Priests Hold Book Burning

Polish priests burn 'Harry Potter,' 'Twilight' tomes
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 1, 2019 4:55 PM CDT
Updated Apr 1, 2019 5:48 PM CDT
Priests Burn Harry Potter Books
Stacks of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" rest on a counter as a cashier takes the credit card of an eager fan in 2007 in St. Peters, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Book burning is not a thing of the past, at least not in Poland, where Catholic priests recently burned books they believe to be sacrilegious. Among the tomes that went up in flames were Harry Potter books, thanks to concerns about witchcraft and sorcery. The evangelical SMS From Heaven Foundation posted pictures of the event on Facebook, along with Bible verses including one reading, "Burn the images of their gods" and another explaining, "Many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone."

Also burned, per AFP and the Guardian: a Hello Kitty umbrella, books from the Twilight series, and a Hindu religious figurine. The group's post has gone viral, and the BBC quotes some unsupportive comments left on it, including one noting, "I have not met anyone yet who would rape, murder and steal in the name of Harry Potter. In the name of the Bible, yes." Other comments were supportive, like one suggesting, "Get rid of everything that does not please God and see how your life will change." (Man burns LGBT kids' books to spite Pride event.)

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