Sunday, December 23, 2007

Golden Compass Books BANNED

Here's an article that aired on CBC three days ago, but I only found it today. The Golden Compass Book series by Philip Pullman, have been banned by the Halton District Catholic School Board. One of the school boards in the Greater Toronto Area. This district covers the Municipalities of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville (west of Toronto) in Ontario, Canada.

A memo to principals said there were concerns the books were "anti-God, anti-Catholic and anti-religion," and elementary school officials were instructed not to distribute book club flyers that had The Golden Compass available for purchase.

Published in 1995, Pullman's The Golden Compass has returned to the public eye because of the new blockbuster film adaptation of the fantasy tale that hit theatres this month.

The book, voted the best children's book in the last 70 years by readers around the world earlier this year, has drawn high praise and condemnation. The Vatican newspaper waded into the debate this week, criticizing the new film and Pullman.

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