ago, and now, you’ld sooner denounce your Bishop than put them down!

Good grief, there are *sooooo *much better books in the library.

 

[apromisemade]

The problem with any censorship is that it can ridiculous. If we ban Twilight and Harry Potter why wouldn’t we also have to ban Sherlock Holmes novels? Surely cocaine use is more threatening to our children than vampires or witches. If we refuse to expose our children to books that contain ideas we disagree with and actions we find immoral how can we expect them to think critically when they get into the real world? Wouldn’t it be better to instill morals in them and use reading materials as a learning opportunity and springboard for conversation?

Hear Hear!

 

[Lujack]

“Okay, kids, today we’re gonna learn why LSD is bad. Here, everyone take a hit…”

“Alright, boys and girls, today. we’re gonna find out why pornography is bad. Jimmy, Eric, you two will be researching Hustler, Amy, Carl, you two get Playboy…”

Exposing a child to evil is Scandal. If the Bishop deems that his flock might be led astray by such books, then it is well and good that he should seek every means to defend their souls. For goodness sakes, poeple, you act like you can’t live without this one novel! It didn’t even exist a few years ago, and now, you’ld sooner denounce your Bishop than put them down!

Good grief, there are *sooooo *much better books in the library.

The Golden Compass, yes. Twilight is garbage in terms of reading in my opinion, but there’s no reason to ban it, and banning Harry Potter is way over the top.

Acknowledging that the bishop has the authority to ban damaging books does not preclude criticism of his use of that authority.

 

[spellinggirl]

For heaven’s sake… the Golden Compass books DO promote atheism, but Harry Potter and Twilight are FICTION!!!

And the bishop has no right to censor what teens read. That is up to them and their parents.

 

[AHapka]

And the bishop has no right to censor what teens read. That is up to them and their parents.

He is not censoring what the teens are reading. There is no “censorship” here. He is deciding what books will or will not be in a private library that he has ultimate administration over.

To say that the Bishop has no right to decide what books go into a privately owned library is like you saying I have no right to decide what will or will not be in my own privately owned home.

If the teens wish to read the book, they can go to a public library, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, etc.