Catholic school board bans Godless book

The Halton Catholic School Board has pulled The Golden Compass and two other related books from its libraries after board officials deemed their content was “not something that we feel is appropriate.”

Alice Anne LeMay, the board’s chair said: “If parents chose these books for their children, that’s fine, but the board felt the series of books did not have a place in our schools’ libraries.”

The books, a trilogy by British author Philip Pullman — an avowed atheist — have come to the fore since the recent release of the film The Golden Compass, which stars Nicole Kidman.

“[Pullman] is very definitely against religion, against God,” said LeMay. “Is this what we want to teach the kids?”

Following complaints from parents, the book committee for the Halton board, which oversees about 45 elementary and secondary schools in the southern Ontario towns of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills, had originally found the books suitable for Grades 7 and up.

But the board overruled that decision Tuesday night.

“There are other books that we can use to teach [students] critical thinking,” LeMay said Thursday.

Earlier this month, Calgary’s Catholic school board also banned the book.